Belt squeak

[Matt Todd]

Hey guys, so I’m still a fresh ram truck owner so I’m not sure if this is just a normal quirk that these trucks have or not. Since the weathers dropped a little here, cold starts on my truck always have a pretty aggressive squeak from what I imagine to be the belt. It usually goes away after 5-10 minutes. I just wanted some input on if this is normal or if t requires my attention. Thanks for the help.

 

[JohnnyMac]

If the belt is properly tightened then it is not normal. Generally that's the belt telling you either it needs to be tightened, or it has slipped enough times that it's a little glazed and will pretty much always squeal. Have you checked it to make sure it isn't just a little loose. They do stretch over time. I'd start there.

 

[Matt Todd]

Also, not sure if this is a factor or not but we just had a pretty heavy rain. Not sure if when the belt gets excessively wet it makes noise at first.

 

[Matt Todd]

If the belt is properly tightened then it is not normal. Generally that's the belt telling you either it needs to be tightened, or it has slipped enough times that it's a little glazed and will pretty much always squeal. Have you checked it to make sure it isn't just a little loose. They do stretch over time. I'd start there.

What should I look for when checking the tightness? Like how much should it move when I try to wiggle it?

 

[JohnnyMac]

I've used this method, but I have never dealt with a 5.7 hemi. I know you've got a pretty big serpentine, so there may be some longer runs that you can actually turn it more than 90 degrees.

 

[SYKRAMMAN]

What should I look for when checking the tightness? Like how much should it move when I try to wiggle it?

It shouldn’t move much, maybe a 1/4” at its shortest run. You should also take the belt off and check pulleys to make sure you don’t have a bad bearing making the squeal.

 

[Matt Todd]

So nobody seems to think it’s just a natural thing that’s occurring since it goes away after a short while?

 

[Matt Todd]

It shouldn’t move much, maybe a 1/4” at its shortest run. You should also take the belt off and check pulleys to make sure you don’t have a bad bearing making the squeal.

How would one check the pulleys?

 

[Matt Todd]

Update, it must’ve been my imagination thinking that the squeak went away this morning. Got home and it was still squeaking. The belt looks good as far as showing signs of age and it appears to be at the right tension. So now my concern goes to the pulleys as someone else had previously mentioned. So my question now is, how do I check the pulleys, what to look for, and how complicated is it to fix if it comes down to that?

 

[turkeybird56]

Check the idler tension pulley. Also, check your charging system and see how good/bad the battery is being charged. A sign of a loose belt/bad pulley hindering belt would be too low of a charge going into the charging system (battery)...

Added: And no, not normal ref belt squeal. Either belt, bearing, idler tension pulley or a combo...

https://www.google.com/search?q=200...0KHaJsDIcQ9QEwFXoECAQQCg#imgrc=rYo57HMxEfv3rM:

 

[Matt Todd]

I’m sorry guys I’m not trying to come across as an ******* but I don’t know how to check pulleys or determine a good charge (which I’m guessing requires a volt meter of some sort). Do I pull the belt and spin the pulleys and listen for a noise or keep an eye out for movement?

 

[SYKRAMMAN]

I’m sorry guys I’m not trying to come across as an ******* but I don’t know how to check pulleys or determine a good charge (which I’m guessing requires a volt meter of some sort). Do I pull the belt and spin the pulleys and listen for a noise or keep an eye out for movement?

Yes, pull the belt and spin each pulley and listen for noise, also watch for movement as there shouldn’t be any at all. Yes you will need a volt meter to check voltage, you can use a parts store meter as they aren’t expensive, 20$ meter will work fine. Your not coming across as an ass, your just asking genuine questions. Check the ol’ YouTube for vids on how to, should be plenty of them.

 

[grizzstang]

When you have the belt off to check the pulleys just replace it. I see your truck is a 2009 so unless you know when it was done last it could be 9 years old. Belts get hard over time and are prone to squeal (slip) when they get old. I like the Continental Elite belts for replacement.

 

[JohnnyMac]

I’m sorry guys I’m not trying to come across as an ******* but I don’t know how to check pulleys or determine a good charge (which I’m guessing requires a volt meter of some sort). Do I pull the belt and spin the pulleys and listen for a noise or keep an eye out for movement?

You can get a little squirt gun and as the truck is running, squirt a little water on the belt, and if the squeal goes away, then it's the belt squealing. If the squeal stays after you squirt water, then its a pulley. If you go to youtube and search "diagnosing belt squeal" you'll get quite a bit of information on how to do it. Youtube is your friend....

 

[turkeybird56]

W/O his buying a volt meter, doesn't that 2009 have a battery voltage readout in EVIC or a gauge somewhere. He could check that. If memory serves me right, a lot of the auto stores also hook up and check Batteries and Charge systems for free, that would be another option. Just thinking out loud.........If he was closer, I would stop by and help. But DE a long way from TX.

When he said belt squeak, the idler pulley, serpentine belt and was vehicle getting a charge was the first thoughts in my senile mind, LOL........