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I have a belt that screams really loudly (quite embaressing) when i start up without the aircon on, but it disappears quickly when i turn the steering wheel (therefore i assume something to do with the pump belt?) but when the aircon is on at start up, the scream continues even if i turn the wheels. It is a super loud screech. Belts were replaced recently < 2 months ago. Are they too tight?

Usually they squeal because they are slipping so doubt they are too tight. If you press on the belt, there should be about 10mm of movement.

You can buy a aerosol can of "Stop Squeal" that you spray on the pulleys, maybe try that.


I passed you yesterday in Urunga . I was in a yellow van

just tighten the belts its really easy.

dont spray that stuff unless you have no other option, it makes a horrible mess if you put too much on there.

alex

Hmm i've had a play, checked the belts. It screams so loud, like a piglet! It seems the belts are okay. Not too tight or loose. Its frustrating me. It seems at though there are two distinct noises, one when the air-conditioner is on, at start up. Its the real screaming pig-like noise. But theres is also another squeel on startup, which is not quite as loud. Could a bearing be gone somewhere?

if youre sure the belts are tight then its probably the bearing in your alternator. Easiest thing is to just find antoher alternator.

alex

spray the belt with crc while its going, spray till it stops squealing. if you spray the belts individually you will know which one is noisy. spray em before you change anythung

Inspect the belt for cracks, are the bearings ok?
Cheers
AP

Also check is the right belt (size, profile etc) for the application

Sven

libertywagonrx wrote:I have a belt that screams really loudly (quite embaressing) when i start up without the aircon on, but it disappears quickly when i turn the steering wheel (therefore i assume something to do with the pump belt?) but when the aircon is on at start up, the scream continues even if i turn the wheels. It is a super loud screech. Belts were replaced recently < 2 months ago. Are they too tight?

Reminds me of the old EA falcons.

Was embarrassing whenever I started one in a public area :P

Had same problem. first thought was just belt tension, adjsuted belts problem still persited. Replaced all belts with Gates (blue) belts. have had no problens since fitting them.

I tightened them, and referred to the service manual which recommended the movement sub 10mm (cant remember details but they were 7.5-9mm movement in the belt or something along those lines.) And thus far the loud squeal has stopped, touch wood, and i thought the other squeal had stopped also, but this was not the case. Today (3 days since tightening, i started the car, after it had not been driven for a few hours and the squeal started again for about 5-10 seconds then stopped? Ill check them again tonight and make sure they haven't loosened.

Thanks to all for your advice!

crc them, easy and pain free

wrxer wrote:crc them, easy and pain free

That occasionally works for me but usually makes them worse.

The best thing I have found is the old trick of running a bar of soap behind the fan belts.

Start the engine, get a bar of soap and run them through the belts/pulleys.

Should quieten them down a bit.

The belts may be glazed, from slipping. They'll keep squealing till you get rid of the shiny surface on them, or replace them. Emery cloth or similar will break the glaze on old belts, but you'll need to remove them to do it properly.
To find which belt is the culprit, a fine trickle of water will shut it up momentarily.

someguy wrote:That occasionally works for me but usually makes them worse.

The best thing I have found is the old trick of running a bar of soap behind the fan belts.

Start the engine, get a bar of soap and run them through the belts/pulleys.

Should quieten them down a bit.

This sounds interresting. I too have a belt squeal issue, but its only when cold and i have grown used to it, with 280K its got a few of these "allowances". Can you describe in more details what you mean, I assume you mean run a cake of dry soap along the running surface of the belt while its off the car?

I too had a squealing belt on my L sedan running one V belt on power steer and alternator. Moments it squaeled was with lights on high beam with driving lights, heater blower fan and or wipers and at low speed when turning as in car park speed and turn, thought it was due to wet weather. It has stopped since replacing my alternator that was found to be giving out less than 6 V charge. Alternator may have been jamming when really struggling to supply power when things were under load. Food for thought - how is the alternator charge voltage?