Quick simple question
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: the beaches of florida
Quick simple question
Generally when a belt is squeeling then that means it has come loose. If the tensioner is tightened then that should fix the problem. Correct?
Would there be any adverse effects to this?
Would there be any adverse effects to this?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,458
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From: Calgary Canada
Well, sort-of.
belts squeal when they slip. Slipping can be caused by not enough tension, too much drag, or not enough friction. If the belt or pulley is glazed, then a new belt and a quick sand of the pulley will do more for you than tightening the belt. For my money, any time a belt is making noise, replacing the belt is the first thing I try unless I know for sure that it's been done recently.
belts squeal when they slip. Slipping can be caused by not enough tension, too much drag, or not enough friction. If the belt or pulley is glazed, then a new belt and a quick sand of the pulley will do more for you than tightening the belt. For my money, any time a belt is making noise, replacing the belt is the first thing I try unless I know for sure that it's been done recently.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
Yeah squeal is from slippage and there are plenty of causes besides the tensioner. Taking a quick look at the belt is the first step. If it is shiney then it is probably glazed and needs to be replaced.
Whenever I take care of a squeal, I usually clean all the pulleys with rubbing alcohol or if you are careful not to spill, brake cleaner. I might even rough up the shiney pully surfaces a bit wirh sand paper.
Some tensioners are spring loaded and don't need adjustment. Others are adjusted with a screw and should be adjusted so there is not a lot of slack. Kind of depends on the belt and engine, but in general about 1/2 inch deflection is about normal.
Never use belt dressing. Seems like with serpentine belts all it does is fix the problem for a day and then the squeal is back and you have a gummy mess.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Whenever I take care of a squeal, I usually clean all the pulleys with rubbing alcohol or if you are careful not to spill, brake cleaner. I might even rough up the shiney pully surfaces a bit wirh sand paper.
Some tensioners are spring loaded and don't need adjustment. Others are adjusted with a screw and should be adjusted so there is not a lot of slack. Kind of depends on the belt and engine, but in general about 1/2 inch deflection is about normal.
Never use belt dressing. Seems like with serpentine belts all it does is fix the problem for a day and then the squeal is back and you have a gummy mess.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Posting Guru
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From: Leamington, Ontario
I agree that using belt dressing doesn't work, but I have had very good luck with die-electric grease. I just put it on my finger and smear it on the part of the belt that touches the pully, crank the engine over and repeat again. The only time it didn't work was when the tensioner was totally gone a needed to be replaced.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
I've used the Goodyear Gatorbacks. Very nice, but an interesting sound.
Sounds kind of like a Roots type supercharger whine, but it is pretty quiet.
Greasing the belt is just masking the problem and letting the belt slip. A new belt or cleaning up is really the fix.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Sounds kind of like a Roots type supercharger whine, but it is pretty quiet.
Greasing the belt is just masking the problem and letting the belt slip. A new belt or cleaning up is really the fix.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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Sit. Stay.
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From: Washington State
Originally Posted by herman391
I agree that using belt dressing doesn't work, but I have had very good luck with die-electric grease. I just put it on my finger and smear it on the part of the belt that touches the pully, crank the engine over and repeat again. The only time it didn't work was when the tensioner was totally gone a needed to be replaced.
Suggesting grease on the belt is poor advice. Sorry man ... no offense ... really.
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Lead Driver
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From: Calgary Canada
Yeah herman, I'm going to have to pile on here too. The squealing isn't the problem, it's just a symptom. Grease will quiet it down, but so would taking off the belt totally. Both are bad ideas. Find out WHY it's squeaking, then fix that problem.
Posting Guru
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From: Leamington, Ontario
I don't want to start a big argument here, but I have found that the grease works. I've used it on two different vehicles and the squeaking didn't come back, I don't know maybe I just got lucky or something. I agree that if the belt was slipping or cracked then you would have to replace it and possibly other parts, I certainly would and I wouldn't put grease on it if that was the case. As stated by my previous post.
Posting Guru
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From: Leamington, Ontario
Originally Posted by Torque1st
REMEMBER: NEVER PUT ANY LUBRICANT ON A BELT!!! A lubricant may stop the belt from making noise temporarily but it defeats the purpose of having a belt. You need FRICTION between the belt and pulleys to transfer power. If you lube a belt it changes the frequency of the sound the belt makes to one you can't hear but will not drive the pulleys fast enough and you may end up with a dead battery, dim lights, poor AC, or high engine temps, etc. The slippage and lubricants work together to produce heat in the belt which will destroy the belt rapidly.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Hehe, never stop learning! 
Read the rest of that FAQ, it will lead you thru cleaning the pulleys after a slipping belt. I have heard stories often like: "The shop replaced my noisy belt last month but now it is making noise again..." Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get a shop to resurface the pulleys tho.
It seems to be one of those things you have to do yourself.
Read the rest of that FAQ, it will lead you thru cleaning the pulleys after a slipping belt. I have heard stories often like: "The shop replaced my noisy belt last month but now it is making noise again..." Unfortunately it is almost impossible to get a shop to resurface the pulleys tho.
It seems to be one of those things you have to do yourself.