Hi folks. I am new to this forum. I am hoping someone could shed light on this latest annoying problem. I have a 2002 Grand Am GT1 with the 3.4 liter engine, and about two weeks ago, I got a bad pulley squeal, like a bearing was shot. I am beginning to think all my pulley bearings went out about the same time.
First I changed the alternator bearing and bought a new tensioner pulley. The squeal went away for about an hour. Then it came back with a vengeance. I sprayed some penetrating oil behind the different pulleys, down by the bearings, and when I got to the idler pulley underneath the water pump, the squeal went away! So I thought I found it. Replaced that, and again, the noise went away for about an hour, but then came back with a vengeance again.
This last time, it sounded like it came from the front, down low, so I got an AC Clutch rebuild kit and replaced that in the car. (Very hard job in the car). The sound went away again for about an hour. Now it's back. Also, the AC was tested when I replaced the clutch and it engaged fine. Now it doesn't engage at all.
The power steering pump is new, was replaced a year ago. Literally the only pulleys left is the main crank pulley and the water pump. The main, I would imagine, is probably lubed by engine oil. The water pump isn't leaking out of the weep hole, so I don't know if I should try changing that.
Has anybody else had this problem? Any ideas???
First I changed the alternator bearing and bought a new tensioner pulley. The squeal went away for about an hour. Then it came back with a vengeance. I sprayed some penetrating oil behind the different pulleys, down by the bearings, and when I got to the idler pulley underneath the water pump, the squeal went away! So I thought I found it. Replaced that, and again, the noise went away for about an hour, but then came back with a vengeance again.
This last time, it sounded like it came from the front, down low, so I got an AC Clutch rebuild kit and replaced that in the car. (Very hard job in the car). The sound went away again for about an hour. Now it's back. Also, the AC was tested when I replaced the clutch and it engaged fine. Now it doesn't engage at all.
The power steering pump is new, was replaced a year ago. Literally the only pulleys left is the main crank pulley and the water pump. The main, I would imagine, is probably lubed by engine oil. The water pump isn't leaking out of the weep hole, so I don't know if I should try changing that.
Has anybody else had this problem? Any ideas???
