Need help with some minor upgrades.

MadMazda · 06-25-2006, 01:43 PM

when i first start up in the mornings for football practice, it squeaks for a little bit, i am assuming that it is the belt but i figured i would ask to be 100% sure before i go replacing it, (i did look at it and it is cracking a little bit on the inside). also, i have a friend with a 1996 ranger, nothing special or diffrent from mine really except his is an automatic and has lower ground clerance. BUT he has Dual exaust pipes and it sounds NICE. and he likes to think his truck is better because of it. and also, i was at a party the other night and we decided to go TPing. one of the girls trucks there, a GMC 1500 (V6) sounded nice as ****, so just playing around, i pulled up beside her and reved my engine, the reponse was "Ha!, sound like my air conditioner!" then she reved again. Demasculinized anyone? So, i am looking for some things to do to my truck, realtivly cheap and easy, to at least give it a more threatning sound to it, and maybe give it some more juice. THANKS!

02F2504x4 · 06-25-2006, 04:26 PM

Squeaking noise can be your belts can't tell you witch one would have to look at the truck myself but I could help you out to find out witch one it is... Ok just for wear on your belts if they are cracked and whatnot they need to be replaced any way also pull on your belts because your tensioner could be shoot as well. So if your belts look good pull on them if they are loose check your tensioners they shouldn't be loose... As far as upgrades two easy upgrades are dual exhaust no cats. and a chip. But be wear if your truck is under warrenty that will vauld the warrenty plus i don't know where you live and what your emissions are there if you have smog or whatnot...

mudseeker · 06-25-2006, 07:30 PM

the small cracks under the belt are fine, and you don't want your belts to tight or they probably could break. usaully anything more than a half inch of flex is when i replace belts. also check every thing that is driven by the belts, could be a lack of grease or fluid.

MadMazda · 06-26-2006, 02:22 AM

thanks, i'll take a look at the belt and check the tension, and the grease and fluids. About the exaust, 1. about how much would that cost, 2. I live in florida, 3.a chip sounds expensive... hehe. Its an 01 so i feel preety sure the warrenty is expired, but i will check. Also, just throwing this out there, i want to try a little mudding, would i need 4 wheel drive? what about a 4 wheel drive conversion?, would it be worth it for a mazda in FL., (used to live in TN. we're i woulda NEEDED a 4x4 for snow, but went 2x4 in FL cause, we'll NO SNOW) thanks guys.

MadMazda · 06-26-2006, 04:08 PM

i took a look at the belt, and it seems to be in ok shape aside from a little cracking on the inside, and i gave it a few little tugs and the tension was fine, but i did notice, what i think is the tensioner pully (cause its not connected to anything else, its kinda small and near the top) is quite worn out looking, lol, i can't tell if its supposed to be black or silver. could that be the squeaking?

mrjohnwayne · 06-26-2006, 07:23 PM

Could be a bad bearing in the tensioner pulley and or idler pulley/s. Could be the Tensioner it self. Watch it while the motor is running and see if the tensioner is staying still or if has any movement. Some movement is to be expected but anything over 1/2" is to much.

mudseeker · 06-27-2006, 05:38 AM

the only mud that will end up going through is mud puddles.

4x4 conversion is very pricey and requires alot of cutting and welding. if you really want to go mudding then i would get an old beater to play with on the side.

MadMazda · 07-10-2006, 09:44 PM

alright, i might have to get back to you on the tensioner, i sprayed a lil wd-40 on it, figured it couldent hurt, sqeaking subsided for now... but lets put it this way, If all you had was this mazda, besides getting an old "beater", what would you do to it?

02F2504x4 · 07-10-2006, 10:35 PM

If you can pull the belt off without using any tools its time for a new tensioner but if the belt is a little lose then thats normal. I don't know what I would do to that truck not a fan of Mazda trucks sorry... If any thing a few minor upgrades likes pipes and a chip.

MadMazda · 07-11-2006, 01:03 AM

lol, well a mazda is all i have to work with. Anyone mind explaining what a chip does?, keep the suggestions coming!

