[Anthony Borrego]

Hi everyone, I own a 2013 Eco and once when coming out of Auto stop, the belt tensioner completely froze up, shredded the belt into threads. Had it replaced (for about $750) at a Chevy dealership about a year ago. Now coming out of auto stop the belt is squeaking very loud again, keep in mind the belt is a year old, and makes me think there is something causing the engine to start up to quickly or too high RPM. Anyone had this experience?

 

[repairman54]

If rpm was too high you would really feel the car ''lurch''. Inspect the belt for cracking and if it looks good it just might be glazed. If no other unusual noises like a bad bearing the tensioner could be weak again. Try some talcum powder on the belt and see if it stops the squeak, do not use belt dressing as it's made for V belts not flat serpentine belts. Sometimes hitting those puddles will get the belt wet and it gets glazed from slipping from being wet.

 

[Anthony Borrego]

If rpm was too high you would really feel the car ''lurch''. Inspect the belt for cracking and if it looks good it just might be glazed. If no other unusual noises like a bad bearing the tensioner could be weak again. Try some talcum powder on the belt and see if it stops the squeak, do not use belt dressing as it's made for V belts not flat serpentine belts. Sometimes hitting those puddles will get the belt wet and it gets glazed from slipping from being wet.

Thank you. No it's dry as a bone here where I live, no puddles. Belt is not cracked. It does it all the time coming out of Auto stop no matter the weather, temperature, etc. it doesn't lurch, just very rough coming out of auto stop and its making the belt squeal. Taking it to a Chevy dealership tomorrow. Hopefully they can diagnose the problem.

 

[MissTiva]

I've had my belt shred and the tensioner pulley bolt completely "sheer off" - as the mechanics told me. Apparently I drove without a belt for about 2 weeks. Only issue I had after the bolt broke was my check engine light and the auto start/stop disengaged. (Because the engine light was on) however, BEFORE it broke, it would squawk at about 45mph both accelerating and slowing down. And it would sputter and jerk at low speeds. $860 later, all good. But now it's doing it again. sigh Is there a known issue with tensioner pulley failures with this car? (Also a 2013 Malibu eco - less than 75k mi)