BillZX6

97 F150, 128k miles, 5.4, with A/C and so on. Just curious to see if anyone else has had trouble with belt noise. Tends to be worse when wet but will do it dry also.

My belt on my truck after awhile will start to squeek. I've been through 7 belts in 5 years. Usually it'll glaze the smooth side of the belt. I've had a belt last a year (Goodyear Gatorback) to a week ( AutoZone Duralast belt) before it gets noisey. Right now I'm running a Dayco Gold label and generally get 6 months out of one. So far I've replaced the idlers and the tensioner unit. The fan clutch appears to be working properly. The A/C compressor clutch went out in a really catastrophic way last week so it was replaced with a reman compressor and new clutch, along with a new belt i'm hoping lasts awhile. The power steering pump was replaced as well some time back. All the pulleys are straight, in good shape, and lined up as good as possible. The only thing yet to be replaced that uses the smooth side of the belt is the water pump but it seems to work freely, is quiet and the pulley seems ok. I sanded the surface of the pulley to get rid of the shine on it. I've even swapped the new idlers around just to see if it helps.

I've never had a problem like this. Usually I'd replace a belt on all my other vehicles when you look at them and think " Dang, that thing looks rough". and when they did get noisey I'd replace them and the tensioner, problem solved. Good thing belts have warranties.

Any ideas?

skizriz

I simply turn up the radio.
It's a common problem.

pickupsrule

When I read the heading I was thinking AC compressor or AC clutch about to fail. You have replaced that, so I suspect you solved the problem.

Austin97

I usually just hit the ribs of the belt with a dab of dielectric grease. Quiet's them right up. My truck sat for like a year before I bought it and the pulleys were coated in surface rust. I didn't even clean them and they're completely silent. I always use motorcraft belts, but I doubt it makes much difference.

BillZX6

I was hoping it was the A/C compressor but it's been doing this issue since 2005. This is really A/C compressor #2, the used one I put on last year went out. If you shoot it with carb cleaner or brake cleaner and hit the smooth side the noise stops for a bit and usually after a long time running the smooth side is all glazed.

I may try a Motorcraft belt next time. i know one thing, the Duralast one squeeked within days of putting it on. The smooth side of it felt like tire rubber where the Dayco is more, I guess you could say, plastic feeling.

I love the truck other than that. It only ever seems to have weird things go wrong with it, like the shift lever linkage coming loose, just bizarre things like that.

Austin97

That's not really bizarre, that shift linkage actually breaks a lot. Try dielectric grease, a spray will only stay for a second and the grease will keep it quiet. Not a lot just a little pea sized dab, while the truck is running touch it to the belt and it'll spread right around and quiet it down.

BillZX6

I'll have to deffinatly try that if or when this belt gets noisey. Thanks!