This all started about 4 months ago. Was too cold outside so I took the car into the shop for tire rotation, oil change, and put a new belt on since it was worn and starting to crack. They said the idler pulley was bent (Guess the belt was too tight or just years of wear and tear, going on 8 years old now) so they replaced that and put the goodyear gator belt on. Well thats when problems started happening. The belt slipped off 3 times, so they put on a regular ribbed belt (50887, stock one I believe). Now the belt clicks when I start the car (like it is slapping something) and clicks a lot when I do a full turn of the wheel. I can also hear it squeel a little when the clicking stops. It doesn't do it for long and its just a very slight one. Actually have to listen close to hear it. I had someone else turning the wheel and I can see the belt vibrate and click when it is turning. So I asked some buddies to take a look and they said try a slightly smaller belt. So I went and got one and tried to install it today (been living with the clicks til it got warmer and I had time off from school). Belt ended up being short (was the next size down that nappa had 50855, roughly 1in shorter). We actually took the alternator off to try and get the belt to slip over the pulley, still no go. (yes I know where the tensior is =P) So we went back and tried a different stock belt. This one is actually looser than the previous 50887. The new one is a gates 50887, it actually slips off when you turn the wheel fully. Seems no other store has something thats like 1/4in smaller or anything, next size down is the 50855.

I also asked the guy if it was anything besides the belt that would make the clicking noise, he said usually bearings and that sort of thing but I'm 99% sure it isn't that. We started the car with the belt off and pulled the wheel a few times and no clicking noise, so pretty sure it is the belt. I did have overdrive pulleys but they are back to stock now. (at least I think, the alternator pulley looks stock and the idler I know is back to stock).

I have no idea to get rid of this noise or what belt to get. They all seem either too short or too big and slip off. I could probably live with the noise as I'll only been keeping the car for a few more years, but if there is a solution or some trick I'm missing, I would greatly appreciate the help!

Maybe they installed the wrong idler pulley, or you still have something other than stock that is belt driven, you stated you don't remember what was what, so maybe look that over until you find waldo so to speak.

I'm pretty sure it is the stock alternator and idler pullies. If I remember correctly, aren't aftermarket pullies a lot different than stock? Smaller idler to make it easier to spin and larger and lighter alternator one? Might have them reversed but I'll try and find some pictures of a stock 2200 to look at and compare. Thanks for the info though!

Ok after take a quick look, the alternator one is chrome and looks like the same size (3in diameter exactly) as the stock photo. The idler pulley is about 3 1/4in diameter. It looks slightly different than stock. I have had some trouble with the people being idiots at the place I took it to in the past. You could be right 03Eco. If someone needs pictures I can probably take and post some. I'll see if I can find stock specs for the pullies.