Thought it was a belt noise

[twinsfan08]

I replaced all 3 belts, including the v belt but a noise is still coming from that belt - i even sprayed some lubricant on the v belt and roughly 2 minutes later the noise came back -could it be the actual steering pump anything associated with it? thanks in advance! scott

[bustarye]

is the noise a little squeak when you start the engine? if so, i JUST had that problem with my qx4 about two weeks ago (which is how i ended up in this forum!)

i changed out all three belts and the noise was still there so i took it to my mechanic and he said my tensioners were loose and my belts were slippin.

hope that helps....

[twinsfan08]

the funny thing is my mechanic tightened everything - he's thinking it's the actual pump or fluid - is that even possible?

[Issac]

Well your mechanic probably should have turned things to make sure they were able to rotate.

There are little tension pulleys.There is also bearings that things run on. If these bearings go, which they can, then that belt, no matter how good, will slip.

The fan belt seems to slip a lot on the fan on these models I read about. Looking at the arrangement, it seems there is little wrap to the belt over the pulley.

And if fan clutch is bad, the belt would slip even worse at startup. Sometimes just tightening the belt works, but sometimes no amount of tight will solve the problem.

So you got to find out if it is the belt or others.

Fluids need to be flushed and changed on things, and even the power steering fluid goes bad it seems.
Modified by Issac at 12:24 AM 4/19/2008

[trentonmakes]

I have the same/similair problem.Very bad whining noise coming from 1 of the pulleys of the belt.

I believe it is the power steering pump, ( bad bearings), as far as i can tell the noise is coming from the pulley under the alternator.

Are these difficult to change out or should i send it off to the mechanic?

[Issac]

The tensioner pulleys are real easy to change out. they have a Lock down nut on the face of them (14mm I believe) and once that is loose, you unscrew the bottom 12 mm tension screw to get a little play to take it off.

Ok the detailed version now-

So the sdjustment is from one long bolt, and when it is the right tension on the belt, you lock it with the 14 nut.

The pulley slips on the stud. Real simple. 2 nuts is all to replace both. Loosen tension slightly to get the belt to let it come off.

Then you buy the whole pulley (they are different sizes and dealer might be the best bet because I had a time finding the right ones for my truck).

Then you stick on with belt going over it in the same curve, and thats it.

I think they are 100k life and mine had a lot of bearing play. The new should turn better too.

Don't overtighten your belts, and yet they do seem to stretch a tad, so I go for thumb pressure to deflect. There is no real easy way to measure exact belt tension, just not banjo tight, but not able to deflect much.

Feel it before you take it off in the same spot and then replicate but maybe a tad tighter.

Thats the long answer. 1 nut to take it off.

Oh and you have these little dust covers that are on each side of pulley you take off, and you want to put them on the new the same way. So make sure you put them on the right direction. I think it is hard to mess that up.

[twinsfan08]

the noise only happens when the vehicle is idling - as soon as I hit 10mph, the noise goes away - i had the idler pulley replaced but that didnt help.

[mott6904]

The a/c compressor is right above the power steering pump and are known to go bad. I have a 97 qx4 and a pathfinder that both had the pumps lock up on and they made a little belt noise before they went out. I have also replaced all the tensioner pulley becuase the bearings were loose.

[BryanWSD]

I have this problem right now, but it is VERY intermittent. Only about once a week, it will squeal for about 15 seconds at start up and then go quiet.

I've got to get it fixed, but worried that dealer will go exploring / $$$. I don't do work myself. Any experience with this same problem? What got it fixed?

[mott6904]

have you checked your belts. I know i always had trouble with my power steering belt on my q and i would have tighten it up every once in a while. i bet your power steering belt is worn. Look at your belts and see if they are cracked or if they look really shinny if so replace first. While you have the belts off check to see if any of the idler pullies are loose. If so, replace while belts are off.