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SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER-NOISE


ken's caddy

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1997 STS with 75K miles. I hear noise coming from the serpentine belt tensioner assembly and/or the drive belt idler pulley. Has anyone had this problem? Is there something that can be sprayed onto the "bearings", or just replace both items? Is this a comand problem? And if so, what one is the problem? (or both)

Thanks Ken

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Its funny that you say this! I took my stethescope and did some listening over the weekend and also believe that I am getting noise out of it, the whinning noise is definately louder around the tensioner. It makes my beautiful car sound crappy! LOL...

I called caddy and they wanted $75, and then requested a quote from www.gmotors.com and they quoted $60 including shipping, not bad, so I am going to order it Friday. My Deville only has 51,000 miles on it, but it is a 1996, so maybe its an age related failure and not a mileage related failure (grease dried out or leaked out). Mike

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I just replaced both the tensioner and the idler pulley. I had a roughness and squeeling in that area but couldn't really figure out where it was coming from. The replacement of both parts did solve some of the problem, but I still this feeling that there is something not right with it. It runs fine and the mileage is pretty bang on for -15 driving conditions, but it doesn't feel smooth and doesn't sound as smooth as I believe it can be. I still get almost a rubbing sound with it. I thought that it could be my alternator, but I had a test done to it not too long ago and everything was fine with it. It seems to be okay when in nuetral or park, but whenever I put a load on the engine like placing it in drive or reverse it gives a whirring noise that I can feel in my brake pedal which is not as noticeable when there is no load.

So, in the end, I'm glad that I replaced both items since they did need to be done, but it hasn't really solved the problem to my satisfaction. I don't know if you're in the same boat as me, but that's my experience.

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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I thought that it could be my alternator, but I had a test done to it not too long ago and everything was fine with it.

Ken don't eliminate your alternator so fast. I had a whine in my 91 and took the alternator out and had it bench tested and they told me it was fine. Whine was still there and my stethescope told me it was the alternator. I myself bought a very high quality front bearing and had them replace the front bearing, WHINE GONE!!!

When I rolled the bearing in my fingers, it would intermittantly jam up, it was as if, the bearing had a flat spot somewhere on it! The alternator was rebuilt by a local shop, that does GOOD work, BUT they used a bearing MADE IN CHINA.... I HATE that! I bought an American made bearing by the way! Mike

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I have fixed several idler pullys by just replacing the bearing. Haven't looked at the Cadillac but some I had to drill out the rivets then replace with small screws and locktited nuts. Works well. Just get the bearing no. off of the bearing (or the O.D and I.D.) and get a replacement from a bearing supplier. Cost was about $8.

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Ken don't eliminate your alternator so fast. I had a whine in my 91 and took the alternator out and had it bench tested and they told me it was fine. Whine was still there and my stethescope told me it was the alternator. I myself bought a very high quality front bearing and had them replace the front bearing, WHINE GONE!!!

When I rolled the bearing in my fingers, it would intermittantly jam up, it was as if, the bearing had a flat spot somewhere on it! The alternator was rebuilt by a local shop, that does GOOD work, BUT they used a bearing MADE IN CHINA.... I HATE that! I bought an American made bearing by the way! Mike

Thanks for the input Scotty. I have a sneaky suspicion that the noise I'm hearing is from my alternator, it's kind of "growly". I know for sure it's something on that side. I have had the old "light flicker" from the headlights and interior lights for the past year, but so far so good with not losing a charge from the battery. Volts are right up and I added an amp to my system and it's still running fine. Voltage runs anywhere from 14.0 to 15.0

I tried to get my mechanic to diagnose the problem, but he thought it was a timing belt tensioner, which I pretty much ruled out.

Thanks again.

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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Ken if you can get to it, take a length of hose (3/4") and place it carefully on the alternator (be careful not to contact the belt or any accessories), and listen for the whine or growl. Listen to the tensioner also. I have a doctors stethoscope that I use. I think that SEARS sells a stethoscope with a metal prod on it that you can touch to the suspecting accessory. It may be time for a new alternator if you are getting the flashing, how steady is your digital voltmeter? Mike

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It's been pretty much all over the place when it comes to the voltage readout on my DIC. On my way to Fargo, ND this past weekend, it was anywhere from 14.4 to 14.7 to 14.2 to 15.0, so it is jumping around a bit. If I can remember correctly, it used to be in the 12.8 to 14.0 range max about a year ago, even with accessories on. It's just been too darn cold to do anything here in the central plains. It did make it through all the -35 to -40 degree weather we've had for the past two weeks though albeit a little rough. I do notice a faint whine sometimes when I'm starting to accelerate through first and second gear and it goes in tune with the shifting of gears. It's not my tranny, it shifts perfectly. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet soon and replace the alternator. I did get pricing on it and here in Canada they are $372.00 Cdn. from GM and that's with the $55.00 core charge taken out of the price already.

Any ideas on a better deal on parts?

Thanks Mike

1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles)

<img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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Replaced both tensioner and idler pulley on my 96 sls , at about 75000, Removed most of bearing noise , and i thought it was the alternator too, but , remember the water pump has a small tensioner on it , and guess what . HERE is where my noise came from. The bearing in it was bad. It was intermittent noise , which drove me crazy. NOW all are new, and ready for the next 75,000 ./

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  • 2 weeks later...

Is the tensioner making noise? Is the power steering pump the culpirt? Possibly. But, just because the alternator checks out, doesen't mean that it is not the culprit.

I had a customer with a similar noise problem, and a thrifty attitude. I diagnosed the noise coming from the alternator. He decided to drive it until it "broke". 13 months later, I replaced the alternator.

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