I changed my harmonic dampener just in time *Pics & Video*

[gsxAWDdsm692]

Here's a video. Let me know what you think.

YouTube - DSM Engine squealing

 

[turbosax2]

CAPS says "990" with a 1993 vin number, which I assume to be millimeters, so that would be 38.9763". For a 1999 vin it is 980mm (38.5826").

 

[99gst_racer]

CAPS says "990" with a 1993 vin number, which I assume to be millimeters, so that would be 38.9763". For a 1999 vin it is 980mm (38.5826").

HMMM..... IIRC, the outer groove section of the Fluidampr is larger diameter than the OE dampner, so that accounts for me needing a longer belt....

I just exchanged my 38.5" belt for a 39.5" one. I'll install it in a couple hours when I get home from work. Hopefully this will resolve my issue.

 

[99gst_racer]

Well, I installed another new belt, and still the same belt squeal.

So, I pulled the alternator, and found quite a bit of play in the shaft. It was still under warranty, so I drove down to Vatozone and exchanged it. Got the new one on, and still the same damn belt squeal. I can spray belt dressing on it, and the noise goes away, but it's present again on the next cold start-up.

I'm running out of options here. Anyone have any other advice? If I can't fix this by Thursday, I probably won't be taking the car to the SO this year.

 

[gsxAWDdsm692]

Well, I installed another new belt, and still the same belt squeal.

So, I pulled the alternator, and found quite a bit of play in the shaft. It was still under warranty, so I drove down to Vatozone and exchanged it. Got the new one on, and still the same damn belt squeal. I can spray belt dressing on it, and the noise goes away, but it's present again on the next cold start-up.

I'm running out of options here. Anyone have any other advice? If I can't fix this by Thursday, I probably won't be taking the car to the SO this year.

Dude this is EXACTLY what my car did before my timing belt snapped. Check the timing components, such as pulleys. Actually start your car without acces. belts on just a spinning crank and timing parts and see if it does it. That will rule out timing if it isn't.

 

[99gst_racer]

Dude this is EXACTLY what my car did before my timing belt snapped. Check the timing components, such as pulleys. Actually start your car without acces. belts on just a spinning crank and timing parts and see if it does it. That will rule out timing if it isn't.

I did that last Friday - with no accessories, the car ran better, and no noise. My timing job has 600 miles on it. All components are brand new and installed by me, so I trust it.

I added tension to the alternator on my lunch break, and fired it up, and it hardly make a noise. We'll see how long that lasts (I'm very pessimistic at this point). I also might throw a Gatorback on it just to see if that belt runs quieter like they claim...

 

[Ronmar]

Well I had a power steering pump go out this weekend, and while I was under there taking the belt off it, I noticed the damper pully had separated again... I just put one on about a year ago. It must be a high failure part, as every shucks within 100 miles has the part on the shelf. I can spend another $90 on a inferior replacement part, but I think I would much rather spend that money on something a little more reliable. Anyone have any reccomendations or experience with a fluid damper or other aftermarket harmonic damper pully?

thanks

Ron

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I did that last Friday - with no accessories, the car ran better, and no noise. My timing job has 600 miles on it. All components are brand new and installed by me, so I trust it.

I added tension to the alternator on my lunch break, and fired it up, and it hardly make a noise. We'll see how long that lasts (I'm very pessimistic at this point). I also might throw a Gatorback on it just to see if that belt runs quieter like they claim...

I always have that problem with new belts on 4G63s, any engine with mini serpentine belts without auto tensioners for that matter. I always figured it was the way I drive. After I retighten them 3 or 4 times the problem goes away.

Ps. In my experience Gatorback belts are garbage. I would much sooner use a gates or at least a Dayco poly-cog. Point in fact: Last year a guy with a Mustang brought his car to me with a shreded belt. The Air pump was bypassed previously, (I could tell by the rust on the pulley) and if you turned it by hand, it made a hellifed noise. It didn't make sense to replace the air pump because he had no converters anyway. It also was running an underdrive pulley so there was no garantee it would fit the original size belt anyway. I installed a Dayco belt in the only size I could make fit. The auto tensoiner was a little too tight, but any larger of a belt, and the tensioner pulley would double the belt over and cause it to rub on itself. So there he went with a somewhat over tight belt. The belt lasted another year and tore up again. The shmuck at crap zone convinced him to use a Gatorback because it was "High Performance". That one lasted one day. I did a little custom work to the tensioner to reduce the tension to normal levels, but I'm confident that even if I hadn't done that, he would have gotten a full year out of the Dayco belt again even under the previous tension.

 

[DSM1G90]

What is the length of the alternator belt for our cars

You can take some string and string around the pulleys to where the two ends of the strings overlap, then measure the length of the string where it overlaps.

Goto NAPA stores .. they've got the info needed and the right size of ribbed belts.

-DSM

 

[UofACATS]

Well, my belt squeel is back. It's only on cold start-ups and only lasts for about 30 seconds, but it's progressivily getting worse, and it's annoying as hell.

I have a brand new Fluidampr, a new alternator, and a belt with about 900 miles on it. Is is possible that I over-tensioned the belt, causing the bearings in the alternator to wear excessivily? Thoughts?

