Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac)


  Email This Post



mws0019
New User

Aug 5, 2014, 8:46 PM

Post #1 of 5 (2159 views)
2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac) Sign In

My wifes 2005 suburban 1500 LT (130k miles) has developed a worsening whine/squeel in recent weeks.

Things I know:
-The squeel happens at low speeds or when idling (stop signs and red lights produce it often)
-It sounds to be coming from the rear of the vehicle although this may be deceiving
-The only only two times the sound did not go away on its own as i sat for my garage door to open, it went away immediately once i turned off the AC.

Things I have tried:
-replaced AC belt that had minor cracking
-replaced AC belt tensioner that had minor movement to it
-Checked the idle pulleys, serpentine belt, serpentine belt tensioner and everything 'seemed' normal

I have not been able to produce this sound by just letting my car idle in my garage ( ive tried to let it run for 5 mintues just to be able to target the spot)

Any help on what I should check next based on my symptoms?


(This post was edited by mws0019 on Aug 5, 2014, 8:49 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 5, 2014, 11:30 PM

Post #2 of 5 (2127 views)
Re: 2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac) Sign In

Quote"Things I know:
-The squeel happens at low speeds or when idling (stop signs and red lights produce it often)
-It sounds to be coming from the rear of the vehicle although this may be deceiving
-The only only two times the sound did not go away on its own as i sat for my garage door to open, it went away immediately once i turned off the AC."
*************************
Doesn't this use two belts, one just for A/C and other for everything else with separate tensioners?


The common denominator seems to be the non A/C belt and alternator slipping with inadequate tension or belt at limits of tensioner should be a mark that it's at the end of range.


Load from A/C or other electrical draws also makes alternator work harder could explain noise when A/C in use but not that belt at all. If you can spin the alternator fins if equipped by hand with engine off it's not tight enough.


Other is that belt has just had it or tensioner. Sometimes noise will disappear with a spray of plain water on belt for a few moments instantly gone while wet. If no reaction not conclusive and if tight enough for sure spin the items again with belt removed should be silent and no feel of anything or play.


Your call, WD-40 on noisy belt if all else checks will shut up a shinned up belt but not the fix. Toss that belt for a high quality one favs being NAPA, Dayco, Goodyear at the moment and avoid generic - no real brand ones especially with a problem.


Noises travel so you said thought from rear. Hard to say and if inside a garage or reflected noise from driver's seat facing a door with vehicle easy to confuse noise of this type.


Belt noise is a common problem and can be elusive,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2014, 2:24 AM

Post #3 of 5 (2123 views)
Re: 2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac) Sign In

You said the sound is coming from the rear of the vehicle. That alone would eliminate a belt issue. If this has rear AC you could be hearing a blower motor or vacuum leak in the rear unit.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



mws0019
New User

Aug 6, 2014, 5:20 AM

Post #4 of 5 (2115 views)
Re: 2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac) Sign In

Yes, it has two belts. I only replaced the AC belt because it was cracked and the AC belt tensioner because it had some play to it.

The serpentine belt ( i had it off again last night) looks in excellent condition. Everything seemed silent when playing with the pulleys last night for either belt. I will try to spin the alternator fins tonight.

I am certain that I hear the noise from the rear of the vehicle but a mechanic friend of mine stated that it must be in the engine compartment with the symptoms that I have.

Im also going to look into the rear blower motor if it has one (i assumed it was all running off one motor)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 6, 2014, 6:37 AM

Post #5 of 5 (2114 views)
Re: 2005 suburban whine/squeak at low speeds (goes away when turning off ac) Sign In

If your vehicle has rear AC it will have separate blower and temp controls for that.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap