:santa: 05 f-150 XLT Well I was pulled off the side of the freeway and had to merge back on, So I stopped it. I figured this is my chance to really nail to see what my truck could do. So as it accelerating Its cookin, But last gear it shifted in to it made a chirp or a squeak in the tranny. To here that over the engine and wind at 80mph it cant be good..Any idea????

 

At WOT, after it gets some age on the serpentine belt has a tendency to chirp at the shifts. Basically the engine drops RPM, but the accessories are still going close to 5000RPM. Basically laying rubber with the serpentine belt. Mine does the same. I haven't tried it, but have heard that the Goodyear Gatorback belts stop this. Personally, it doesn't bother me that much and se no reason to change the belt before it is due.

 

Indeed, it's just the belt squeaking as the engine slows faster than the rest of the accessories. A Gatorback will solve that one.

-Joe

 

Thats makes good sence... ok then I will wait till time to change out belt and put in a gator bely... chow
Kboozy:santa:

 

mine still slips with the Gatorback belt, just wanted to let you know that there is a chance you may still hear it....

-Brian

 

And stow the old belt under the seat or something for that cold rainy day when (not if) ya lose a belt.

Adrianspeeder

 

Whats the life of these belts?

 

I gotta say, the stock belt life was 160 000 km's before I changed, really had lots left in her, but I was trying to isolate a problem. I hear the Gatorback lasts a bit longer and costs a bit more. I personally don't care, they had a Gates at Carquest so I got that one. I would expect them all to last about 200 000 km's, ?? miles, 120 000 miles? maybe. That chirp sure can be a noisy bitch huh? Makes you think problems are elsewhere. I would think the only true elimination would be underdriven pulley's, makes sense and gain a few ponies.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I thought some part of my tranny was going out. I feel better now.

 

My OEM belt started chirping at 12k miles. It would happen when cresting the top of a sand dune, going quickly from wide open throttle back to idle. The gatorback has never made a peep in the 34,000 miles and four years since.

-Joe

 

They usually recomend belt change at 75k i believe. Another one of those preventative maintance things that cant hurt to do early.

When i raced edward, i could hear his belt squeak at every shift over the sound of my truck at WOT....

Mine squeaks maybe 50% of the time (when racing, or running WOT) a good way to get it to squeak, is run it up in 1st gear and right before it shifts, let off completely.
-Patrick