Heard a squeak, found a leak
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Yesterday, I started hearing an occasional, random squeaking that followed engine RPM'*.
Picked up a stethoscope today and started poking around at the various spinning things. Not sure what I'm listening for, but the alternator, water pump, and compressor pulleys all sounded fine.
I think it'* the belt tensioner pulley -- should I replace just the pulley or the whole tensioner? Or could the squeaking be caused by a worn-out belt? (The belt has about 40,000 miles on it, but there are virtually no cracks or signs of physical wear.) Listen to the video below.
Also, while poking around, I found a slow drip coming from the coolant elbow where it meets the LIM. The engine was reassembled less than 6,000 miles ago with fresh elbows. Any advice?
I haven't checked for the leak on a hot engine, but I can say the squeaking is the same whether hot or cold.
[YT]http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=dWWVQRB7Ok8[/YT]
Picked up a stethoscope today and started poking around at the various spinning things. Not sure what I'm listening for, but the alternator, water pump, and compressor pulleys all sounded fine.
I think it'* the belt tensioner pulley -- should I replace just the pulley or the whole tensioner? Or could the squeaking be caused by a worn-out belt? (The belt has about 40,000 miles on it, but there are virtually no cracks or signs of physical wear.) Listen to the video below.
Also, while poking around, I found a slow drip coming from the coolant elbow where it meets the LIM. The engine was reassembled less than 6,000 miles ago with fresh elbows. Any advice?
I haven't checked for the leak on a hot engine, but I can say the squeaking is the same whether hot or cold.
[YT]http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=dWWVQRB7Ok8[/YT]
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Yep, sounds like a bearing on the tensioner pulley. Only need to change the pulley.
The leak is most likely the O ring on the elbow. You will need to pull the tensioner off to get the elbow out and replace. It may have been put in dry. I put a little lube in the hole to make sure the O ring slides in and doesn't catch and roll.
The leak is most likely the O ring on the elbow. You will need to pull the tensioner off to get the elbow out and replace. It may have been put in dry. I put a little lube in the hole to make sure the O ring slides in and doesn't catch and roll.
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Do I need to drain some coolant out, or is that high enough so that there won't be much to leak out (when cold)?
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Do I need to drain some coolant out, or is that high enough so that there won't be much to leak out (when cold)?
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I do believe the tensioner bolt is a reverse thread. It will go the reverse of the direction needed to remove the belt.
Ya, you will need to drain some coolant. Perhaps a quart or so.
Ya, you will need to drain some coolant. Perhaps a quart or so.
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The elbow when in while I was quadding. ![rocker](https://www.gmforum.com/gm/images/smilies/049.gif)
When you put it in.. lube both o-rings and then as you are tightening it down give it a couple of wiggles to ensure it doesn't have any pressure on it when tightened down. This keeps it from being heated and getting deformed.
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When you put it in.. lube both o-rings and then as you are tightening it down give it a couple of wiggles to ensure it doesn't have any pressure on it when tightened down. This keeps it from being heated and getting deformed.
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A couple people in the Advance parking lot looked at the strange man in a suit, tie, gloves, and a stethoscope as he started ripping out a pulley amidst snow flurries.
That solved most of the squeaking, but there is still some. Curiously, someone walked by holding a bike tire and said, "Hey, is that a 3.8?" I quickly explained the problem, said that it'* either the alternator or tensioner, and he just pressed inward on the tensioner arm. Sure enough, all of the squeaking went away until he let go. Guess it'* time to get a new tensioner. Thanks for the random help, John from Danbury. (Make sure you check us out like I said. I need more contact cards.)
Also, the coolant elbow only leaks when it'* cold. Not that that'll save it from replacement.
That solved most of the squeaking, but there is still some. Curiously, someone walked by holding a bike tire and said, "Hey, is that a 3.8?" I quickly explained the problem, said that it'* either the alternator or tensioner, and he just pressed inward on the tensioner arm. Sure enough, all of the squeaking went away until he let go. Guess it'* time to get a new tensioner. Thanks for the random help, John from Danbury. (Make sure you check us out like I said. I need more contact cards.)
Also, the coolant elbow only leaks when it'* cold. Not that that'll save it from replacement.
Last edited by SignOfZeta; 12-06-2010 at 07:37 PM. Reason: Typo.
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