82 Chevy with squeaking belt June 06, 2009, 04:11:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103026This morning when we started up there was a loud squeak from the engine compartment and we determined that the pully below the alternator is stuck. I need to know what that unit is and how to fix the problem so I can at least get to a shop.thanks, Michelle
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #1 – June 07, 2009, 12:43:09 am Yahoo Message Number: 103031"This morning when we started up there was a loud squeak from the engine compartment and we determined that the pully below the alternator is stuck. I need to know what that unit is and how to fix the problem so I can at least get to a shop." I was hoping somebody with an older Chevy-based LD would have answered Michelle's question by now. I no longer have mine, so I can't take a look to see what that pulley does. I have a vague recollection that it may be the water pump, but take that with a big grain of salt--I could be wrong. If there's a mechanic within a couple of miles, you *might* be able to limp there by cutting off that belt, but you'd risk overheating, so that's a pretty desperate last resort. If you don't have the tools and know-how to disassemble the jammed part, whatever it is, your safest bet is to call your road service--Good Sam, CoachNet or whatever--and get it towed to a place that can fix it. That way there'll be no risk of further damage. Let's put it this way: if you try to take it apart and can't put it back together again, you WILL have to have it towed... and the repair bill is likely to be a lot higher after a botched amateur repair attempt. Understand, I'm not trying to belittle your technical ability--you may be a skilled mechanic, for all I know--I'm just laying out the possible consequences. It's up to you to decide what you want to tackle in the way of on-the-spot repairs.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #2 – June 07, 2009, 12:58:09 am Yahoo Message Number: 103032tomorrow i will go over to the storage yard where our 85FL is and have a look see for her. Im guessing it may be the smog pump froze up.
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #3 – June 07, 2009, 01:41:28 am Yahoo Message Number: 103033Thanks John and Andy. Someone on the older Chevy truck list thinks it's the smog pump. I may take a better look tomorrow also to see where the hoses go. Today we were planning an outing and also I wanted to try belt dressing so didn't do a lot of crawling underneath.
82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #4 – June 07, 2009, 10:34:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 103034"The Daisey", an '85, has has three smog pump replacements since I purchased her in 1998. Two of those have been from a frozen shaft, one while driving and another on starting. The third lasted just a day. I have come to believe these after market pumps aren't as well constructed as OME. The squeal is horrendous as opposed to a slightly loose belt that tighten within a minute or two. The first was at 60K miles and the other at 90K. In any case with a vintage Chevy, one should never drive with a squeal because if once belt goes it generally take the others with it. There have been lots of posts on belt issues and they follow my experience which is, once a smog pump and it's belt is replaced, I have had to monitor and retighten often until its right. When the smog pump is replaced the corresponding pulley should be inspected and replaced as well.Don, Bellingham, WA The Daisey, '85[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #5 – June 07, 2009, 01:11:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103041Hi Don, That's good info thanks. In my web research yesterday I mostly came up with stories by hot rodders who removed the smog pump and shared how they ran the belt so as to be able to drive without it. Apparently the smog pump is a power hog and after a certain age when you no longer have to have a smog check you can simply get rid of it and plug the holes where the hoses were. One other thing I learned about is belt dressing. I hadn't heard of it before but it comes in a spray can and it is sprayed into the pulley grove with the engine running. That is supposed to help the belts last longer and reduce squeaking. I'm ata 67K miles so that's about like your 60 smog pump failure. Do you know if it's ok to drive without the belt? I'd like to cut it off and drive to the shop about 5 miles mostly downhill. thanks for your input,Michelle Ress Felton, CA http://safoocat.blogspot.com/
82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #6 – June 07, 2009, 04:51:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103057"In any case with a vintage Chevy, one should never drive with a squeal because if one belt goes it generally take the others with it." Amen! It happened to me, and it was an expensive experience, because the belt that came off immediately tangled itself up in another belt and jammed the water pump pulley, damaging it and necessitating a replacement. And I'll add another tip from painful experience: don't try to fix the problem with belt dressing. I went that route with Gertie, and while it initially stopped the squeal, things just got worse and worse, until I was applying it several times a day. A mechanic explained to me that while belt dressing can give you a quick increase in friction, with repeated use it softens the rubber in the belt, allowing it to stretch--which makes the problem worse instead of better.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #7 – June 07, 2009, 05:10:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103062Okay I did a quick look see on our 85 with the chevy 350. If its the pulley below the alternator than its the smog pump. If memory serves me right in the 70's we clipped off the belt and went without the use of the smog pump. A slight increase in mileage was discovered and maybe a couple of horsepower to boot. Of course when it came time for the semi-annual smog check the belt was re-installed. Ah the good old daze.......
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #8 – June 07, 2009, 05:51:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103068Quote from: Michelle M RessDo you know if it's ok to drive without the belt? I'd like to cut it off and drive to the shop about 5 miles mostly downhill. thanks for your input,Michelle, It's ok to drive without the alternator/smog pump for that short downhill distance.Make sure your engine battery is fully charged before driving.Steve had done this before and had described it in Message #36246Sam
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #9 – June 07, 2009, 08:52:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103087Quote Okay I did a quick look see on our 85 with the chevy 350. If its the pulley below the alternator than its the smog pump. If memory serves me right in the 70's we clipped off the belt and went without the use of the smog pump. A slight increase in mileage was discovered and maybe a couple of horsepower to boot. Of course when it came time for the semi-annual smog check the belt was re-installed. Ah the good old daze....... John, Not sure I understand you. The same belt drives both the alternator and the smog pump. So, did you use a shorter belt and bypass the smog pump? I haven't look at the belt routing carefully, so I don't know if it's possible.Thanks,Sam
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #10 – June 07, 2009, 10:16:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103092Hi John, Did you notice if the belt turned anything else besides the smog pump and the alternator?thanks, Michelle Ress Felton, CA http://safoocat.blogspot.com/
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #11 – June 07, 2009, 10:36:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103095Hi Sam, Thanks for that reassuring post. That's what I'll do and I have plenty of batteries, 3 house batteriesMichelle Ress Felton, CA http://safoocat.blogspot.com/
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #12 – June 08, 2009, 12:33:45 am Yahoo Message Number: 103102Hey Sam. On my 85 FL with the chevy 350 I have 3 fan belts. The smog pump below the alternator is run with its own belt. If the smog pump is giving out than im sure it would be okay to run with out it, either to get to a repair shop, or continue onward until its necessary to replace it. IMHO.
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #13 – June 08, 2009, 12:37:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 103103Hey michelle....Sorry if this is a repeat but on my 85 the smog pump below the alternator is driven by a single belt, hence I believe you could still drive without it.
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #14 – June 08, 2009, 02:37:07 am Yahoo Message Number: 103108Thanks John. On my 82, the alternator and the smog pump share the same belt.Sam
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #15 – June 08, 2009, 03:16:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103122QuoteSomeone on the older Chevy truck list thinks it's the smog pump. I Michelle, it is a 'smog' pump, officially an 'air-injection reactor' pump (AIR), that injects air into the exhaust manifolds via a pair of check valves. REPLACE THE CHECK VALVES! What destroys these pumps is hot exhaust back-flowing into the mechanism from frozen check valves. If you cut the belt, you will have no alternator, but there should still be another belt driving the water pump and ps pump, so you'll be good for a distance in daytime.Steve
Re: 82 Chevy with squeaking belt Reply #16 – June 10, 2009, 06:10:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103217I had a mobile mechanic here today and with 3 hours labor he was able to remove the defective smog pump and replace it with a good one and all new belts. It cost me $300 and well worth it for me as it was beyond what I was capable or willing to do. The 3 hours included going for the parts. I'll be using Lucas from now on instead of the shop where I've been going. While having the cowling off on the inside I also noticed some critter had built a nest on top of the engine using the insulation to do it. My radio is shot. I'm looking for a am/fm/mp3 radio, no cd or cassette. Any suggestions would be welcome.Michelle Ress Felton, CA http://safoocat.blogspot.com/
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