[PIC/VIDEO]: Serpentine belt tensioner markings. What does this mean? Squeak noise

[aljordan]

I'd bet the alternator's drive end bearing is dry causing the noise. Mine has the same noise. I'm planning on rebuilding the alternator this summer.

 

[silver02accord]

Replaced serpentine belt today. Is this too much sound from idler pulley-also seems to be spin very very freely. Engine was dead cold.

 

[primetime4]

Replaced serpentine belt today. Is this too much sound from idler pulley-also seems to be spin very very freely. Engine was dead cold.

Without watching the video why not just replace the idler while you’re under there? Takes a few more seconds while the belt is off. My new idler did not spin freely at all and felt firm.

 

[2001LC]

Replaced serpentine belt today. Is this too much sound from idler pulley-also seems to be spin very very freely. Engine was dead cold.

Absolutely. Replace it!

 

[silver02accord]

Absolutely. Replace it!

The tensioner had a lot of snap when I was turning it ccw so I think it's good and has been replaced recently by po at lexus. The pulley for the tensioner spun freely like the idler pulley in the video-but wasn't noisy. Should there be a bit of resistance on the tensioner pulley or does it spin fast and free too. The tensioner mark is dead in the middle of the 3 hashes.

 

[2001LC]

The more or longer they free spin, the worst off they are. New can't be spun a 1/2 revolution and are silent.

 

[mdcoa]

Bordering on completely unrelated: on my Land Rover 300Tdi I cured an insane serpentine belt squeal by using a penny as a shim between the tensioner arm mounting end and the engine at 12'oclock. Pretty common (and affordable!) fix for those. Go figure. So glad I now have a Toyota . . .

 

[Mike NXP]

Sigh. I can't get this resolved. New video attached below, but it's the same thing. This time I replaced the tensioner+pulley and the serpentine belt, all directly from Toyota.

-top idler pulley, OEM
-serpentine belt (twice, first wasn't OEM)
-tensioner unit and idler pulley, OEM
-timing belt was replaced with Aisin kit 10k mi ago

I think the original serpentine tensioner was OK but the bearings on the idler pulleys were very gritty, so I don't feel bad about replacing them. Spinning everything else by hand (PS pump, alternator, fan bracket, AC compressor), the bearings feel normal. no wobble, grittiness or looseness. It doesn't matter whether the AC compressor is on or off.

Part of me worries that this could be a defective roller from the Aisin TB kit or the fan bracket, but I've already thrown a couple hundred bucks at the obvious-seeming stuff (gritty idlers, etc) only to get nowhere. So I'm hesitant to start ripping stuff out unless I'm sure.

One clue I have is that the previous owner replaced the serpentine belt (with the previous one, non-OEM) due to a squeak. So perhaps this has nothing to do with my Aisin TB kit. Who really knows.

This ONLY happens when it's less than 40 degrees outside, ONLY on the first cold start of the morning and ONLY lasts a minute or less.

But I can't stand it.

Hey, did you ever sort out this noise?

I have the EXACT same noise and symptoms. Similar parts on mine have been replaced as well....... Well actually ever part that spins by the accessory and timing belt are new OEM within the last 2 years ( except AC compressor )

I'm honing in in the fan bracket bearing since the fan is the only spinny part that makes some noise with the belt off, but the bracket was replaced not that long ago .

Stethoscope has that noise audible when touching several areas in that ballpark and the bolt on the top idler (which I just replaced again because I'm going nuts )