Volvo 4.3 GL-G BELT SQUEAK!

[Jeepster04]

We bought a 2006 Four Winns Horizon 180 in ~2009 or so. Ever since then the belt has had some amount of squeak that really never went completely away. Since we dont use the boat too awful lot Ive always put up with it but finally got tired of it. I had read several threads with the same issue and the solution was to add washers in certain places. After 3-4 hours of trial and error, this is what made the squeak go away:





When sighting down the belt towards the PS pulley, the belt has an obvious sideways bow to it. The pump pulley was also out of angle with the rest of the pulleys. A straight edge verified this when compared to the crank pulley. I also added a washer between the power steering pump and the bracket itself at the bottom of the pump to try and pull the pump in. The pulley still sits around 1/8" forward of all of the rest of the pulleys, but no more squeak! Its amazing riding in a boat where all you hear is the engine and outdrive, very nice!

Ive read that Volvo redesigned the PS bracket but Ive never seen one, I imagine its $$ also... This works for now!

 

[alldodge]

Glad you fixed your squeak but I'm not sure your getting ready to have another problem. In the pic below I see a lot of circulating water pump pulley showing. Is it close to coming off?

 

[Jeepster04]

Im not sure?? Should it look different? I believe its always been like that. Maybe its the angle or something. Ill check it out next time Im at the lake.

 

[alldodge]

Might not be a problem at all, if mine looked like that it would be ready to fall off the back. So long as the belt is not starting to hang off the back edge of the pulley your probably fine

 

[Jeepster04]

Ohh I see what you mean now! I thought you meant the raw water pump. Nope, the water pump pulley has plenty left on the backside. If anything it has more now after adding those washers than it did before. The belt actually was jumping a rib over the back of the crank pulley when I added washers in certain spots.

 

[Jeepster04]

No Title

Well, the squeak is back! Not sure how it lasted through an entire season but now its squeaking again. Ive put washers behind every possible bolt in what I believe is every combination and it still squeaks. Sometimes it moves from the water pump pulley to the power steering pulley squeaking.

Ive placed a straight edge on the power steering pulley as I did before. Its obvious that its still out of square with the other pulleys but I cant figure out how to get it back in line. Im attaching a picture from the volvo site. I thought for sure I had read that volvo updated a bracket but volvo does not show an updated part number. Does anyone know if a bulletin has ever been made from volvo for this issue?

Im thinking that Im going to have to have a new bracket made for #9 in the photo. It seems to be pushing the lower port side of pulley towards the front of the boat. If I take a wrench (Dont recommend doing this) and push back on the belt while the engine is running as the belt goes onto the pulley the squeaking stops.

If anyone has any help what so ever I would appreciate it! I cant go an entire season listening to this pulley squeak. And I cant say whether or not the pulley needs to be moved on the shaft since its out of square.

 

[alldodge]

Don't know of anything from Volvo, but are you sure the belt is the right one for the motor?

 

[Jeepster04]

Its very obvious that everything is 100% factory on this boat. The engine looks brand new. Belt has volvo on it but Ive not verified the part number. I will

 

[Grub54891]

The ps pulley is pressed on, It's possible it's either on to far, or not enough?

 

[Jeepster04]

Its highly possible. Ive pondered renting the tools needed to move the pulley on the shaft but if its not square I feel like its wasted time.

It appears volvo now uses a cross hatched belt. I may get it just to see.

 

[dizzy1]

I had the same issue on my 2007 5.0 GL. Did the washer thing, seemed to help but was still there. Tried belt conditioner, looked at all pulleys, started to think it was a bad bearing somewhere. Couldn't figure it out. Finally just bought a new belt since was tired of the squeak. Fixed instantly. Been 2 years now with that belt and perfectly quiet since. Just get a belt, i'll bet its that. The belts changed as well, instead of constant ribs, they are now staggered ribs/blocks. Assuming the change is due to others having the squeak.

 

[tkrfxr]

I had a "squeeky belt" for a whole season, until my mechanic listened carefully and fount the alternator bearing to be shot. Replacement of the alternator solved the problem...

Have a careful look at where the sound is coming from...

-Good luck.

 

[Jeepster04]

Ive ordered the new volvo belt with the cross hatched ribs. Hopefully it will be in this week. If the pulley is obviously not square Im not very hopeful but maybe the new design can withstand not being 100% square.. We shall see... If this doesnt fix it then Ill have new bracket made...

 

[Lawnpro979]

You can try the ole piece of wood trick to check for berring......put a piece of wood like a broken shovel handle to the water pump...etc and your ear to the other end you will hear it...
Also I'm wondering if the idler is weak....not holding right amount of tension on the belt
Worse comes to worse....get a can of belt dressing spray on the belt and no more squeaking....
Hope this helps

 

[Grub54891]

You can try the ole piece of wood trick to check for berring......put a piece of wood like a broken shovel handle to the water pump...etc and your ear to the other end you will hear it...
Also I'm wondering if the idler is weak....not holding right amount of tension on the belt
Worse comes to worse....get a can of belt dressing spray on the belt and no more squeaking....
Hope this helps

​Please do not use belt dressing! As an old wrench turner myself, I've seen to many people use the stuff, and when it don't work they bring it to a shop for the proper repairs. Have you ever had to clean up the pulleys and surrounding area? It's a mess I'd rater not deal with myself. Boats are hard enough to reach certain areas, let alone through a sticky mess. Belt dressing at a sawmill is different, sometimes you need it there, for the flat belts to grip the smooth pulleys.

 

[Lawnpro979]

Yea. My bet is the idler......