Patrick1968
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- May 27, 2016
- Posts
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and looking for some help. I have a 2004 Tahoe LT with 102,000 original miles on it and I'm the original owner. I take very good care of it and don't abuse it. When I make a right turn, I hear the belt squeak a little bit (2 or 3 seconds). Its more pronounced on humid days than dry days and when I'm running the AC, its louder and longer. When in park and the wheel is turned left or right, there is no squeak. Within the last 8,000 miles, I've replaced the serpentine and AC belt, AC (pulley only), both tensioner pulleys, and the idler pulley. The other pulleys look straight and don't have a wobble. The sound is still there.
My thoughts: The AC compressor is original and even though it still works well, it does sound louder than normal when engaged, so its wearing out. Its probably putting a strain on the system and when I make a turn, the power steering pump engages and that's when the serpentine belt is strained, I believe. Because there is still a squeaking sound in a turn when the AC is not on, I'm suspecting a bad PS pulley or pump or both. What also leads me to believe this, is in the winter when the temp is in the mid 30's or below and I start a cold engine and leave work, pulling out of my parking space, the steering wheel would "lock up" for a second when I turned the wheel. Could my PS rack have a bad valve or the pump/pulley be bad? This is driving me crazy trying to troubleshoot. I know on cool dry nights (I work night shift),there is no sqeaking during turns and on hot humid nights it squeaks during turns and is even louder/longer when AC is running.
BTW: I plan on changing the AC compressor soon but I know that's only part of the problem. As far as the PS system, I'm hoping its just maybe the pulley and/or the pump and not the rack too. Any thoughts or comments would greatly help.
My thoughts: The AC compressor is original and even though it still works well, it does sound louder than normal when engaged, so its wearing out. Its probably putting a strain on the system and when I make a turn, the power steering pump engages and that's when the serpentine belt is strained, I believe. Because there is still a squeaking sound in a turn when the AC is not on, I'm suspecting a bad PS pulley or pump or both. What also leads me to believe this, is in the winter when the temp is in the mid 30's or below and I start a cold engine and leave work, pulling out of my parking space, the steering wheel would "lock up" for a second when I turned the wheel. Could my PS rack have a bad valve or the pump/pulley be bad? This is driving me crazy trying to troubleshoot. I know on cool dry nights (I work night shift),there is no sqeaking during turns and on hot humid nights it squeaks during turns and is even louder/longer when AC is running.
BTW: I plan on changing the AC compressor soon but I know that's only part of the problem. As far as the PS system, I'm hoping its just maybe the pulley and/or the pump and not the rack too. Any thoughts or comments would greatly help.
