Tuesdaynightfever

Hey guys, my 2000 Honda Civic Cx (all stock) has a very loud squeak when the car is on. The squeak is much more noticeable when it is raining/damp. The squeak also changes pitches when I turn on/off the a/c. This used to happen mostly at idle, but now I notice it even when I am driving (again, depending on a/c and weather conditions).

At first I thought it was the belt, but I have tried so many different degrees of tightening/loosening with no luck.

I am now starting to think it is the idler pulley. What are some ways to tell if it is my idler pulley, and not my belt?

If it is bad, do i need to replace the whole unit, or just swap out the bearing?

Just for reference, the pulley at the top (middle in the picture), is the idler pulley..correct? Also, could the bolt coming out the side of the pulley be too tight, causing the noise? The bolt is snug and then a quarter turn or so.



TIA for any answers

Hondacivic90ed

best way to find out where the squeaking is coming from is to take a long screwdriver and while the engine is running touch the metal bracket holding the idler pulley to the engine and put your ear to the end of the screwdriver. Rev the engine while your ear is down on the screwdriver. Try the idler pulley first because that is more than likely your problem but I wouldn't rule out a possible bad bearing in your alternator so do the same thing to that, touch the screwdriver to the alternator while the engine is running and see if you can narrow down where the noise is coming from. Rarely an a/c compressor will make noise from an imporoperly adjusted clutch or from being worn out but this isn't as likely as the other two and usually doesn't cause a squeaking noise. The idler pulley comes in a kit with a new pulley, bearing and washers. I think its roughly 50$.

coupecrazy1

u have to change the whole pulling andyes thw squeling is prob. the idler had the same prob with my girls car changed the idler went away its apressed in bearing in pulley u could prob get away with changin it but the pulleys cheap enough

95bkeg

anybody correst me if I am wrong but I would first take all the slack off the belt and turn the pully in question by hand to see/feel if the bearing is bad. that will givve you a good feel for if it is the pully or not. Also I have had some seperience with similar things make sure the belt is to factory deflection (how far the belt will push in from a stright line in the center of one point specified by the owners manuel) and then if it is still squeaking try putting some belt dressing on it. no joke you can but it at any auto store and follow the dirsctions on how much to put on. it make the belt a bit more quiet/cleans it which might get rid of the squeaking. if that all fails replace the belt $20 or so. if it still is squeaking then take a further look at the rest of the pullys and work out from there. Hope it helps but thats what I would do.

Johnny Ricer

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by coupecrazy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u have to change the whole pulling andyes thw squeling is prob. the idler had the same prob with my girls car changed the idler went away its apressed in bearing in pulley u could prob get away with changin it but the pulleys cheap enough</TD></TR></TABLE>
HUH and in english?!?!

Just because you keep tightening and loosening the belt doesnt rule it out replace your belt its cheap and realtaivly easy to replace. If you replace your belt and the squeeking still occurs than try your idler or tension pulley. Another thing did you take off your alternator belt for the pic or something or has yours squeeking stopped all of a sudden?

hondamark35

in my mind the best way to find out is to take the belt off of the car and then run the car. you don't "need" your a/c comp. to run the car.

mine does it, i just got use to it. it's not real loud and it really only does it when it's below 70 degrees. i'm only gonna worry about it if it gets louder.

Tuesdaynightfever

Thanks for the replies. The squeak has gotten progressively louder over the months. I did not take any belts off for pics..

Also, i tightened the belt to factory spec (being able to push it down 1 inch) and have used belt dressing. Neither of the two worked.

Also, the pulley on the top, it is right in the center of the picture (the one attached to the bracket)..is that the idler pulley for sure?

Archidictus

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tuesdaynightfever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the replies. The squeak has gotten progressively louder over the months. I did not take any belts off for pics..

Also, i tightened the belt to factory spec (being able to push it down 1 inch) and have used belt dressing. Neither of the two worked.

Also, the pulley on the top, it is right in the center of the picture (the one attached to the bracket)..is that the idler pulley for sure? or is that the a/c condensor?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You shouldn't be able to deflect your belt 1".

Tuesdaynightfever

I'll check my owners manual tonight. I have been told the belt should be tight enough that when you push it down, it should push down about 1 inch. Could have gotten false information though..

Also, the pulley attached to the bracket, the one in the middle of the three in the picture (a bronzish color)..is that the idler pulley for sure, or the a/c tensioner pulley?


Modified by Tuesdaynightfever at 2:35 PM 9/19/2007

rivaladore

X2...you shouldn't be able to deflect the belt 1 inch.......tighten up that belt because the squeek is probably bc its too lose

Tuesdaynightfever

I was told if the belt was too tight, it could cause problems. Should the belt be so tight that you can not deflect it at all?

rivaladore

too tight usually means it will whine......too lose means it will squeal...........don't put it so tight where it won't deflect!!!!!!! Here's what you are going to do......you said it moves an inch(Way too much movement!!).....why don't you try so its 1/2 inch to 1/4 inch......I don't know the exact tension.......I changed every belt in my car and kinda just felt it and used common sense, had no problems.......just make sure you can push it in about 1/4"

or Trial and Error.......tighten alittle bit then start car....still squeaks.......then tighten alittle more.....still squeaks.......if it gets super tight then maybe its time for a new pulley but i'd throw money down on the belt being too lose or you need a new belt.


How many miles on that A/C belt? and are you sure its the A/C belt squeaking......first take off the PS belt......start car here a squeak.....then take off a/c here a squeak? yes= read the second paragraph and put proper tension on it or change your belt....no=check the alternator belt's tension


Modified by rivaladore at 9:55 PM 9/19/2007

Tuesdaynightfever

I don't have power steering, so that rules out that belt.

Also, my a/c belt is the same belt that runs on my alternator, so I can't take that belt off and run my car.

I was thinking of taking the idler pulley off and spinning it while holding the bearing with my fingers to see if I hear a bad bearing. If so, I replace the idler and the belt. If not, I replace the belt anyways.

Just making sure, the bronze-ish colored pulley in the middle of the picture (attached to the bracket) is the idler pulley..correct?

Tuesdaynightfever

Anyone?

instructor74

you have been given a lot of good advice. Yes the bronze color pull is the idler for the ac belt. Here is an easy way to check and see if the alt belt is making the noise. just take off the ac belt start the car if the squeak is gone then you know it is the ac belt or the ac idle pulley. If its still there its the alt or alt belt.

Tuesdaynightfever

Thanks for all the responses, and for also clarifying that the bronze pulley is the a/c idler.

The belt that is on my a/c idler pulley is the same belt that is also on my alternator..therefore I would not be able to take that belt off. Without the belt on the alternator (which is the same one on the idler pulley), I would not be able to start up/drive the car..correct?

philosofy1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tuesdaynightfever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the responses, and for also clarifying that the bronze pulley is the a/c idler.

The belt that is on my a/c idler pulley is the same belt that is also on my alternator..therefore I would not be able to take that belt off. Without the belt on the alternator (which is the same one on the idler pulley), I would not be able to start up/drive the car..correct?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you have 2 different belts. if the idler pulley you are talking about is in the photo you provided, then that is the a/c idle pulley and they do not share a belt with the alternator.

you can remove the belt from the a/c compressor and not even touch the belt to the alternator. and yes you still can start the car (because the belts are seperate).

Tuesdaynightfever

Thanks a lot for all the info, it is greatly appreciated.

I'm going to try taking the belt off this weekend and seeing if that eliminates the noise. If so, then all I need to do is figure out if it is the belt or idler pulley. I'll replace the belt either way since it is around $10.

Johnny Ricer

Sooooo why are you running your car without your alternator b belt?!?

Tuesdaynightfever

What? The motor is 100% untouched. It is a CX without power steering.

What is the "b belt" and what is it typically used for?

philosofy1

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tuesdaynightfever &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What? The motor is 100% untouched. It is a CX without power steering.

What is the "b belt" and what is it typically used for?</TD></TR></TABLE>

don't listen to the noob, there is no such thing as a "b" belt.

Tuesdaynightfever

Haha, alright. I was going to say, I have owned this car for 2 years...no problems. The motor is also 100% untouched, so if I was missing a belt something would be very wrong..

vrrodri

I has the same issue, bought an idler pulley kit and replaced the old one when I changed my timing belt and went ahead and changed all the belts. Problem gone...

Tuesdaynightfever

Yeah, I am going to try the belt since it is only $10. If problem is not fixed, I'll buy the idler and do that.

Thanks for the responses guys

Johnny Ricer

No im not a noob b belt= typo sorry my bad... I as well have a Cx with no power steering the PS pulley isnt even on my car. Which was a completely 100% stock untouched motor. That outer pulley without the belt is the alternator pulley on my motor thus me asking why you are running without one.....So if that isnt for your alternator belt well than sorry sir.....