weird chirping noise from driver's side?? help!

[ill steez]

My daily driver (2004 Z06), has an unusual chirping noise coming from the driver side of the engine bay (I think). It isn't particularly audible at idle, but at around 2000 rpm it becomes pretty clear. Annnd, the sound increases frequency with engine RPM.
I've done some research on corvette and LS1 forums, and have seen that the problem can be a number of things, ranging from a bad alternator pulley, tensioner, noisy rocker arm, or bad lifter (among other things).
Does anybody have any experience with bad lifters, or anything that sounds remotely like what I'm describing? I'm gonna pull the belt off and fire the car up to see if the noise persists, but aside from that is there anything else i can do??

I appreciate any help. Thank's a bunch guys.




Aris

[ErikLS2]

Might just be the belt, try spraying something on it like silicone spray and see if it doesn't change or go away. If that's not it, take a long thin shaft screwdriver, put your ear on the handle and touch it to various components you suspect are making the noise, like the alternator, tensioner pulley, etc. Just be carefull, I have dropped them before and they hit something and come flying out of the engine compartment. Or, you can get a stethoscope at most autoparts stores that will work even better.

[David Pozzi]

I wouldn't put silicone lube on a belt, I also wouldn't spray it near a car that has an oxygen sensor. Silicone spray can damage the sensor. Water will change the sound the belt makes and won't hurt anything, or remove the belt.
A piece of hose put up to your ear makes a good stethoscope.

[ErikLS2]

David, good points, I should have clarified. 3M has a "dry lubricant" silicone spray that I've used on belts literally hundreds of times with no issues. You're correct water works well too most of the time but sometimes with serpentine belts it makes it squeak more, at least temporarily so not as good for tracking down a noise. Also, while I'm well aware of the suggestion that silicone will damage o2 sensors I believe it was mainly with early ones and I have never seen it happen. Spraying some on the belt is fine, I certainly wouldn't spray it near the air intake of the engine, just to be safe.

[Steve1968LS2]

The spring loaded belt tensioners also tend to make a chirping sound.

Look there or move to a solid tensioner from Katech.