Help me Oppo, my belt won't stop squealing

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 02/22/2017 at 14:50 • Filed to: None

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Just replaced the old belt on the Mustang with a brand new one and, of course, the squealing didn’t go away. The odd thing is the squealing will go away if I take a damp cloth and touch it to the ribbed side of the belt. Thinking it was dirt or grime in the grooves of one of the pullies I then took some WD40 and a stiff-bristle brush and, with the belt removed, scrubbed every single pulley including the crank pulley. Put the belt on and the DAMN THING STILL SQUEALS AND MY EARS ARE BEGGING FOR THE SWEET RELEASE OF DEATH. My only thought is that the brand-new expensive fucking belt I got from O’reilly and no longer have the receipt for (of course) was sitting on the shelf for so long the rubber has gone to shit.

7:07 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:52

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Just rig up that rag permanently. Problem solved.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:53

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Did you check the bearing on the tensioner pulley? If it’s bad it will definitely cause the belt to squeal.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:54

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The tensioner is probably dunno.

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:55

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typically belt squeal is from inadequate tension on the belt. Vulcanized rubber (in good conditions) takes years to go bad. Check your tensioner.

DipodomysDeserti > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:56

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There is belt squeak spray that you can get at your local autoparts store. My wife’s BMW used to always squeak. I had the dealership swap in a new belt and adjust it twice to no avail. I sprayed some of the stuff on and no more squeak.

Phatboyphil > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:57

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Could be a pulley out of alignment. I know wetting the ribbed or flat side and the noise going away is supposed to mean something, but I forgot.

Edit : It’s wether you wet the pulley or the belt that matters.

CalzoneGolem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 14:57

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Have you tried losing some weight?

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:11

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have you checked that all the pulleys are aligned, and you dont have one putting the belt in a bind? also do you have enough tension against the belt when you snug it up?........ and how hard is your alternator charging?(whats it putting out? what condition is the battery?)

camaroboy68ss > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:26

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Time to LS swap it, that should remove the squeak, lol

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:27

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It’s screaming for blood.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > camaroboy68ss 02/22/2017 at 15:32

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I will if you fund it

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Die-Trying 02/22/2017 at 15:33

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Pulleys all appear to be aligned. I tension it up to roughly 1/2 inch deflection on the longest span. I have no clue what the alternator voltage is. Battery is good.

Actually shit now that I think of it it could be the alternator. It makes a rather concerning rattling noise sometimes.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:33

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Are you sure the belt is tight enough? If you are absolutely sure that you tightened it properly and when you check it again, it is still tight as can be. Then it is most likely the tensioner has gone bad. Could also be that whatever the belt is attached to is seizing (alternator, power steering, etc.). In that case you should experience other adverse effects but possibly not. Then there is always a possibility you had it too loose, it glazed the belt, and now it is perma-fucked and you gotta buy another belt.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Sweet Trav 02/22/2017 at 15:34

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This. The belt squealing almost certainly means it is slipping. The cause of the slipping has a few roots. But it most certainly is a belt slippage caused by something.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > CalzoneGolem 02/22/2017 at 15:34

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I’ll disappear (5'5" 135 lbs)

Roadster Man > CalzoneGolem 02/22/2017 at 15:34

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ahahahahahaha

crowmolly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:41

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Just a hunch. Check your alternator. Might be dragging the belt because it’s struggling to keep up.

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 15:43

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you might get a stick and listen to it.......

a broomstick works too, or the skinny end of a 2 piece fishing pole. 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Phatboyphil 02/22/2017 at 15:59

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It goes away if I wet either.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sweet Trav 02/22/2017 at 15:59

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Tensioner is manual. No amount of loose or tight makes the squeal go away. As it is I have it to general spec, which is a half inch of deflection on the longest belt run

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/22/2017 at 16:00

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Manual tensioner. I adjusted it to spec.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:00

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Hmm. How are the bearings on the water pump/tensioner/Compresser/etc

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/22/2017 at 16:06

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They all seem fine. Alternator is making a rattle, I noticed. Brand new 65w alternator is only $18 (!!!!) on Rockauto so I might just replace that for the hell of it

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:11

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That’s crazy cheap. I wouldn’t be shocked if that helped. Also alternators are something worth replacing if just to keep you from ending up on the side of the road. Or in a parking lot.

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:25

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pull the belts off one at a time. start the car up after each belt you pull off. figure out which belt it is. you dont have to run the car long. but narrow it down some.......

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:43

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Get someone to rev the engine a little while you watch the belt. It’ll likely vibrate and tell you exactly where to look.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 02/22/2017 at 16:51

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Seems rock-steady. FWIW it squeaks at idle too.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Die-Trying 02/22/2017 at 16:52

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There’s only one belt

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:53

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I have an old V-belt setup on my Monte. I use a 24 inch breaker bar to get adequate tension on the alternator.

Die-Trying > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 16:57

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well that narrows it down quite a bit........

Racin'Jason001 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/22/2017 at 17:55

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Maybe it needs some lube.

CalzoneGolem > Roadster Man 02/23/2017 at 08:32

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Thank you! I’ll be here all week!

Try the veal!

CalzoneGolem > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/23/2017 at 08:33

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Don’t do that.