This is my first post, as well as my first car (I'm 17), so any help is appreciated.
I have a 1996 300zx NA with an Unorthodox Racing UD crank pulley. It has been installed for about a month and half. The belts have started to squeal since it started getting cold outside, so I tightened the belts last week hoping to abate the intense squealing I was hearing. It did not.
It happens at every cold start-up, and randomly while driving. It will come and go at random intervals with no immediate cause. I am struggling to find the source because i cannot see which belt is slipping.
What are some fixes or remedies that I can do? How have you guys fixed this problem in the past? Are there any threads on the forum that will help me out?
UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
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NolimitZ32
- Posts: 7042
- Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:07 am
- Car: 91 AG2 2+0 TTMT swap/E39 BMW 540i6/E53 4.6is Dinan S3
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
Are you sure its not one of the other pulleys locking it up. I had a similar issue when my alternator started going bad (with a full pulley set) it would create too much resistance and on start-up or if revved to quickly the belt would lose the alt pulley for a few seconds and proceed to sing me the song of it's people.
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ThisIsSparTTa
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:02 pm
- Car: 91 300ZX TT 2+0
Re: UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
Similar, had a friend that had his AC idler pulley seize up.
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Apps17
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 6:21 pm
- Car: 1996 300zx NA
UD Crank Pulley
Injen Cold Air Intake
Re: UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
What do you guys suggest I do? It goes away when driving normally but stop and go it squeals like a pig. If I pop it into neutral it goes away...
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RubyRed300ZX
- Posts: 417
- Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 2:24 pm
- Car: 1993 300zx Convertible
Re: UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
I saw where you mention that you're 17 years old. Few more years on me and I'd be old enough to be your Grandfather. So if my post here seems condescending, just shrug it off as a post from just some old guy.
When you are fixing something, be it a kitchen appliance or a car, there are two stages: Diagnosing and then Repair or replacement. The second part of that is the easy stuff if you have the right tools, and in the case of a Z, lots of patience. You simply remove and repair, or replace a part. The really difficult stage is diagnosing what needs repair or replacing. First step towards that is to isolate the problem. In your case here, I think you've done well in describing the problem's symptoms. Your last post, where you mention it stops squealing if you put it in neutral, suggests that you may have a loose bolt associated with the Power steering pump, the A/C compressor, or the Alternator. It may also be aggravated by a deteriorating motor mount. When you slip it into neutral, it relieves the torquing of the motor against the mounts and pressure, or lack thereof, on a belt from the deflection of the motor. I mention this here in the event that this problem developed suddenly versus got worse over time. It could be two issues compounding a problem.
Anyway to isolate your noise, I suggest you remove the Power steering belt. Start the car. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals, then remove the A/C compressor belt. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals then remove the alternator belt. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals, then you're in deep s**t. Once you have isolated which drive item is making the noise ( Power steering, A/C compressor, Alternator), I suggest you rotate (spin) it by hand where possible to insure that it is a belt not a bearing. Assuming it makes no noise, then it is indeed the belt. You may want to spend a couple of dollars and buy new belts at this point, all three. Replace the belts making sure that once tensioned properly (see the manual for amount of deflection, it's listed in the maintenance section towards the front of the manual, or beginning of the manual if you are looking online) and be sure to adequately tighten down the hold down bolts which secure each accessory item. The manual has the torque settings.
Then start the car and hope your noise is no longer present. Then drive the car and hope the noise is gone. If not, we start all over again on something else. And one final thing: to remove/replace the belts, you need to do it while the car is supported on jack stands. You have to get under it if you don't want to drain the radiator, to remove the radiator, fan shroud, fan, etc.
Good luck.
When you are fixing something, be it a kitchen appliance or a car, there are two stages: Diagnosing and then Repair or replacement. The second part of that is the easy stuff if you have the right tools, and in the case of a Z, lots of patience. You simply remove and repair, or replace a part. The really difficult stage is diagnosing what needs repair or replacing. First step towards that is to isolate the problem. In your case here, I think you've done well in describing the problem's symptoms. Your last post, where you mention it stops squealing if you put it in neutral, suggests that you may have a loose bolt associated with the Power steering pump, the A/C compressor, or the Alternator. It may also be aggravated by a deteriorating motor mount. When you slip it into neutral, it relieves the torquing of the motor against the mounts and pressure, or lack thereof, on a belt from the deflection of the motor. I mention this here in the event that this problem developed suddenly versus got worse over time. It could be two issues compounding a problem.
Anyway to isolate your noise, I suggest you remove the Power steering belt. Start the car. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals, then remove the A/C compressor belt. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals then remove the alternator belt. If no noise is heard, then that's where your problem is focused. If it still squeals, then you're in deep s**t. Once you have isolated which drive item is making the noise ( Power steering, A/C compressor, Alternator), I suggest you rotate (spin) it by hand where possible to insure that it is a belt not a bearing. Assuming it makes no noise, then it is indeed the belt. You may want to spend a couple of dollars and buy new belts at this point, all three. Replace the belts making sure that once tensioned properly (see the manual for amount of deflection, it's listed in the maintenance section towards the front of the manual, or beginning of the manual if you are looking online) and be sure to adequately tighten down the hold down bolts which secure each accessory item. The manual has the torque settings.
Then start the car and hope your noise is no longer present. Then drive the car and hope the noise is gone. If not, we start all over again on something else. And one final thing: to remove/replace the belts, you need to do it while the car is supported on jack stands. You have to get under it if you don't want to drain the radiator, to remove the radiator, fan shroud, fan, etc.
Good luck.
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Apps17
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2014 6:21 pm
- Car: 1996 300zx NA
UD Crank Pulley
Injen Cold Air Intake
Re: UD Crank Pulley Squeal Help!
Thank you RubyRed300zx, it ended up being that the AC belt was to loose. It fixed the problem entirely.