Squealing belts

[95SHOgirl]

I've did a search and came up with a few ideas. I have this problem with this squeal coming from the right side of the engine. Only does it when I turn the steering wheel. It wasn't making this noise until the mechanic changed my water pump and timing belt.

I took it back to him and he only sprayed wd-40 on it which helped for while. I told him he needs to take another look at his work because my car wasn't doing this when I brought it to him. He told me he dosen't guarantee the belts only his work. This dense of a man doesn't realise that if this belt snaps it will **** my engine or cause expensive repairs to the engine?

I'm so angry right now and want to punch him in the face. However, I do have the paperwork and it does says guarantee on all work for up to 6 months. All the belt needs is a good tighting. Again, I don't have the tools to do it or I would get out there and do it myself.

I do know that if the belt snaps and causes engine damage, this guy will see me in court and he will pay for the damages and for being an idiot. Perhaps I need to take my car back to him for the second time and explain this to him. At least if he going to do a half job, don't guarantee the work.

Dang....

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

either the blets need to be replaced, or just tightened.

And if he sprayed WD-40 on a belt to "fix" it, I would suggest finding a REAL mechanic.

 

[95SHOgirl]

I just had the belt replaced not 2 weeks ago. The moment they returned my car to me I noticed the squealing. I ask him about it along with the car still smoking around the waterpump. He told me that it was due to moisture. The smoking has stopped. But the squealing hasn't. This man charged me $250. for that price he should stand by his work.

Maybe this should be moved to the Hall of Shame and I warn anyone in the Liberty area to stay away from this mechanic.

 

[Slo-Sho]

The ATX has a serpentine belt which in turn has an AUTOMATIC TENSIONER. You can't just tighten the belt. It only makes the noise when you turn the wheel, you say? Sounds to me that the belt could have been contaminated with oil or grease or coolant or whatever.

 

[SHOtimer]

The ATX has a serpentine belt which in turn has an AUTOMATIC TENSIONER. You can't just tighten the belt. It only makes the noise when you turn the wheel, you say? Sounds to me that the belt could have been contaminated with oil or grease or coolant or whatever.

....or WD-40. BTW $250 for that job, you got a good deal. I'd replace the belt and go from there.

Doug

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

ah, sorry for not noticing the ATX part

But it still sounds like this "mechanic" has some issues. Or just WD-40 on the brain.

WD-40 DOES NOT fix everything.
Actually, it might just be the most overused and improperly used product on the market. It is a water displacer (WD), nothing more.

 

[95SHOgirl]

Will it solve itself from squealing? I'm giving the car to my mom on Friday and I don't want it to break down on her.

I'm getting my MTX on Friday which I do hope is in good condition. However, I won't know until I pick it up and give it the 3 hour drive home test.

 

[pjtoledo]

Look at the bright side of it, with that hi pitched noise announcing your arrival you won't have to worry about running over any animals!!!
I'm fighting the same belt noise on my Ranger, does it constantly. A real pain. WD40 quiets it down for about 30 seconds, then it gets worse. A new belt was quiet for only a couple of weeks, then it was back to scaring the animals again. Good luck, those noises aren't the easiest to get rid of.


Perry

 

[Ishodu]

This is a trick a farmer showed me. I really not sure I would try it or not but it seems to work well for him. He puts a little vegetable oil on the inside and outside of the belt. This becomes very sticky. I know it sounds dumb and all but I can't argue with him after seeing the results.

 

[black93sho]

Will it solve itself from squealing? I'm giving the car to my mom on Friday and I don't want it to break down on her.

I'm getting my MTX on Friday which I do hope is in good condition. However, I won't know until I pick it up and give it the 3 hour drive home test.

Did you sell your mom the ATX?

What year MTX are you getting? Did you get it off e-bay? What color?

Didn't you just get the ATX?

I know this is off topic, but I'm just curious.

 

[SHOoff89]

Sounds to me like your serp. belt is toast and needs to be replaced. I had a similar issue with the '89 last summer after I changed the alternator. It never made a sound before I took it off, but once i had it all back together it started making un-godly noises, especially when I would turn on the AC or turn the wheel quickly. I replaced the belt, and all was okay. As far as the WD-40 thing, that guy should not be trusted with your car and you should find someone else to work on your car as soon as you can.

