serpentine belt problems
 

I have a 00' monte carlo 3.4L V-6. I recently replaced the water pump, without taking the serpentine belt off first. So when i was replacing the pump, i moved the belt around on the pulley in all kind of directions like an idiot. I successfully got the water pump back in after squeezing it past the belt. Now my engine is making a whining noise and it sounds like it's coming from that area. Is it possible that me installing that water pump without taking the belt off first could have messed with it and is causing it to make a faint whining sound now? I'd be thankful for any feedback anyone has. God Bless!!

I guess its possible that you messed up some of the groves on the belt. I really don't understand how you put on a new water pump without removing the belt first. Those things should be on there really tight.

My suggestion, try some belt dressing, that could fix the whistle. If that doesnt work, buy a new belt, its cheap, easy, and sounds like you could probably use it anyway.

If putting a new belt on does not fix the problem, then I would GUESS that maybe your new water pump is the cause of the noise. Maybe one of the bearings in the new water pump was not greased properly or something, so its going to be short lived.??????? Just a thought.

I would look into the belt before getting worried much past that...

Thanks for the feedback. I took some brake cleaner spray from autozone and sprayed some on the belt's grooves while the engine was running. I was told that if it was the belt that that sound would temporarily stop for a few seconds. no such luck. Also, with the car stopped and the engine running, i can make the pitch and volume of that whistling sound change when i turn the steering wheel either all the way to the left or all the way to the right. Wouldn't that indicate a problem with the power steering system?

Well the power steering pumps on these cars do go out here and there. Usually you here a whining noise under acceleration, and sometimes while reving it in park. When my power steering pump on my 06 went bad, it was an RPM related whine that it kept making.

You very well could need a new power steering pump.

Oh and BTW, if you sprayed brake parts cleaner on your belt, you should now spray some belt dressing on it. That brake parts cleaner will dry your belt out.

You're better off taking the belt off, IMO replacing it. And checking everything that the belt touches, you never know what you could have bent or moved or forced.

Check the power steering fluid (all the fluids, why not)

thanks guys for all your feedback. i'll give it a try

You may have knocked a pulley out of alignment somewhere. If you take the belt off, check the alignment of all your pulleys.