06-25-2006, 01:43 PM	#1
MadMazda Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 15	Need help with some minor upgrades. when i first start up in the mornings for football practice, it squeaks for a little bit, i am assuming that it is the belt but i figured i would ask to be 100% sure before i go replacing it, (i did look at it and it is cracking a little bit on the inside). also, i have a friend with a 1996 ranger, nothing special or diffrent from mine really except his is an automatic and has lower ground clerance. BUT he has Dual exaust pipes and it sounds NICE. and he likes to think his truck is better because of it. and also, i was at a party the other night and we decided to go TPing. one of the girls trucks there, a GMC 1500 (V6) sounded nice as ****, so just playing around, i pulled up beside her and reved my engine, the reponse was "Ha!, sound like my air conditioner!" then she reved again. Demasculinized anyone? So, i am looking for some things to do to my truck, realtivly cheap and easy, to at least give it a more threatning sound to it, and maybe give it some more juice. THANKS! __________________ Not to be confused with MadMax

06-25-2006, 04:26 PM	#2
02F2504x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 88	Squeaking noise can be your belts can't tell you witch one would have to look at the truck myself but I could help you out to find out witch one it is... Ok just for wear on your belts if they are cracked and whatnot they need to be replaced any way also pull on your belts because your tensioner could be shoot as well. So if your belts look good pull on them if they are loose check your tensioners they shouldn't be loose... As far as upgrades two easy upgrades are dual exhaust no cats. and a chip. But be wear if your truck is under warrenty that will vauld the warrenty plus i don't know where you live and what your emissions are there if you have smog or whatnot... __________________ 2002 F-250 4x4 CC 7.3L DIESEL Mods Edge Evo Edge Juice W/ Attitude 4 Inch Turbo Back Exhaust Straight Pipe DIY Tymar Intake Foil Delete Recon Light Strip

06-25-2006, 07:30 PM	#3
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,375	the small cracks under the belt are fine, and you don't want your belts to tight or they probably could break. usaully anything more than a half inch of flex is when i replace belts. also check every thing that is driven by the belts, could be a lack of grease or fluid. __________________ i'd rather be hunting

06-26-2006, 02:22 AM	#4
MadMazda Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 15	thanks, i'll take a look at the belt and check the tension, and the grease and fluids. About the exaust, 1. about how much would that cost, 2. I live in florida, 3.a chip sounds expensive... hehe. Its an 01 so i feel preety sure the warrenty is expired, but i will check. Also, just throwing this out there, i want to try a little mudding, would i need 4 wheel drive? what about a 4 wheel drive conversion?, would it be worth it for a mazda in FL., (used to live in TN. we're i woulda NEEDED a 4x4 for snow, but went 2x4 in FL cause, we'll NO SNOW) thanks guys. __________________ Not to be confused with MadMax

06-26-2006, 04:08 PM	#5
MadMazda Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 15	i took a look at the belt, and it seems to be in ok shape aside from a little cracking on the inside, and i gave it a few little tugs and the tension was fine, but i did notice, what i think is the tensioner pully (cause its not connected to anything else, its kinda small and near the top) is quite worn out looking, lol, i can't tell if its supposed to be black or silver. could that be the squeaking? __________________ Not to be confused with MadMax

06-26-2006, 07:23 PM	#6
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,722	Could be a bad bearing in the tensioner pulley and or idler pulley/s. Could be the Tensioner it self. Watch it while the motor is running and see if the tensioner is staying still or if has any movement. Some movement is to be expected but anything over 1/2" is to much. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

06-27-2006, 05:38 AM	#7
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,375	the only mud that will end up going through is mud puddles. 4x4 conversion is very pricey and requires alot of cutting and welding. if you really want to go mudding then i would get an old beater to play with on the side. __________________ i'd rather be hunting

07-10-2006, 09:44 PM	#8
MadMazda Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 15	alright, i might have to get back to you on the tensioner, i sprayed a lil wd-40 on it, figured it couldent hurt, sqeaking subsided for now... but lets put it this way, If all you had was this mazda, besides getting an old "beater", what would you do to it? __________________ Not to be confused with MadMax

07-10-2006, 10:35 PM	#9
02F2504x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 88	If you can pull the belt off without using any tools its time for a new tensioner but if the belt is a little lose then thats normal. I don't know what I would do to that truck not a fan of Mazda trucks sorry... If any thing a few minor upgrades likes pipes and a chip. __________________ 2002 F-250 4x4 CC 7.3L DIESEL Mods Edge Evo Edge Juice W/ Attitude 4 Inch Turbo Back Exhaust Straight Pipe DIY Tymar Intake Foil Delete Recon Light Strip

07-11-2006, 01:03 AM	#10
MadMazda Full Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 15	lol, well a mazda is all i have to work with. Anyone mind explaining what a chip does?, keep the suggestions coming! __________________ Not to be confused with MadMax

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