Yesterday, I started hearing an occasional, random squeaking that followed engine RPM'*.

Picked up a stethoscope today and started poking around at the various spinning things. Not sure what I'm listening for, but the alternator, water pump, and compressor pulleys all sounded fine.

I think it'* the belt tensioner pulley -- should I replace just the pulley or the whole tensioner? Or could the squeaking be caused by a worn-out belt? (The belt has about 40,000 miles on it, but there are virtually no cracks or signs of physical wear.) Listen to the video below.

Also, while poking around, I found a slow drip coming from the coolant elbow where it meets the LIM. The engine was reassembled less than 6,000 miles ago with fresh elbows. Any advice?

I haven't checked for the leak on a hot engine, but I can say the squeaking is the same whether hot or cold.

[YT]http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/watch?v=dWWVQRB7Ok8[/YT]

Yep, sounds like a bearing on the tensioner pulley. Only need to change the pulley.

The leak is most likely the O ring on the elbow. You will need to pull the tensioner off to get the elbow out and replace. It may have been put in dry. I put a little lube in the hole to make sure the O ring slides in and doesn't catch and roll.

I know how to take off the tensioner. How does the pulley come off of the tensioner?

It was either Bill, Justin, or myself who put the elbows in place. Two out of the three of us knew to oil the O-ring. (Three out of three now. )

Do I need to drain some coolant out, or is that high enough so that there won't be much to leak out (when cold)?

I know how to take off the tensioner. How does the pulley come off of the tensioner?

I'm not sure if it was put in dry. It was either Bill, Justin, or myself who installed the coolant elbows. At the time, two out of three of us knew to oil the O-ring.

Do I need to drain some coolant out, or is that high enough so that there won't be much to leak out (when cold)?

I do believe the tensioner bolt is a reverse thread. It will go the reverse of the direction needed to remove the belt.

Ya, you will need to drain some coolant. Perhaps a quart or so.

The elbow when in while I was quadding.

When you put it in.. lube both o-rings and then as you are tightening it down give it a couple of wiggles to ensure it doesn't have any pressure on it when tightened down. This keeps it from being heated and getting deformed.

A couple people in the Advance parking lot looked at the strange man in a suit, tie, gloves, and a stethoscope as he started ripping out a pulley amidst snow flurries.

That solved most of the squeaking, but there is still some. Curiously, someone walked by holding a bike tire and said, "Hey, is that a 3.8?" I quickly explained the problem, said that it'* either the alternator or tensioner, and he just pressed inward on the tensioner arm. Sure enough, all of the squeaking went away until he let go. Guess it'* time to get a new tensioner. Thanks for the random help, John from Danbury. (Make sure you check us out like I said. I need more contact cards.)

Also, the coolant elbow only leaks when it'* cold. Not that that'll save it from replacement.

Can you wiggle it a bit? That might get it to seat.

Wiggle the pulley? That'* on about as tight at it gets.

Wiggle the tensioner arm? After we played around with it for a little while, it stopped squeaking altogether. But the arm still has some play.

Sorry, the elbow.