I have a 99 Ford Ranger 3.0L that has been having an annoying belt squeak for the last couple months. I have tried almost everything to get rid of the problem. I have changed all the pulleys, even the alternator. I have also replaced the belt twice. The belt that I took off to change had a part number for the belt of a 02-05 ford ranger, if I put this belt back on there would it make the squeak go away? Please I have tried almost everything and it just won't go away.

Thanks

 

Can you make sure that all the pulleys line up properly? As a temporary test place some brake fluid on the belt in a few places with the engine stopped. When you restart the vehicle is the noise gone? Also does this vehicle have air conditioning? ,,,,,,,,,,,hanky

 

Yes it is with air conditioner and the noise does stop when you put something on it, but it goes back to squeaking once you start moving.

 

The reason I inquired about A/C was the possibility of the A/C compressor clutch bearing, but if the squeak went away with the temp test it rules out the bearing. Belt dressing is messy and doesn't always work. I have rubbed soap from a cake of soap on noisy belts and it many times got rid of the noise. Usually a new fresh belt will not give noise problems. Is it tensioned to the proper tension? Tension idler assys do become sluggish. Is it free to move and take up any looseness. Also, if you remove the wires from the alternator so there is no load on the belt, does the noise stop?,,,,,hanky

 

have you checked the idler assy??? i should spin freely if it dose not it needs replacing.

 

hey!
When I used to work in the 'industry' for a noisy/squeaky belt I would crush up some "floor-dry" AKA kitty litter into a powder and sprinkle this on the belt as the car is running ****I AM NOT RECOMMENDING THAT YOU DO IT THIS WAY***** shut the truck off sprinkle it on the belts and pulleys and fire it up! - sure it makes a 'bit-o-mess' but gets rid of the NOISE (and most times that's all the customer cared about was the noise - they themselves NEVER looked under the hood) 99% of the time it worked first application.

belt noise is almost always (in automotive repair *never* say ALWAYS - anything is possible!) the belt moving at different speeds then the pulleys. this is caused by contamination on the belt/pulley, tension, or alignment, and of course a worn belt.