[Heelsparky0501]

Hey guys, i just recently bought a 2000 mali ls with about 85.000 on it.
Just a week ago it started making a squealing noise under the hood, at first it wasnt bad and i origionally thought it was because of the cold ~20f. But the past few days it has been getting a lot louder and more annoying.

I purchased some belt dressing and sprayed a tad on the serpentine belt and it just made the noise louder!, it also made a sort of sticking sound that eventually went away.

Now i have a free belt wear tester coming from gates, do you think the belt is shot? the surfaced looked a little shiny.... Or could it maby be a pully or water pump bearing? It looks like the tensioner is doing its job as the engine is slowly reved up too.

Im just kinda dissapointed that this started happening right after i bought it, what luck i have Any insight?

Thanks

 

[Heelsparky0501]

any ideas?

 

[DrivenDaily]

any ideas?

The belt dressing probably says not to use it on serp belts. Check the label. To check a serp belt (after you use that little Gates gauge), turn it over so you can see the ribs, then bend it backwards. If it's cracked a lot then you likely need to replace it. Before you do you'll need to clean the dressing off the pulleys or the new one may squeal as well.

A way to find a squeal and see if it's a bearing or not is to use a simple tool: get a wooden ruler or other stick about a foot or two long. (A yardstick is probably too long unless you cut it.)

C A U T I O N ! ! ! . . . D A N G E R O U S . . . . P R O C E D U R E ! ! !

With the engine running, carefully place the end of the stick on the case where a bearing is (B E W A R E . . O F . . M O V I N G . . P A R T S !), then press your ear onto the end of the stick and listen for a squeal. Move it around the engine and you'll hear other noises, like the cam slapping the valves, etc. If there's a bearing gone bad that's making a lot of noise, this can localize it for you and help you direct your efforts toward repairing the right device.

 

[Silver LTZ]

$10 says it's your tensioner pulley. When the bearing goes bad they squeak like crazy.

 

[ChevyFreak]

Tensioner pulleys are the devil. I had one go out on my truck on the ac belt. I replaced my belts all around then would replace my serp belt tensioner and it would go away. Then come back then replace the main tensioner again and it would go away. Took about 5 tensioners and 6 months to finnally have the bottom one crap out completely and I realized it was that one making all that noise heh.

 

[Malibu Glow]

Tensioner pulley, Idler pulley or worn belt can all be the cause of this noise. Since the car has 85,000, I'd suggest replacing the belt and tensioner. Replacing the belt is not the easiest, you have to unbolt the engine mount on that side of the car and remove it to be able to remove the belt from the engine bay once you've removed it from the pulleys. You have to use a block of wood and a jack, carefully lifting the engine just slightly once the engine mount is removed.

 

[Heelsparky0501]

Thanks for the insight everyone,

Im going to try and replace the belt and see how it goes, if that doesnt work i'll replace the tensioner.

Its ironic because the day that i went out and bought the belt, its almost as if the squeaking noise went away lol, but then again it did get a bit warmer.

 

[Silver LTZ]

Thanks for the insight everyone,

Im going to try and replace the belt and see how it goes, if that doesnt work i'll replace the tensioner.

Its ironic because the day that i went out and bought the belt, its almost as if the squeaking noise went away lol, but then again it did get a bit warmer.

If your gonna do the belt DO the tensioner.

 

[Ashleigh Little]

I have the same problem.....took it to shop and they put new belt on, worked on AC compressor, and said I had black death....well no tensioner was touched, still the noise continues.

 

[duercos]

I have this noise now while the car is parked in Idle. It's 2.4 2009 with 93k miles on it. Should I just get this 2 parts
Amazon.com: ACDelco 38177 Professional Automatic Belt Tensioner and Pulley Assembly: Automotive

http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-12639...-1-2485--1-0&sr=1-5&ymm=2009:chevrolet:malibu

Or I should change all other pulleys (if there is any)? If so, please suggest links or part numbers. Want to change everything while I will be at it.

Thanks!

 

[bary]

im with driven daily on this . and yes USE CAUTION ! use a long screwdriver or piece of wood or you can even buy a mechanics stethoscope ! to try the best you can what and where the noise is coming from . rather then just start replacing the bits 1 at a time by least expensive and go up . It could be the alt , the ac , an idler pulley . some times if you release the belt and spin each componet by hand you can sometimes hear and or feel what item is the problem . In the case of the 2000 car it could be the harmonic balancer . those years of gm and dodge vehicles are known for the rubber "seal" to give and let the pully seperate from the center section .

 

[loasdrums]

I had the same issue. When I went to change the tensioner I found that the part I had bought was different than the OE part.
I'm debating about changing the pulley setup without replacing the spring as it is $115 cheaper to order from GM Parts Direct. Does anyone have experience with changing this out? The parts guy at the dealership said that GM doesn't sell it without the spring as it is a cause for failure.

BELTS & PULLEYS for 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

 

[batman93]

Just a quick question I have a 2000 Malibu as well and have the god awful squealing. I have replaced the tenisioner pulley, idler pulley, new belt...what else could it be

 

[DrivenDaily]

If order, I'd suspect
1. AC pulley
2. Air pump (if equipped)
3. Alternator
4. Water pump
5. Power steering (if it's not EPS)

 

[repairman54]

As others have said remove the belt and spin / wiggle all the pulleys. Any sounds or side play when spinning / moving the pulleys points to the worn part.
A/C pulley should be free wheeling in it's clutch with engine off.

 

[deeselfitter]

I have had squealing issues with a lot of cars i have owned over the years , but none "so far" with my 2011 v6 Malibu......i always check the simple things first.....belt dressing on a serpentine belt always aggravates the squealing....instead....i smear some gritty non gel toothpaste on an old toothbrush and apply it to both sides of my belt (engine off) in as many places ias i can get access to....start the engine and the toothpaste travels on the belt and all the glazed pulleys and grooves and most of the time will quiet the squealing if it is belt or pulley related....I know....sounds too easy. Try it before you start throwing expensive parts at the car
Just my 2 cents