 

[k_mesaros]

Spraying WD-40 on your belt lets you know that it is the belt, not an alternator or tensioner pulley. Not a big deal, and common practice by every mechanic and technician I have seen work. Not just the small-time guys, but the master certified ones. Good way to eliminate a few possible problems. Anyway, on to the problem:

The squealing is probably caused by a glazed, shiny surface on the backside of your belt. When you replace it you can sand up the smooth-surface pulleys that will run on the back of the belt, and it will help keep it from happening. On a side note, my MTX makes a squealing noise and I have been too lazy to do anything about it...

Kevin

 

[95SHOgirl]

Did you sell your mom the ATX?

What year MTX are you getting? Did you get it off e-bay? What color?

Didn't you just get the ATX?

I know this is off topic, but I'm just curious.

No I didn't sell my mom the ATX. She deserved a gift from me. Afterall, it was here who helped brought me cars since I started driving and she still helps me out with repairs and auto insurance. The least I could do is give her a car. She would have kept my Prelude but she doesn't know how to drive a manual car and her knees are getting bad.

Yes I just brought my ATX about 3 weeks ago. I love it. I just need a manual car.

 

[black93sho]

Thats cool. I want to get an MTX to.

 

[pjtoledo]

Tonight I put a Goodyear "run quiet" belt on the Ranger. Scrubbed the pullies real good to get rid of all the stuff I sprayed on for a temporary fix. So far just silence, sounds great for a change!
The noise was on the ribbed side for me, mostly coming from a certain part of the belt as it rode over the AC pulley. The Goodyear belt has many small notches in the ribs to break up the noise, clean pullies help too.

Perry

 

[Slo-Sho]

Tonight I put a Goodyear "run quiet" belt.

I have one of those on my ATX...It's called a 'Gatorback'.

 

[black93sho]

Post pictures of your MTX SHO when you get it. What year and what color is it?

 

[shojuan]

I have one of those on my ATX...It's called a 'Gatorback'.

Lol, gatorback isn't a quiet belt. I have those and they make the car sound a bit like it has a supercharger when cruising around at low speed. I love it! Some people don't like that though.

The "quickfixes" for noisy belts involving WD40 or vegetable oil really puzzle me. A can of spray on belt dressing is only a few bucks from an autoparts store and that works pretty well for a little while on old belts. I've used mechanics brand, which is pretty much just a good stickum from what I can tell, and permatex, which is much less sticky. WD40 to condition a belt? WD40 and rubber don't belong together.

Of course, replacing the accessory belts is fairly easy and not too expensive and is the proper thing to do. But spray on belt dressings can get you by for a while if you want your fenders to thaw before leaning against them hehe. As an added bonus belt dressings give that "supercharger" whine for a little while. Very similar sounding to the goodyear gatorback belts that I like so much on my SHO.

 

[shojuan]

I do know that if the belt snaps and causes engine damage, this guy will see me in court and he will pay for the damages and for being an idiot. Perhaps I need to take my car back to him for the second time and explain this to him. At least if he going to do a half job, don't guarantee the work.

Dang....

If the timing belt snaps no internal engine damage will result on the SHO. Of course a broken belt whipping around might take its toll on some plastic in the area. In any event it sounds like the noise is coming from a bad accessory belt and I bet the mechanic didn't replace that. Was he asked or paid to replace the accessory belt? If he was asked to replace the timing belt at the lowest possible price then it's understandable that he wouldn't replace any of the other goodies found along the way because he simply wasn't paid to replace those.

 

[shojuan]

Spraying WD-40 on your belt lets you know that it is the belt, not an alternator or tensioner pulley. Not a big deal, and common practice by every mechanic and technician I have seen work. Not just the small-time guys, but the master certified ones. Good way to eliminate a few possible problems.

Good to know. Too bad the mechanic wasn't more forthcoming about WHY he was spraying the WD40. If he mentioned that it was just to diagnose the problem then he should have made sure that was understood.