Tombone

1999 LS1
I am hearing a chirping , like the tone of a circket at idle.
Is it a pully?
What is the cause and does it need attention?
Thanks:confused:

Monk

Does it only happen when the engine is cold? Or is it there all the time?

Tombone

It just started tonight, and I noticed it when the engine was hot.
It seems to decrease when I put on the AC?

Monk

My '98 has the cricket chirp when its been sitting for a while stone cold. It goes away after 5 to 15 minutes. I originally thought it was the harmonic balancer, but apparently not. It checked out fine. There was a TSB on the issue and the culprit was a poorly designed, overtorqued idler pulley. A new design was made available. On more recent year C5's, I understand that the tensioner can give the same sound. My C5 mechanic said to always check the belt first with a quick spray of wd-40 or just about anything else wet. If the sound goes away, it is the belt. If the sound stays, it is likely to be your idler pulley or belt tensioner (depending on year).

lowdowndirty

Also, it is known that the pulleys will squeck when they contain a build-up of dirt and/or oil. Try taking off the two belts and cleaning the pullies with a wire brush. Also, either buy new belts or go through the grooves and the "teeth" on each belt and pick out all the small rocks embedded with a small screwdriver or pick. This helped on a buddy's car.

Also, the Blackwings sometimes emit a chriping sound (in case you have one). Good luck. Chris.

sgp99

I had the same problem with my '99 coupe. My mechanic put some WD40 on the belt and the chirping stopped. This indicated that it was a belt problem and not a pulley. I replaced the belt and have not heard the chiping noise since then. :)

blackjack

Probably a belt. Mine was...

-Blackjack

Rookiedyn

My Tahoe does this when its wet out. I sprayed the tensioner with WD40 and it goes quiet. I guess WD40 would be a good way to narrow down your problem as well.

waytofastvette

Yeah mine chirps all the time ... :D esp when I shift into second at 6 thousand RPM :steering:

1999 White C5 Coupe

Tombone,

I had the same chirp / squeak at idle on my 1999 C5 coupe. The dealer repalced the idler pulley according to a TSB, which eliminated the noise. You may review the TSB here: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=258

The idler pulley has been updated with a revised / better part. The TSB allows the dealer 0.3 hours of labor and the part is inexpensive. Good luck.

Mark S.

I would also check your water pump. The last time I head a "chirp" in my '94 LT1 it was the waterpump...had to be replaced with only 8K miles on the odometer.

gkarman

I would bet it is your serpentine belt if I was a betting man... Had mine changed at 30k and most of the engine compartment noise I had such as squeaking and chirping disappeared... The guy that changed the belt claimed that our alternators can make a squeak/ chirp sound also although mine doesn't... How many miles on your C5?

Tombone

Thanks Guys for all your posts.
I sprayed white grease into the tensioner pully and solved my problem.
If you do this shield the pully so you don't cover yourself or the car with grease. :cheers: