Squeaking/squealing noise from belt

[John L. Mickevich]

Sometimes when starting the SHO for the first time during the day, there's
a squeaking/squealing noise coming from the passenger side of the engine.
It goes away after 2-3 minutes of city driving, but it seems to happening more and more. I guess it's from a belt/pulley, but does anyone have an idea what might be causing this? Should I get this fixed before it gets worse ?

Thanx
John

 

[shojuan]

Install new belts.

The 6 rib AC/alternator belt is so easy to replace it's not even funny. I recently had this one off when installing a new AC field coil and clutch. It's been a couple of years since I installed the new 4 rib power steering belt (and the new AC/alternator belt...just took off and reinstalled the same belt this last time). That one only should take a little bit more time. The difference being you have to unbolt the engine damper that's in the vicinity and also the power steering reservoir so you can move it out of the way (no removal of hoses, just unbolt the bracket and shove it aside). And the tensioner adjuster isn't as easy to access for that 4-rib. But still plenty easy!!! Just make sure you have the right tools in advance! These belts are easy easy easy. If you had the tools in your trunk and a spare 6-rib belt and had to replace it at a dark rest stop in the middle of the night it would be "no problemo". Piece 'o cake. No worries for the wife and kiddies.

Remember to loosen the nut on the tensioner pulley first and THEN move the tensioner upwards by rotating the hex adjuster.

Squeaky belt means you need a new belt. If it continues to squeak then you set the tension too loose. All you need is enough tension to keep the belt from squeaking and to ensure that the belt has enough "grab" on the pulleys to rotate them. Anything more up to spec is just insurance for all operating conditions and anything more than that is just premature wear that will take its toll over time on your tensioner and accessory bearings. No worries though. Just go for the half inch or so deflection with moderate to firm pressure of a finger on the belt halfway between a pair of pulleys. :thumbs_u:

 

[Bizzy]

Squeaky belt means you need a new belt.

Beg to differ there Rick. New belts stretch a bit after time. He should try to tighten it up a bit before replacing it, least that's what I would do.

So I guess the first question I have for you John is how old are your belts? If you've had the car for a long while and never changed them then it may be time to replace them. Take a look at them, push down on them. Do they have a lot of movement when you do that? Are they cracked or worn?

 

[shojuan]

Beg to differ there Rick. New belts stretch a bit after time. He should try to tighten it up a bit before replacing it, least that's what I would do.

That's why the belt tension specs for a "new" belt are higher than for a "used" belt. "Used" is defined as anything longer than a few minutes in operation because that is how long it takes for a new belt to lose that brand new tightness.

Sure, maybe his belt's just loose and needs tightening but is otherwise in good shape. Bet that's not the case though if the belt was properly installed in the first place (and maybe it wasn't). In any event it's been slipping for several minutes on cold startups. That wear alone means it's time for a new belt.

 

[Bizzy]

I never tightened my belts to any spec. (I'm a bad owner!) How tight do I tighten it? Till it doesn't squeal when I start the car. I'm also speaking from my own personal experience where a relatively new 5k-10k old belt would start to squeal, I tighten it up and away we go.

I've also had belts that should have been replaced because I let them squeal out of laziness (I didn't tighten them for a week or more) and I got many more happy years use out of it with no problems.

My whole point in what I said is that he should check his belts before he replace them rather than assuming automatically that they are bad. Especially so if they are relatively new. If they're relatively new, then try to tighten them, if not then replace.

 

[John L. Mickevich]

Rick/Bizzy,

Thanks for your suggestions. When I push down on the belts, they seem fairly tight, but they are (10) years old, so maybe they should be replaced
as routine maintainance. What's confusing to me though is the fact that the
squeaking goes away after about (3) minutes of city driving. No problem after that. Once again, thanks.

John

 

[shojuan]

Rick/Bizzy,

Thanks for your suggestions. When I push down on the belts, they seem fairly tight, but they are (10) years old, so maybe they should be replaced
as routine maintainance. What's confusing to me though is the fact that the
squeaking goes away after about (3) minutes of city driving. No problem after that. Once again, thanks.

John

See my hunch was right Beth honey. The man needs new belts.

John, I'm surprised you haven't heard a plethora of cars exhibiting this behavior in winter time. It is completely typical. Cold start the sad belt complains for a while and isn't heard from again until the next cold start. Completely typical behavior, no reason to be confused. It's just the way things are.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

10 years old

wow, I change belts on all of my vehicles every 3 years.

 

[SHOtimer]

Well, Beth, Rick, and John - if your sig John is correct and you have an ATX (automatic) then their is no adjustment to be done, since the ATX has an automatic tensioner and you only have one belt. If your belt is a 10yr old original belt then you need to be replacing that belt. On the ATX it is very simple, even though the ATX tensioner is extremely powerful. Remove the battery and it's tray (one bolt on top, two on the side) and use a 3/8 ratchet (I like to stick a piece of PVC pipe over the end of the ratchet to lengthen it) to pull the tensioner and release the tension and remove the belt. Thread a new belt around, pull down the tensioner and then fully install the belt. Release the tensioner, inspect all the pulleys to make sure the belt is fully seated, reinstall the battery and it's tray and away you go...

Doug

 

[shojuan]

:jab: Good eye! I didn't even notice he had an ATX.

I like to stick a piece of PVC pipe over the end of the ratchet to lengthen it

Where on earth did you get THAT idea from? ???

 

[SHOtimer]

Where on earth did you get THAT idea from? ???

My Dad..... :corn:

Doug

 

[shojuan]

I guess he saw the 3 foot long piece of PVC pipe I used to prop my hood up with then.

j/k