This is probably settled by now but with everything else new and properly tensioned, I would look to the new alternator. If you have the old one, not likely since most places charge for a core, compare the size of the two pulley grooves. I'd guess the new pulley "V", especially from autozone, is a tad bit bigger (wider) than the OEM one, causing a poor fit and resulting in a squeal.

Just a guess.

Also, for others with new and properly fitted pieces, look for something leaking on the belt. (99GST is excluded from this suggestion because I've seen under-hood pictures of his car .) That will cause start-up squeal.

One more piece, some belts stretch more than others. Adjusting tension will likely fix most belt squeals. Slight sellout yes, but I'll probably pay 12-15 bucks a belt when I replace them next time. I like OEM belts, it's probably a coincidence, but I've had the best luck with them.

 

[Imback]

Sorry to bring back this thread but i'm trying to get an OEM crankshaft pully but can't find the part #

Can any help me out.

 

[snowborder714]

Part number - MD377604
Price - $118.75
JNZ Tuning Online- OEM Mitsubishi Parts

 

[jimmybosox]

karking.com

KarKing has them for $50.

I got one and had a mechanic install it. He called me before putting it on and said that he did not think it was the right one. It looked different than the one that was on the car, and by the looks of it, he thought it would wobble. He wanted me to come to the shop and look at it to show me what he meant. I called KarKing and relayed that info. They assured me that even though it looked different, they had installed hundreds of these with no issues. I told the shop to go ahead and put it on. My belt squeal stopped for a few days, and now is back. I haven't had a chance to really look at the belts/pulleys since the swap, so I'm not sure if the pulley is indeed wobbling or not. It sounds like my mechanic may have been right. Of course, maybe I just got a bad pulley.

Just thought I'd throw in a place with these for about 1/2 what JNZ sells them for. Maybe someone else can order one and see if they have the same problem as I have.

 

[Imback]

Thanks for the replies i ended up having to get it from the dealer since i need to replace it ASAP.

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

I had a similar sound in my car too actually. I thought it could have been rod knock or squealing out of the bottom end for some strange reason but it was more like the sound in the first video clip. Would the bottom end ever make a sound like this? I have a little bit of piston slap from the Wisecos but i'm not that easy on the car either.

Just from the read of this entire dinosaur thread it sounds to me like I need to just replace my stock balancer with a new Fluidine and it will be all good?

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

My alternator belt is squealing too now. Its been doing it for the past month or so. And the belt was just replaced. I will check the tension, and the crank pully, but i dont know why all of a sudden it would just happen to do it. It never did it before i changed the belts. It only does it on warmup sometimes, and sometimes when i come to a stop. It will only do that for a split second. On warmups, it varies for the length of time.

James

 

[Turbo Talon DL]

My alternator belt is squealing too now. Its been doing it for the past month or so. And the belt was just replaced. I will check the tension, and the crank pully, but i dont know why all of a sudden it would just happen to do it. It never did it before i changed the belts. It only does it on warmup sometimes, and sometimes when i come to a stop. It will only do that for a split second. On warmups, it varies for the length of time.

James

I just finished a head swap over the weekend and I had been working outside in relative cold. Garage is in mid 40s at the parent's house. The high today in Southern IL was in the twenties!! Most of the people having problems seem to be in this region when it get really REALLY cold. My car never did this before unless it was because I just did a crap job at tightening the alternator. Belt tension was fine and no wobble of the balancer visible. No lights or anything like the battery or radiator. Oil pressure has been slightly lower due to what I hope to be my mix of 10w-30 and 10w-40 Mobil clean 5000.

 

[cheap90gsx]

is this a common problem with other asian cars? or specific only to dsm's?

 

[tsitalon03]

Almost a month ago, my alt belt started squealing so I put a new one in. A few days later the same annoying noise came right back. After reading all 4 pages of this thread, I'm starting to think its the crank pulley. Here are my symptoms:
Squeal at startup, idle, downshifts
Interior lights, stereo, headlights flickering
Very high idle, bad idle surge (possibly another topic)

So what do you guys think? p.s. the alt is 4 months old.

 

[wildecat2one]

YouTube - DSCF4013.avi

Someone please help me with my problem, check my video out and let me know what you think.

 

[slipkid]

Thanks for this informative thread. I think I have this same problem. My '99 GSX squeals like crazy when starting up cold, noise lasts about 10-30 seconds then goes away. Don't notice anything electrical wise so am not thinking alternator related.

It started doing this last winter and I had a ton of work done by JNZ at the time (trans rebuild, clutch, timing chain, water pump, thermostat, + more), and I mentioned the squealing to them, they tightened belts and it went away for a few days but came back, so they changed the belts and I thought that was the end of the problem, but this winter it is doing it all over again.

Guess belts could get loose or go bad after only 6-9 months but could this be the "harmonic dampener" issue?? That is, if it was the dampener before would it have stopped making noise with new belts?? Or does this sound more like a belt might just be loose or no good again?

 

[sk8erfourlife18]

hey im having the same prob but i got a 1.8l what fixed your problem