My 2012 Maxima has been making a very audible chirping sound since the day I bought it (two +weeks ago). I’ve had 3 different mechanics work on it. The serpentine belt has been replaced as well as the transitioner belt, twice (the 1st replacement was deemed “bad”). One mechanic says I need upper & lower idler pulleys; the other two say they are Ok…yet my car keeps on chirping like a trapped bird & honestly it’s terribly embarrassing. I’m a hair away from buying the pulleys & replacing them myself! I don’t know who I can trust & it’s crazy to me how 3 different mechanics can give 3 different opinions. Advice, please! Incidentally the total running cost on repairs $1,388. Still worth it 100%

2012 Nissan Maxima

 

That is a LOT for a belt and tensioner. Our 7th gens really like oem belts as most after markets do end up squeeling and chirping. Buy the pulleys and belt. Will take less than an hour.

 

Maybe the tensioner itself was replaced too? OEM belt at dealer is $100 installed. (Well pre covid) $1300 is a ripoff. I got a Gates quiet serpentine belt for under $30 and put it in myself and never a squeak.

 

I replaced my belt twice with a new gates belt once at 60k miles and the 2nd time at 10k miles and the squeal returned shortly thereafter. Next, I replaced the tensioner and one of the pulleys with ones I got from a junkyard Maxima, even though mine spun freely and were not misaligned. My tensioner and pulleys had rust on them and build up in some of the grooves. It wasn't until I cleaned the grooves with a stiff wire brush and that fixed the problem.

 

Thank you so much!

 

It's the autotensioner. I promise.

 

A mechanic told me that one way they test serpentine belts is to spray water on them. He said if the squealing stops, it's a bad belt, whether it's glazed over or just old. if it doesn't stop then it's either the belt tensioner or pulley.