squeaking pulley

[white95birdta]

I need some help, Car is a 95 trans am lt1. pretty much stock. I heard a loud squeal when i would start my car and then randomly as i would drive it at lower speeds, but not on the freeway.the belt had a little bit of back and forth motion from the alternator down to the a/c compressor when running. Also when the car would start i would not have alternator or p/s so im guessing no accessory motion. started poking around and saw my belt was a little glazed and starting to fray, and what sounded like screeching from the alternator. I purchased a different alternator and goodyear gatorback belt and the squealing got better but not all the way gone. read online further and found the a/c compressor is a common problem so i went outside, started the car and turned on the ac and the belt just stood still and everything seized up. I'm thinking bingo, theres the problem. last night i purchased the ac delete pulley from advance auto, removed the compressor and installed. the majority of screeching is gone, but now power steering feels like its fighting me when i turn and comes in and out, and the alternator still doesnt charge when it starts, but if i rev it up high enough it kicks everything back into working fine and the squeak stops. I removed the belt tensioner pulley and put bearing grease in it to try and remedy the problem and still no luck. Any ideas? power steering pump? all the pulleys seem to move freely with no belt on. tensioner bad? maybe the a/c delete pulley isnt aligned properly? but it looks dead on. im stuck and getting frustrated. sorry for the novel. THANKS! Kevin

[Phantom409]

I have replaced the tension pulley before.

Are you sure it's not the idler pulley up by the Alt./PWR strearing?

A quick way to tell is to use a wood dowel and place it on or near the object to see if that is it.

As for the Alt. still not charging, did you get everything hooked back up and tight?

[white95birdta]

well the alt does charge, but only once i rev the engine, its like i have to rev it up to get everything moving or something, and once that happens the squeaking stops too. but everything under the hood is spinning even in that state. i do notice that when it first starts there is alot of play in the belt from the alt straight down it will wiggle front to back alot, then it seems to tighten a bit more and the squeaking subsides. sounds like im talking my way into a new tensioner.

[98blackbeauty]

that was my first thought when reading novel. LOL.

[white95birdta]

any recommendations on a replacement tensioner? should i just get it from autozone, or is there a preferred aftermarket one people are using? i know the ls guys have a few they swear by.

[Phantom409]

sounds like im talking my way into a new tensioner.

I think you have found your problem.
If the alt. isn't charging right away then the belt probably isn't tight enough to spin it fast enough until you rev it and take up the slack.

[Derek]

any recommendations on a replacement tensioner? should i just get it from autozone, or is there a preferred aftermarket one people are using? i know the ls guys have a few they swear by.

Just get whatever the parts store has, thats what I did on my ls1. I don't know why it would have to be something excessively special?

[Phantom409]

Just get whatever the parts store has, thats what I did on my ls1. I don't know why it would have to be something excessively special?

Ya, Auto Zone or what ever will work fine.

[white95birdta]

I recall reading something about people popping belts all the time and stuff so people are replacing pulleys with ones that have taller sides or replacing with manual tensioners instead of the self adjusting type. Thanks for all the help, this board rocks. Love having so many helpful local F-bod lovers.

[Derek]

I recall reading something about people popping belts all the time and stuff so people are replacing pulleys with ones that have taller sides or replacing with manual tensioners instead of the self adjusting type. Thanks for all the help, this board rocks. Love having so many helpful local F-bod lovers.

no tensioner will have taller sides you might be thinking of aftermarket underdrive pulleys or something, just buy one of the factory style replacement ones. When I replaced mine like a month ago I bought a goodyear gatorback tensioner. It was right around the same price as the other brand our shop supplier had. Its been working great..

[white95birdta]

new tensioner solved the problem. thanks everyone. Now to fix the exhaust leak...upgrade time.