Need Help With My Truck

Hello everyone,
I need some help with my truck. I have a 94 Chev 1/2 ton ext cab with gas and propane. Right now it's making this squealing noise and I don't know what it could be from. To me it sounds like it might be the serpentine belt but I'm not really sure. It only does it when it's warm but when I accelerate it stops.

Any suggests as what to do would be great!!!
Thanks!!

Sounds like the Serp belt to me. There should be a tensioner pulley somewhere allong the line (not sure where) so loosen that bolt and retighten it wile pulling the pulley as tightly against the belt as possible, (without stretching the belt too much). It may help to know what motor you have, and if there's AC. I imagine the tensioner would still be in the same place with AC, but you never know. GM stopped making it easy when the trucks went to FI.

Does it happen when you turn the wheel? Turn on AC? Does it go away if you rev it up in park?

When was the last time you changed the belt? If it's stretching when it warms up, it's probably pretty warn out. Look for cracking on the bends, or freying. If that goes on you while you're heading down the highway, you're SOL. No power steering, no water pump, no fan (which won't matter if the pumps not turning), and no alternator. Your battery will probably die before your engine overheats, if your'e lucky.

My truck is a 4.3L with AC. I notice that the noise only goes away when it's accelerating or being at a steady rev in park or stopped at a light. It still does it when I turn a corner or when the AC is on.

I know that the serpentine belt is pretty tight since my mechanic and I just changed the water pump in the truck about three weeks ago and it looked alright. It wasn't really frayed or cracked so we didn't change it. My boyfriend picked up a new tensioner today so were going to see if that works. I'll probably be able to get it changed next week since my mechanic and my boyfriend are going up to his dad's this weekend and I just pray nothing happens since I have the truck all weekend! I might just go a bit insane from the noise but other than that I hope it makes it!! LOL

Thanks for your help Oldraven, I appreciate it!!!

Hi: Sometimes even a new belt will squeak... you can purchase a can of belt spray for a few dollars at any parts store, and that will stop the noise for a while. Just apply it with the engine running so the entire belt is covered.

Ah. It may even be the tensioner pulley bearing, if it happens at a steady speed along the rev range, but not while accellerating. Let us know if the new pulley does the trick.

Well my mechanic looked at the truck this morning after I dropped off my boyfriend off at his place and he said it's not the tensioner since it wouldn't make that loud of a noise. So he looked at the truck and kind of fiddled with it and he says that it's a vacuum leak. He said that the air filter is plugged and it's sucking air from where ever it can that's why it's making the noise. So I have to take back the $70 tensioner that I didn't even need!!! But on the good side it's a lot cheaper fix!!!

Maybe the air filter. Vaccum leaks aren't always cheap. Depending on where, it may be quite expensive. Did the new Filter clear it up?

The guys just got back tonight pretty late this evening so hopefully *crosses fingers* it'll get done in the next couple of days!!!

I have yet to see any belt dressing that was intended for use on serpentine belts. If you read the fine print, they'll say that usage is not recommended.

Hi all,
I own a 1994 six cylinder ISUZU TROOPER. I bought it new, and it has been maintained well, and has always served me well. Anyway, it just turned 100,000 miles, and all though the tiers and the shocks are relatively new. I’m now looking at investing some $3000 to fix exhaust system, the main power window switch, and the left turn directional switch. (You know it gets pretty cold having to use hand signals when ever you’re making a left turn) I’m also probably looking at investing some more money into it, in about 20,000 miles, to replace the timing belt. Other then that, it’s still clean, and it was named correctly, because it runs like a Trooper. In fact, it’s one of the best vehicles I have ever owned. So what do you think, should I fix it, and try to get another few years out of it, (which I’m leaning towards, because I’m hoping that there will be a more “environmentally designed SUV” to replace it with, within the next couple of years), or, should I just replace it now?
Thanks,
JC

It sounds to me like you really like the truck. That being the case, why get rid of it? It'll cost a lot more to get a new one than to fix this one, and in a few years all the new hybrids hitting the market right now will be affordable used.

If you're happy with it now, you'll be even happier with it running perfect.

Thanks for verifying my thinking, not so oldravan. For me these decisions often come down to coin flip. Hope all is well with the new baby.
Thanks again,
JC