Bad tensioner pulley?, Alternator noise Options

[senick]

So I'm getting a noise from the alternator (pretty sure), and I haven't been able to solve it. My first thought was a loose belt, but checking the tension just by pressing down on it I think the tension is fine. It deflects maybe 1/2 inch if I really press hard. The alternator itself seems fine. I ran the engine with the battery disconnected, turned on the A/C at high, turned on the headlights and radio and gave it a good amount of throttle with no problems at all.
The noise is a squealing noise. It's not present when I first turn on the car, but starts up after the engine has warmed a bit. It gets louder with higher RPMs, and goes away for a second when shifting up. The car drives fine, but I'd really like to get this solved. The belts are only about a year old, and look fine.

[xrav22]

Sounds like a loose belt to me. A trick to check tension is if you can rotate the belt only 90 degrees with your hand it is tight enough.

[senick]

I can barely rotate it 45 degrees. Now I'm thinking the belt is too tight. I took it out on the highway yesterday, and after a while the noise stopped. After cooling down, it started a little bit again. So at least it's not the pulley, because why would the noise stop if it was.

[rave2n]

Sounds to tight, few ways to find it. Atleast in my exp, can't say its the best way..but its worked for me.

Pipe to the ear, til its the loudest to confirm. Spray a lub on each til it stops, will tell you which one.

Mine squeeled for 2 years on and off, ended up just changing all the belts, confirming tension, and replacing a tensioner pully after I got the belts right being that wanted to make noise next. End result, I can change my belts in 10 mins, and no more noise =P

[senick]

Well I went out and checked them again, the tension actually seems fine, and the belts look good. However, due to a bad valve cover gasket, a decent amount of sludge seems to have built up near the block, and I'm thinking it may have made its way to the pulleys and belts. The belts are sticky.... I think what I need is just a good cleaning. Is there a recommended cleaner for belts and pulleys?

[xrav22]

That is a problem try getting engine clean or gunk and go to the carwash spray it on let it set 3 minutes and give a few shots on the pullys and the buildup point. I never power wash my engines because the water gets into places water should not be in and rusts. Anyways you can try snugging up the valve cover bolts with a large metric socket.