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YACT: Belt squeal...

A

alexjohnson16

Platinum Member
Got all my belts changed about a month ago, and lately one of my belts has been squealing for probably two minutes after I start my car, they stops. It sometimes takes a few minutes of driving to get it to to stop. When I brake to slow down, it will start again while stopped and repeat the cycle after starting (squeals for a minute or so then gives up).

Car is a 95' Mazda Protege, and have no clue what belt is squealing.

Should I be worried about this, or is it normal to happen after getting my belts changed?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: The squeal went away for the most part, but I was driving tonight and was going up a hill, and my Charge Battery light came on... So I was kind of curious what was going on... Not 5 minutes later, my temp gauge is all the way to the top... WTF is going on?!?
 
Tighten it like others have said. If all belts check out ok on tension and wear (even though they are new belts, incorrect installation could have hastened the wear), then you may have a component that is failing which runs off one of the acc belts (likely it is a bearing in one of the components). This could include the alternator, power steering pump and the a/c compressor.

I do not reccomend putting any type of belt dressing on, as this is just a cheap (bad) fix for something that needs to be replaced/repaired.
 
Got all my belts changed about a month ago...

You paid good money to have somebody do it, so make them screw with it now.

You don't have a wondrous serpentine belt? Good for you, if you don't. There won't be the hassle of a belt tensioner to replace. Probably just a loose alternator belt. Better too loose, than too tight. Belts are cheap. Bearing replacements cost buck$.
 
The belt tensioner is one of the best inventions ever put in a car. I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing. I'd rather loosen one or two tensioner bolts than six different pulleys.

But yeah, belts stretch. They should adjust it for you for free.
 
I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing.

Suppose your belt squeals after replacing it, then what?
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing.

Suppose your belt squeals after replacing it, then what?
Click to expand...

bad tensioner:thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: rezinn
The belt tensioner is one of the best inventions ever put in a car. I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing. I'd rather loosen one or two tensioner bolts than six different pulleys.

But yeah, belts stretch. They should adjust it for you for free.
Click to expand...

you're forgetting who you're talking to. mr. ornery here hates anything built after 1972.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing.

Suppose your belt squeals after replacing it, then what?
Click to expand...

what the hell are you talking about? 😕
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: rezinn
The belt tensioner is one of the best inventions ever put in a car. I can change the belt on my car in five minutes thanks to that thing. I'd rather loosen one or two tensioner bolts than six different pulleys.

But yeah, belts stretch. They should adjust it for you for free.
Click to expand...

you're forgetting who you're talking to. mr. ornery here hates anything built after 1972.
Click to expand...

There are lots of new cars without serpentine belts😕
 
happened to me also... started a thread... the wonderful members here indicated definitely the alternator belt since it works harder when you initially start your car. Should have a year warranty on the work done right ? Get them to tighten it.
 
Belt is slipping and not turning alternator, fan, etc. You need to get that fixed(belt tightened, replaced).
 
Sorry, I'm a car moron... Is a bad tensioner something that needs to be replaced or is it just that the belt isn't set in the right position???

Thanks for the help...
 
Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
Sorry, I'm a car moron... Is a bad tensioner something that needs to be replaced or is it just that the belt isn't set in the right position???

Thanks for the help...
Click to expand...

The tensioner is what holds pressure against the belt. If it is bad it needs to be replaced. However it could be one of the other components (alternator) not positioned properly and not allowing the tensioner to work properly. Check the deflection on the belt.
 
get some regular armorall, and spray a little on it while its running (both sides of the belt), it's possible your belt is just extremly dry, causing it to slip. (assuming the belt is tight)
 
I prefer manual tensioners, personally. My Jeep has a pulley which has a threaded block on the back. Through this block goes another bolt. When I want to tighten it, all I do is loosen the pulley a bit and turn the long bolt and the pulley is forced tighter, since the bolt doesn't move, but the threaded block does.
 
I'm a true car moron, but even I know what the alternator does. Signs of the battery becoming weak (not being charged) and the squeal at the start of the car (even if only occasional) indicate it's the alternator belt. Why haven't you gotten it tightened yet ? Go back to where you had it done and tell them it's squealing. They should adjust it for free so long as you're in your work warranty period. Like I said before, it happened to me and it was adjusted and never heard from again.
 
New symptoms...

Even idles at >2000RPM... Then dies down after a few minutes...

Was driving, put car in neutral, engine went from 2000-2500 and repeatedly did that, almost as if I was slightly revving, all on its own...

Engine didn't overheat this time... Check battery light still on...

Trying to give as much info on the probs as I can to get the best help... Still look like problems with alternator belt/tensioner?

Oh yeah, there was no squealing at all this time and everything sounded good from inside the car...

 
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