2012 LS3 AC belt problem at 200 miles. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Bumblebee2012 · 03-03-2012, 06:38 PM

I had a barely observed squeal from the engine that was observed at around 200 miles. I ignored it, but at about 270 miles my wife commented about it and I got out while it was running and agree with her that it is louder and not right. Drove it home last night and parked it with 315 miles on the clock and it again was louder than at dinner.

I got up this morning and drove it directly to the GM dealer about 6 miles away and we pulled into the shop and lifted the hood while the engine was left to idle, the tech shot a bit of belt dressing at the ribs of the main belt and got no change in sound. He then shot a quick fraction of a second burst of belt dressing at the ribs on the small AC compressor to crank pulley belt and the sound immediately stopped.

So knowing this, he and I gazed closer at the small accessory belt and realized that it was trying to climb off the crank pulley. I had him grab a pair of dikes and cut the belt off after he failed at getting it to go back into place. I feared it may break and tear adjacent components that need not be placed in harms over an AC belt in Pennsylvania in March!

Pics or it didn't happen! Universal internet rule.

jd10013 · 03-03-2012, 06:43 PM

weird, but shit happens. that's why they warranty them

maroman1138 · 03-03-2012, 07:21 PM

Wow. I have mine being replaced as we speak. Mine was split on the front side edge almost all the way around. Apparently this belt has been an issue on a few cars.

joe h · 03-05-2012, 09:47 AM

My 2010 snapped around 1000 miles. Cannot believed they haven't addressed this problem yet, been 3 1/2 years.

DCC1464 · 03-07-2012, 10:59 PM

well i just got told today by a buddie i work with my car was squealing and its pretty loud outside the car. mabey this is my problem gona go tommorow moring to find out

TRC-SS · 03-08-2012, 01:16 AM

Happened to mine, my dealer was aware of the issue. Ive seen alot of camaros having the belt replaced.

Get it fixed under warranty

DCC1464 · 03-08-2012, 01:24 AM

yep just checked my car has the same problem, also sounds like i might have a air leak, can hear a hissing sound in the same area but not sure from what

310Driver · 03-08-2012, 01:51 AM

Just dropped my 2011 off today for the same problem!!!

joey0480 · 03-08-2012, 07:32 AM

After the headers/tune on mine were done, the belt came a tad loose and got real squeaky. Shop got a tad tighter belt and put it on...sounds better and no worries now!

Chevrolet Customer Svc · 03-08-2012, 10:08 AM

Sorry to hear about all of this guys. If any of you have trouble getting this taken care of let me know. I'll do what I can to help!

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

Camaro21 · 03-08-2012, 10:19 AM

I have had SEVERAL A/C belts that split on me, I went to Autozone and purchased their Duralast Brand Belt and haven't had an issue yet. I have had the Autozone belt on for about 20,000 miles now.

The belt that I bought was a Duralast Brand - Part #: 373K4

Bumblebee2012 · 03-08-2012, 01:05 PM

Typically one expects the OEM parts to be of a higher quality than discount auto store parts. Odd that a Autozone branded part is outlasting an OEM.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Camaro21 · 03-08-2012, 01:25 PM

I thought so too. I was just tired of spending $50+ each time for the Belt Kit that comes from GM so I took my old belt to Autozone and matched it up and put it on and haven't had ANY Issues yet. That has been about 15,000 miles ago.

It looked to me like the GM belt grooves weren't as deep as the Autozone belt, causing the pulleys to wear through the GM belt.

cplhester · 03-08-2012, 01:38 PM

My 2010 SS did the same thing. The squealing was embarrassing and the car only had a couple thousand miles on it.

03-03-2012, 06:38 PM	#1
Bumblebee2012 Drives: 2012 2SS TF3, 1971 Chevelle Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 840	2012 LS3 AC belt problem at 200 miles. I had a barely observed squeal from the engine that was observed at around 200 miles. I ignored it, but at about 270 miles my wife commented about it and I got out while it was running and agree with her that it is louder and not right. Drove it home last night and parked it with 315 miles on the clock and it again was louder than at dinner. I got up this morning and drove it directly to the GM dealer about 6 miles away and we pulled into the shop and lifted the hood while the engine was left to idle, the tech shot a bit of belt dressing at the ribs of the main belt and got no change in sound. He then shot a quick fraction of a second burst of belt dressing at the ribs on the small AC compressor to crank pulley belt and the sound immediately stopped. So knowing this, he and I gazed closer at the small accessory belt and realized that it was trying to climb off the crank pulley. I had him grab a pair of dikes and cut the belt off after he failed at getting it to go back into place. I feared it may break and tear adjacent components that need not be placed in harms over an AC belt in Pennsylvania in March! Pics or it didn't happen! Universal internet rule.

03-03-2012, 07:21 PM	#3
maroman1138 Drives: 2011 SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Houston TX. Posts: 439 View My Garage	Wow. I have mine being replaced as we speak. Mine was split on the front side edge almost all the way around. Apparently this belt has been an issue on a few cars. __________________ 2011 1SS/RS LS3 - Stage II Ported Heads, Stage II Comp Cam, Ported T.B., Hurst Shifter - 0BX LT Headers - CAT delete, Pype Bomb Axle-Back Exhaust - Muffler delete - 4.5 Resonated tips, Spectre CAI, - 480 RWHP 442 TRQ. Dyno tuned by ARD.

