Belt Squeal? Bearings?

[DSM_Nick]

I have a continuing squeal that has been going on in my car. In order to get the best input from people I will tell the whole story I guess.
The squealing and problems started about 2 months after I replaced my alternator. It started squealing and then eventually combined with a screeching as well. It sounded like bearing chatter. One day when it was cold the belt just broke right at the seam. I put on a new belt and it still squealed, I would periodically tighten it a little and the squeal would go away for short term. Then it broke again, I am assuming from over tightening that time. I then proceeded to replace my two pulleys that bolt to my water pump. After replacing these it still squealed.
Yesterday I replace my alternator again since I was able to get a new one from a parts store I know for free. It still squeals some now though, but no screeching or bearing noise now. It only squeals when it is cold and first starting up, then it will proceed to go away. It will only come back occasionally while driving when I am coming to a stop and then starting off it will squeal and then go away with rpm. I have a voltmeter and the volts will drop with the squealing when first starting and when coming to a stop. Only when in drive or reverse though, the volts will drop to about 12. I will start accelerating, the squealing will start and the volts will go up while the squealing goes away.

Please help, any ideas will help

 

[No_Skillz]

Squealing of the belts is caused by inadequate tightness, misaligned/worn pullies, or a combination of both.

Take off all your belts and check your pullies for play. Your crank pulley is highly suspect since the harmonic damper is subject to failure after many miles. You can test this by taking it off and carefully examinging the rubber sandwich (sometimes it can be hard to see), or mark a line with white out, drive it around, and check if the mark is still aligned.

If you replace the crank pulley, be sure to use an OEM type with a harmonic dampener/rubber sandwich. This excludes most "high performance" solid underdrive pullies.

 

[DSM_Nick]

hmmm, this does sound pretty possible. I will have to check into it. Are those hard to do? I have never done a harmonic dampener or anything like it. I was hoping it wouldn't be the crank pulley though, (most important one ) Any chance it could also be the water pump though? Since I only replaced the pulleys on the water pump and not the bearing or what it bolts to.

 

[Vandal]

I just conquered a similar issue in my 2g. I replaced the harmonic balancer along with the alternator since it was bad, but the real issue was the alternator seizing up. It showed similar symptoms-squeal, screech, lights would dim, and then the belt would snap.

 

[DSM_Nick]

That seems to happen a bit. I am beginning to think it may be my power steering pump now though. Its hard to tell, might have to do some more diagnosing to figure it out

I tightened some things and it squeals less now. But still does it some on start up and at a low idle coming to a stop. Could be the power steering belt, but not totally sure.

 

[Defiant]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/pro...-just-time-pics-video.html?highlight=harmonic

 

[DSM_Nick]

I am going to try and check the harmonic dampener and crank pulley this week. Its just snowing outside right now. Hopefully that is the problem and I can fix it.

Thanks for that other post link Defiant. It helped a lot