For some reason i noticed my serpintine belt was frayed and just about to blow off. So i replaced it. Couldn't look up the part # since i have underdrive pullies on so i took the old one to the store and we stretched it out against another one, took it home......definitly to small, couldn't get it on even with the tensioner all the way back to the max, needed like another 1/4" to get it on...Went back and got the belt the next size down. (about 1" smaller) ......Problem is when i jump real hard on the throttle the belt starts to squeel and i definitly feel a little loss of power becuase of it..........What's the deal? .....My pullies are in perfect alighnment...... Could the tensioner be bad?......Or is there such a thing as buying to tight of a belt?

 

Just recently I noticed this ticking noise coming from my car when I started it. Well a few days ago, I heard this horrible belt squeal. I got home, and saw that the center rib in the belt was wiping out. I took the belt off and began to spin each of the pulleys to see if any of them were binding. I thought it might be the alt pulley, but when I spun the smog pulley, I get tick-tick-stop. Hmmm, i think, "That's not supposed to do that, is it?" Well, to make this thread shorter...I removed smog pump, got a longer belt, rerouted belt, and no more ticking noise.
Just my experiences, but I'd check those pulleys to make sure they are not binding.
BTW, ever since I have had the car, the new tensioner had always bounced around alot. Now with the different belt, the tensioner stays tight and put. Not sure if this is a good thing, or bad, but so far no problems. (Keeps Fingers Crossed)

 

Sometimes pullys get glazed and using a little sandpaper on them while theyre running can rough it up enuf to ger rid of a squeel. For *** sakes be carefull if you decide to do this thou.

 

sounds to me like youve got a tensioner going out ..just my .02

 

If you want to narrow down where the noise is coming from use a long screwdriver and place one near the componant and the other on your ear. This should help you isolate exactly where the sound is coming form.

 

Could be your tensioner as thegeneral said. A bearing could be going bad. As dankhound said, a long screwdriver can be used as a crude stethoscope. I just purchased a 2' length of 5/8" heater hose and use that. Either method works. Probe all the pullies and see if you can't find something.