Squeaky Belt Problem - Tech Support Forums

Ritalin Kid · July 16th, 2002, 10:24 PM

I've got a weird problem I can't seem to get a grasp on.. last year I put a new altenator belt on my Caddy and a couple of weeks ago when I went to pick up my car from the local shop they left the doors open so long to work on it that the battery died.. well after getting it boosted ever since I've had a problem with my belt sqeaking like crazy when I first start the car and then give it a few secs and it stops until I turn the car off again and start it back up..

Well today getting tired of the embarrasing noise I bought a new belt.. put it on tightened it up correctly but this time no matter how tight it still squeals like crazy when I start it.. it has also always squealed when I turn the air on not the A/C just the air or heat but only squeals until the enigine is at a lower RPM.. if I turn the air on going down the highway no sqeaul..

Now I'm stumped.. what would cause my car to eat belts like this.. the pullys are both fine but could the alternator being going out or maybe the battery is so weak that it pulls on the alternator too much?? Anyone have a clue?

MDS · July 16th, 2002, 10:46 PM

check your pullies to make sure they are aligned. When a alt. bearing goes out it can either sqeewl or grind noise. Does it have one belt or multible belts ?

Cruez · July 16th, 2002, 10:57 PM

Is it the original alternator???

Its possible what MDS said or that the alt. has the wrong pulley on it..

Ritalin Kid · July 16th, 2002, 11:36 PM

the Alt has only one belt to it but the engine has many belts.

Cruez · July 16th, 2002, 11:38 PM

Is it the original alternator???

bigblue77 · July 16th, 2002, 11:50 PM

Take the belt off and look at all of the pulleys. It sounds to me like one or more of your pulleys are glazed over(shiny and slippery). I had the same problem with my Blazer when I first put the chrome pulleys on it. All I did was take some sandpaper to the offending pulleys and removed the glazing. 200 grit is what i used.

Jer

Brainchild · July 16th, 2002, 11:58 PM

Yeah whay bigblue said. You can also buy belt dressing that will temporarily but quickly solve the problem. It also leaves a nasty sticky residue

fyxxer32 · July 17th, 2002, 12:00 AM

And this is not an engine that has a tensioner spring? Where it self-adjusts?

bigblue77 · July 17th, 2002, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brainchild
You can also buy belt dressing that will temporarily but quickly solve the problem.

But one drawback of that dressing is that it can make the problem worse further on down the road. At least as far as I have seen anyway.

Jer

caddmannq · July 17th, 2002, 12:14 AM

An excessive load from any accessory can cause this.

Check your ground connections too. A slightly loose ground can cause the charging system to operate at full charge, even when it shouldn't need to.

Does the alternator spin freely with the belt off? If it's tight or noisey, the front bearing is probably shot.

If it squeals from the A/C belt (with A/C clutch engaged or not) remove the A/C belt. The clutch pulley should spin freely (IGN. KEY OFF!) If it's balky, the clutch bearing is going out.

Ditto for the water pump. Do you have fresh coolant? Anti-freeze contains a water pump lube in it, and the lube wears out much faster than the anti-freeze. This can cause the pump to squeal or sieze.

How's the power steering oil? Does it spin smoothly?

All four belts on that car run on the water pump pulley. The pump and pulley can take a beating.