Yes. First of all you must never use any kind of belt dressing on serpentine belts. That will make road dust and dirt stick to it and make the squeal much worse. Now you'll need a new belt, but any dressing residue must be washed off all of the pulleys first.

Before the old belt is removed, sight along all of the pulleys to be sure they are in perfect alignment. If the belt appears to be peeking out-of-line on any pulley, that one can be expected to be worn, bent, or installed improperly. An out-of-line pulley will force the belt to slide across it as it goes around it. THAT'S where the squeal comes from assuming the belt is tight. Belt dressing or anything else that makes the belt sticky will make it harder for the belt to slide across the pulley, so the squeal will get worse.

Tug on the belt, (with the engine off, of course), to see if the spring-loaded tensioner pulley moves and retightens the belt when it's released. Sometimes rust forms in the pivot and the pulley won't hold sufficient tension on the belt.

To verify it really is a belt squeal, (when you aren't sure), lightly sprinkle a little water on the smooth back side while the engine is running and the noise is occurring. If the squeal changes, it's the belt.

Answered by caradiodoc (expert)
17,327 answers provided

MAYBE IF YOU HAVE THE BELT OFF---TURN THEN PULLEYS BY HAND, WILL THEY TURN?---WILL THEY TURN FREELY AND SMOOTHLY?---CHECK 'EM ALL!

CHECK OUT THE CENTER PORTION OF THE A/C PULLEY---WILL IT TURN FREELY (WITH CAR OFF OF COURSE!) OR IS THE COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP, AND THE SQUEAL IS FROM THE CLUTCH SLIDING ON THE PULLEY INSTEAD OF TURNING WITH IT?

THIS IS THE A/C OPERATION WITH CAR RUNNING----THIS IS SORTA GENERIC, YOURS MOST LIKELY LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT--THIS IS HOW THE A/C PULLEY AND CLUTCH SHOULD OPERATE (PULLEY AND [CENTER] CLUTCH--TURNING A/C OFF AND ON OR AS IT NORMALLY CYCLES---A/C AND DEFROST MODE WILL MAKE MOST OF THEM "TURN ON" AND CYCLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp8pXmlFq_w

KEEP US POSTED

THE MEDIC

Answered by CJ MEDEVAC (expert)
6,803 answers provided

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY

LISTEN NEAR YOUR THROTTLE BODY--DOES THE NOISE SEEM TO BE COMING FROM THERE?

I HAVE SEEN SOME TBs SCREAMING OUT A "KAZOO" LIKE SOUND--THE GASKETS WERE THE PROBLEM ON THOSE TWO

FUNNY THING IS IT WILL "TRICK YOU" INTO THINKING IT'S THE ALTERNATOR OR OTHER DEVICES W/ BEARINGS...IT IS A HARD SOUND TO PIN DOWN

TO MAYBE ISOLATE IT BETTER, USE A ABOUT 3' OF HEATER OR GARDEN HOSE---STICK ONE END IN YOUR EAR, USE THE OTHER END LIKE A STETHOSCOPE

WATCH OUT FOR THOSE PESKY MOVING PARTS !!!

ANY PROGRESS?

THE MEDIC

Answered by CJ MEDEVAC (expert)
6,803 answers provided