03-07-2012, 10:59 PM	#5
DCC1464 COTW 5/27/13 Drives: '11 S/C SS/RS CGM Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 755 View My Garage	well i just got told today by a buddie i work with my car was squealing and its pretty loud outside the car. mabey this is my problem gona go tommorow moring to find out __________________ 622RWHP/512FTLBS on 91 octane 2.9l Whipple 4" pulley. Vengance VRSP3 cam. Lots of BMR & AAC. Body work by Gary's Customz. Nic D tuned My build thread

03-08-2012, 01:16 AM	#6
TRC-SS 700RWHP-650TQ Drives: 2011 Forged LS3 Supercharged/Cammed Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Shrewsbury Massachusetts Posts: 5,269 View My Garage	Happened to mine, my dealer was aware of the issue. Ive seen alot of camaros having the belt replaced. Get it fixed under warranty __________________ View Build HERE>>>>>MY 2011 2SS/RS JOURNAL

03-08-2012, 01:24 AM	#7
DCC1464 COTW 5/27/13 Drives: '11 S/C SS/RS CGM Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 755 View My Garage	yep just checked my car has the same problem, also sounds like i might have a air leak, can hear a hissing sound in the same area but not sure from what __________________ 622RWHP/512FTLBS on 91 octane 2.9l Whipple 4" pulley. Vengance VRSP3 cam. Lots of BMR & AAC. Body work by Gary's Customz. Nic D tuned My build thread

03-03-2012, 06:43 PM	#2
jd10013 Drives: 2012 camaro Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: central VA Posts: 3,196	weird, but shit happens. that's why they warranty them

03-05-2012, 09:47 AM	#4
joe h Drives: victory red 2010 camaro 2ss/rs Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: bismarck, nd Posts: 125	My 2010 snapped around 1000 miles. Cannot believed they haven't addressed this problem yet, been 3 1/2 years.

03-08-2012, 01:51 AM	#8
310Driver John Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Spring, Texas, United States of America Posts: 39 View My Garage	Just dropped my 2011 off today for the same problem!!! __________________ 2011 Camaro 2SS/ Inferno Orange/ Inferno Orange Interior/ 6 Speed Hurst Short Throw/ Halltech Cold Air Intake/ RX Catch-Can/ Rear Cat Delete & Muffler Delete.

03-08-2012, 07:32 AM	#9
joey0480 Drives: 2013 Evo X Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 562	After the headers/tune on mine were done, the belt came a tad loose and got real squeaky. Shop got a tad tighter belt and put it on...sounds better and no worries now! __________________ 2013 Evo X GSR (SSS, leather, exterior package)....stage 2 bro SOLD:Team L99 ADM Race Intake and Scoop Vmax Ported TB Borla-S axlebacks ARH 1 7/8 Long Tubes and Hi Flo Cats 160 Thermostat Pfdat front and rear sways and endlinks Gold Pearl Powdercoated calipers Gloss black CFD strut covers GM gill stripes ******** 12" Stealth Kicker Package

03-08-2012, 10:08 AM	#10
Chevrolet Customer Svc Drives: GM Vehicles Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,328	Sorry to hear about all of this guys. If any of you have trouble getting this taken care of let me know. I'll do what I can to help! Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

03-08-2012, 10:19 AM	#11
Camaro21 Drives: SOLD - 2013 M6 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 5,041 View My Garage	I have had SEVERAL A/C belts that split on me, I went to Autozone and purchased their Duralast Brand Belt and haven't had an issue yet. I have had the Autozone belt on for about 20,000 miles now. The belt that I bought was a Duralast Brand - Part #: 373K4

03-08-2012, 01:05 PM	#12
Bumblebee2012 Drives: 2012 2SS TF3, 1971 Chevelle Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 840	Typically one expects the OEM parts to be of a higher quality than discount auto store parts. Odd that a Autozone branded part is outlasting an OEM. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

03-08-2012, 01:25 PM	#13
Camaro21 Drives: SOLD - 2013 M6 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 5,041 View My Garage	I thought so too. I was just tired of spending $50+ each time for the Belt Kit that comes from GM so I took my old belt to Autozone and matched it up and put it on and haven't had ANY Issues yet. That has been about 15,000 miles ago. It looked to me like the GM belt grooves weren't as deep as the Autozone belt, causing the pulleys to wear through the GM belt.

03-08-2012, 01:38 PM	#14
cplhester Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Muskogee Oklahoma Posts: 502 View My Garage	My 2010 SS did the same thing. The squealing was embarrassing and the car only had a couple thousand miles on it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Manual vs Auto GTAHVIT vs PQ... The video wars.	76z28	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	443	08-26-2010 12:26 PM
P0300 Misfire Code Help	black-knight	4th Generation Camaros	4	02-08-2010 01:45 PM
Great Read and Info on Oil Weight	Banshee	Mechanical Maintenance: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing	1	11-23-2009 09:03 PM