carlssbad350

at an idle i hear a noise just as post says. what could this be, i just got a new factory waterpump installed- could that have anything to do with it?

1997rblckSS

tensioner, I am pretty positive it is your pulley tensioner.

n2ceptor

ditto.......

carlssbad350

what is that and about how much does it cost to fix?

EviLBoX

They're talking about the tensioner pulley. If you look under the car on the front of the engine, it's the small pulley on the left that you use to remove the belt. I have the same "cricket" noise you have and was told to check out the tensioner pulley, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

GREGG 97Z

I had that noise for a while and it was the belt slipping a little. New belt, no more cricket. I'd try a new belt first if yours has some miles on it, if not that then the tensioner.

mineralwater

I had that sound as well, and it seemed to be coming from the alternator.

However, after I removed the alternator, and put it back on, the chirping stopped.

1997rblckSS

shade tree mechanic trick, if it is the alternator, take a long screw driver and put the head of it on the alternator pulley bolt, put your ear on the opposite end of the screw driver(do this while the car is running) you should be able to hear it if it is the alternator making the noise believe it or not...
The pulley tensioner is a little bit easier to get to under the car from the front. It is held in by a few bolts. The cricket noise will only get worse if it is the tensioner, I have had to replace it 3 times!!! and replace your belt while you are at it...

mkent

my car also has the cricket noise, it's done it ever since i replaced my water pump a couple months ago! the belt is new too. the noise drives me crazy!!! i put my head up under the car by the tensioner pulley while it was running but the noise seems to be coming from the pulley underneath the alternator...? i'm not sure what it goes to, maybe power steering or AC? but it is not affected when i turn the wheels so it must not be power steering...and it doesn't change when i turn on the AC.
so maybe it is the tensioner.
but what makes these things squeak? can't we just take it off and spray some lubericant in it?

1997rblckSS

Its sealed up, so you can, but you will probably make it worse.(I tried it believe me it doesn't work) I tried cleaning it with some Brake cleaner etc, no go.
Mine happened when my water pump went out, and was leaking all over the place, so it picked up some dirt and anti freeze.
I also went to school in Florida by the Beach in Florida, so Ipicked up alot of that sand that I will be forever shaking out of my floor mats (4 years ago!), but also the sand some how affected the pulley in a bad way.
only way to really fix it is just replace it.
It about a 36$ dealer item, and its easy to replace. takes me about 10 minutes.