Belt Squeak/Squeal

[Rick2001A4]

I have a fairly loud squealing noise, I ordered a new serpentine and ac belt to replace but am wondering if it really the belt and not something else. I have included a video. The belt tensioner is shaking, is that normal? I can't remember ever replacing it. The belts were replace about 4 years and 40k miles ago when I replaced the timing belt for the second time. I am at about 230k.

In the video I squirted some water in there to see if I could narrow it down, seems to matter where I squirt it temporarily stops. I was wondering if you experts think it might be something besides the belt? Maybe a pully out of alignment? I looked down in there with it running and can't notice where anything seems to be rubbing or not lines up. I pulled the belt off around the alternator and it looks in good shape from the little I could see without pulling the whole thing out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y_d9-S-DQ4

[a4kamila6]

Probably fan clutch bearing.


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[Rick2001A4]

Probably fan clutch bearing.

Is there anyway to know that for sure?

[Rick2001A4]

I have tried moving, shaking the fan to see if there was any play and it seems pretty solid. If it was the clutch bearing would there be some movement back and forth?

[MarcRogers]

Yea sounds like that fan clutch bearing. I know you want to know for sure and I don't blame you the fan clutch is kinda a pricy part. But that's the only thing I can guess based on your video.


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[MarcRogers]

I have a fairly loud squealing noise, I ordered a new serpentine and ac belt to replace but am wondering if it really the belt and not something else. I have included a video. The belt tensioner is shaking, is that normal? I can't remember ever replacing it. The belts were replace about 4 years and 40k miles ago when I replaced the timing belt for the second time. I am at about 230k.

In the video I squirted some water in there to see if I could narrow it down, seems to matter where I squirt it temporarily stops. I was wondering if you experts think it might be something besides the belt? Maybe a pully out of alignment? I looked down in there with it running and can't notice where anything seems to be rubbing or not lines up. I pulled the belt off around the alternator and it looks in good shape from the little I could see without pulling the whole thing out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y_d9-S-DQ4

Also when you sprayed the actual fan clutch itself it had the most quiet time before it started squealing again. That another reason that I believe that's it's the fan clutch bearing.


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[Rick2001A4]

Thanks for the clarification. I am a little confused on what exactly I need to replace. Here are the first links that came up, I am not sure which is correct.

Is it a Fan Clutch Pulley Assembly

or

Just the Fan Clutch Bearing

[SN95Audi87]

I'm banking on the fan clutch bearing and not the whole assembly. I recently did my fan clutch & new fan last summer without putting the car in service position, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world but I know bearing will have to be pressed out with some type of mechanism. Ive seen videos online where people press them out with the front clip attached. Its your call.

Also if your serpentine belt tensioner is shaking its probably need to be replace in the near future too, you might as well do both for a peace of mind.

[Rick2001A4]

I watched a video and it didn't look like fun, although I can't imagine it being worse than replacing the coolant flange! (hopefully)

While it was running I put more pressure on the tensioner and the squeal lessened, but didn't totally stop. Don't know if that indicates anything or not.

I know its going to be a pain to get that fan off, last time I was going to take it off I couldn't get it off and bent everything I put in the hole to try to stop it from spinning. I never got it off, can't remember what I was doing but I must have worked around it. Guess I will have a fun Saturday coming up soon.

[a4kamila6]

The fan clutch is installed with reverse thread.


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[SN95Audi87]

I watched a video and it didn't look like fun, although I can't imagine it being worse than replacing the coolant flange! (hopefully)

While it was running I put more pressure on the tensioner and the squeal lessened, but didn't totally stop. Don't know if that indicates anything or not.

I know its going to be a pain to get that fan off, last time I was going to take it off I couldn't get it off and bent everything I put in the hole to try to stop it from spinning. I never got it off, can't remember what I was doing but I must have worked around it. Guess I will have a fun Saturday coming up soon.

I had to jam a Allen key thru the pulley while the serpentine belt was on to create enough torque to get the fan pulley bolt out. I bent the Allen key but it released the torque from the bolt. Maybe buying the whole assembly is a better idea but either way it's a PITA job.


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