Noise at idle - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

vinsZR-1 · 05-03-2011

I'm getting what sounds like a bird chirping at idle. Any ideas on what pulley it can be ?
Vince #1966

QB93Z · 05-03-2011

The usual suspects are the idler pulley, the alternator, or the water pump.

I would start trouble shooting by removing the serpentine belt and spin each pulley by hand. The slight noise you hear may not be detectable at hand spin speed, but you might get lucky and find the culprit.

Another tool is a mechanics stethoscope. I got one at Sears. Just be very careful sticking the probe in the belt area when the engine is running.

The easiest to replace is the idler pulley. I have a good used spare that I will ship to you if you want to try and swap it out to see if it is the source. All I ask is that you ship it back to me at some point.

Jim

A26B · 05-03-2011

For reference, in case you ultimately need something.

Belt Tensioner Pulley
http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...roducts_id=573

Complete Belt Tensioner
http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...roducts_id=572

Alternator
http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...9e08c715b063ac

Water Pump
http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...products_id=45

tomtom72 · 05-03-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinsZR-1

I'm getting what sounds like a bird chirping at idle. Any ideas on what pulley it can be ?
Vince #1966

Mine was making a chirping noise and I couldn't find much by turning the pulleys by hand. I had a new belt & figured what the heck. The belt on the car was six yrs old & had 37+ thou on it so I swapped it and the chirp was silenced.

Tom

GOLDCYLON · 05-03-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by QB93Z

The usual suspects are the idler pulley, the alternator, or the water pump.

| 1990 ZR-1 | · 05-03-2011

I also had a slight chirping during idle, and after replacing the belt, it went away.

What happens is that the surface on the pullies tends to rust during the the engine is not running, and when you start the car up, that rust tends to smear on the belt surface and create a very fine metalic film which is actually visible in between the V grooves on old belts. So it's almost like metal rubbing against metal, hence the squicking sound. If the belt is old, 99% of the time that's the cause.

05-03-2011	#2
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,684	Re: Noise at idle The usual suspects are the idler pulley, the alternator, or the water pump. I would start trouble shooting by removing the serpentine belt and spin each pulley by hand. The slight noise you hear may not be detectable at hand spin speed, but you might get lucky and find the culprit. Another tool is a mechanics stethoscope. I got one at Sears. Just be very careful sticking the probe in the belt area when the engine is running. The easiest to replace is the idler pulley. I have a good used spare that I will ship to you if you want to try and swap it out to see if it is the source. All I ask is that you ship it back to me at some point. Jim

05-03-2011	#3
A26B Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Arcadia, OK Posts: 3,394	Re: Noise at idle For reference, in case you ultimately need something. Belt Tensioner Pulley http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...roducts_id=573 Complete Belt Tensioner http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...roducts_id=572 Alternator http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...9e08c715b063ac Water Pump http://jerrysgaskets.com/store2/root...products_id=45 __________________ Jerry Downey JERRYS LT5 GASKETS & PARTS http://www.jerrysgaskets.com 1994 *ZR-1*, Black/Black, Lingenfelter Aerobody, 416cu in, 3.91 gears, coil-over susp, Brembo brakes, etc. 2016 Black-Red, 3LT-Z51 Auto 8-speed.

05-03-2011	#6
\| 1990 ZR-1 \| Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Medford, NJ Posts: 75	Re: Noise at idle I also had a slight chirping during idle, and after replacing the belt, it went away. What happens is that the surface on the pullies tends to rust during the the engine is not running, and when you start the car up, that rust tends to smear on the belt surface and create a very fine metalic film which is actually visible in between the V grooves on old belts. So it's almost like metal rubbing against metal, hence the squicking sound. If the belt is old, 99% of the time that's the cause.

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05-03-2011	#1
vinsZR-1 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Jeannette Pa Posts: 61	Noise at idle I'm getting what sounds like a bird chirping at idle. Any ideas on what pulley it can be ? Vince #1966