Drive Belt Chirping Diagnosis

Drive Belt Chirping Diagnosis
Diagnostic Aids
The symptom may be intermittent due to moisture on the drive belt(s) or the pulleys. It may be necessary to spray a small amount of water on the drive belt(s) in order to duplicate the customers concern. If spraying water on the drive belt(s) duplicates the symptom, cleaning the belt pulleys may be the probable solution.
A loose or improper installation of a body component, a suspension component, or other items of the vehicle may cause the chirping noise.

Test Description
The number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the diagnostic table.
2. The noise may not be engine related. This step is to verify that the engine is making the noise. If the engine is not making the noise do not proceed further with this table.
3. The noise may be an internal engine noise. Removing the drive belt and operating the engine for a brief period will verify the noise is related to the drive belt. When removing the drive belt(s) the water pump may not be operating and the engine may overheat. Also DTC's may set when the engine is operating with the drive belt removed.
4. Inspect all drive belt pulleys for pilling. Pilling is the small balls or pills or it may be strings in the drive belt grooves from the accumulation of rubber dust.
6. Misalignment of the pulleys may be caused from improper mounting of the accessory drive component, incorrect installation of the accessory drive component pulley, or the pulley bent inward or outward from a previous repair. Test for a misalign pulley using a straight edge in the pulley grooves across two or three pulleys. If a misalign pulley is found refer to that accessory drive component for the proper installation procedure for that pulley.
10. Inspecting of the fasteners can eliminate the possibility that a wrong bolt, nut, spacer, or washer was installed.
12. Inspecting the pulleys for being bent should include inspecting for a dent or other damage to the pulleys that would prevent the drive belt from not seating properly in all of the pulley grooves or on the smooth surface of a pulley when the back side of the belt is used to drive the pulley.
14. Replacing the drive belt when it is not damaged or there is not excessive pilling will only be a temporary repair.

Step 1 - Step 14:

Step 15: