This is not a new problem. I have been trying to locate the squeaking problem for a while now. It's there one week and not the next. There is no correlation between weather temperature, humidity, season, etc. This truck only has 70,000 miles by the way.Today I replaced the serpentine belt, the AC belt, the belt tensioner, and the alternator. The alternator was squeaking when I rotated the pulley by hand. The new alternator did not eliminate the squeak. The AC belt tensioner functions appropriately. I thoroughly cleaned the grease off the pulley surfaces. I really need to get this fixed.What else is there to check or do to eliminate the squeaking? Thanks for your help guys.

A separated harmonic balancer can cause this, and usually is only found after replacing everything else that moves under the hood.

Take the serp belt off and start er up.Squeak still there?

Where is it located and how do I assess its integrity please? Thanks.

this video helped me with my "squeak" are you sure all the pulleys are lined up?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPjmBQc2gGQ

Jeff, I chased this same problem for years and finally found the solution on one of the GM truck forums: Use only Goodyear GatorBack belts.I changed the belts and tensioners several times, and each time the squeak would go away for a while....but it always came back. About 2 years ago I changed all 3 tensioners and both belts and installed the Gatorback belts, and have been quiet as a mouse ever since!Something about the 8.1, lots of guys have the same problem

Engine squeaking #$%#$%# | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

jefffoxsr
Explorer
Jun 02, 2014
I had the dealer put on the new harmonic balancer and that seemed to fix the problem. Although there is a little squeaking now that I will have to check again. When the harmonic balancer was spinning it was spinning crooked for some reason so maybe it was bad.
BurbMan
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2014
Op, did you get this fixed?
YamaDooed
Explorer
May 13, 2014
You can usually get a harmonic balancer puller and pusher "free loaner" from autozone they've even lent me it when I didn't even buy the part from them. Most come off relatively easy if you have room. Others take hours to remove most of the front end radiator, condenser,grill etc.
searaydave
Explorer
May 13, 2014
2007 GMC 2500 8.1 has the start up squeaks. love to make it go away too but other than that it's been great
_40Fan
Explorer
May 13, 2014
I was going to post a long drawn out way to confirm this, but I'll just get to the point. Roller lifters!
Stephen_W
Explorer
May 09, 2014
Not a pulley problem, but this might help somebody. My Grand Marquis developed a light, random squeaking going down the road and it drove me nuts. The dealer naturally recommended new struts and replacing nearly everything in the front suspension for over $2,000 since it was just out of warranty. Passed on that great deal. Got home, opened the hood to check something and when I slammed it, I heard the squeak! Put a dab of grease on hood latch and that fixed the problem. Not a peep out of it for the last 15k miles. Sometimes it just the simple things.
bighog01
Explorer
May 09, 2014
I had a 2004 Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0. I chased the same problems for awhile. I changed belts several times and a few pulleys without any luck. Otherwise it was a great truck but I traded it in without finding the source.
BurbMan
Explorer III
May 09, 2014
dodge guy wrote:
What kind of car? What motor?
See the OP's signature, 2004 Suburban with 8.1L.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 09, 2014
What kind of car? What motor?
bguy
Explorer
May 09, 2014
My vote is for idler pulley.