I recently moved from Texas (hot and dry) to Boston (cold and wet) and have noticed on rainy or heavy fog mornings that i have belt squeak at start up. it never happens on normal sunny days, and seems to go away 5 miles down the road or after everything warm up or dries out.

i looked though some old posts, ideas from tightening the belt, lubing the belt to replacing it. the truck - 4.6L has just over 32K miles on it now, and i assume the belt is still good if it only happens under these conditions.

do these tension themselves or not? covered under warrenty?


Thanks

 

if it is only doing it on cold and wet days, then that is it. the belt is cold and wet. no problem, you yourself said it goes away when things are all warmed up. if you want spray some "belt dressing" on it! but all your prob is a little dew on the belts and interior parts. Willie

 

should have stayed in texas

 

Thanks.
yeah, the truck was much happier in Texas for sure

 

Goodyear Gatorbacks. I replaced my stock with one of them. No more sqeaks. Wife appreciates it at 5 AM

 

I went through three new Ford belts, and two tensioners before finding the Gatorback. Two years later it's still very silent. There's minimal squeek on really wet days, but nothing like a smooth belt. Mine was squealing constantly anytime it was running, when I finally got sick of it. The truck was pulled into the repair bay squealing like a stuck pig, and came out quiet. Worth every single penny, parts and labor.,,,,98

 

how easy is it to toss a new gatorback on myself? slip the old one off, slip the new one on?

 

I think there's a 1/2" socket wrench hole in the tensioner, so you can push on it, and remove the belt. As long as you get the routing correct, you should have no trouble. Count the belt ribs to make sure it's the correct. Some trucks have different pulleys, from what I've heard. Mine had a diagram under the hood somewhere? It was probably on the rad. cover sticker, it blew off in a pressure washer session.,,,,98

 

sounds easy enough. i did a Saturn's a few years back, wasn't too bad. didn't know if this easier or more trouble.

 

The more trouble is probably right, but because of the length of the belt, hehe.,,,,98

 

Prolly not cause of the ease of access to a ford truck motor as to a saturn. Those saturn engines are pretty smashed in there.

 

The belt routing as well as removal/replacement info is on that big sticker under your hood right next to the hood latch. If you haven't seen the sticker than you probably need to let someone else change the belt for you.

 

great, thanks guys

 

Let us know if it kills the squeal. Mine never made a single noise before the timing cover gasket was changed. This dealer left the power steering pump bolts hanging out a 1/4". ALL of them, lol. I also had to tighten the A/C compressor, after I started getting a loud buzzing noise during WOT. The squeal remained until the Gatorback went on. You might grab a wrench or two, and make sure your accessories are tight while you have the belt off. If only for piece of mind alone.,,,,,98

 

Mine just starting having a squeal occaissionally within the last 2 months. Definitely seems to be associated with cold or cold & wet weather. Only lasts a few seconds after starting. Belt is from Ford; about 3-4 years old.

What does a Gatorback belt cost?