belts squeek in the morning on cold start up..

[Plaser]

when i first start my car in the morning the belts squeel like a mofo for about 10 seconds.. is this normal because its just so cold out? (10 degree nights)... i got some belt spray from my friend and it seemed to help but it just comes back..

 

[95burgundyesi]

Its normal, belts are most likey a little old. All my dsms seem to like to have noisy belts, but I have changed them all so its all good.

Or you can always check the tension. When mine squeeked about 2 weeks ago, I tightened it up and it went away even in the morning after sitting all night.

 

[GST racer]

I agree, check the tension on the belts. Also, how old are the belts? Wear & tear from daily driving and sitting in the cold can wear out a rubber belt. Maybe they need to be changed.

Also, I've noticed that when I have those gatorback belts, they hardly ever squealed. They seem to be pretty good quality.

 

[kenamond]

Mine lasted 6 years and then 5 years (starting to squeal again when cold). If they're not loose, I'd replace them in the next month or so.

 

[Plaser]

allright, thanks guys..

 

[Defiant]

Your harmonic balancer is dying.

 

[Plaser]

is that a big deal? whats it take to change that?

 

[BirdDogg1309]

Mine does this also. I opened the hood. Had someone start the car and pretty much make the belts squeal. (turn heater on, rev, etc...) I watched the pulleys, and belts as they did that. You can actually find the exact belt that is loose.

 

[Plaser]

Mine does this also. I opened the hood. Had someone start the car and pretty much make the belts squeal. (turn heater on, rev, etc...) I watched the pulleys, and belts as they did that. You can actually find the exact belt that is loose.

allright, im not driving my car till this weekend when i swap the turbo and ill check it then..

 

[95burgundyesi]

To change the harmonic balancer you need to jack the car up, ake off the drivers splash sheild off and take the 4 bols holding the pulley on off. Then it might come of fairly easy or it might want to fight to stay on. Both times I have pulled it seperates into two.

Then if your brave, look in the hole of the cover before you install the new one and see if your balance shaft belt is snapped haha mine was.

 

[99RedGs]

MY car does this in the cold too (-20 this morning) it is most likely a belt that is loose. Also when the pulley surface and belt get that cold there is less friction for the belt to grip and that is why it goes away as the car runs because they both heat up and grab better. If your belts are old you can change them I suppose, but I doubt that is the problem. Changing those belts is easy and not even expensive. Most likely something has just loosened up or stretched out and the decreased grip because of the cold doesn't help.

Just tighten the belts and drive it, the worst that will happen is you will throw a belt and you have to take 20 minutes out of your day to change it.

 

[Bluefire16]

Hey thanks for the info...i just bought my car and was having this problem! Thanks!

Quick question...mine also does it sometimes when i am turning? Could it be something else?

 

[BigSorn]

The belt that goes to your power steering pump slipping?

Happend to me, but it snapped.

I agree, check the tension on the belts. Also, how old are the belts? Wear & tear from daily driving and sitting in the cold can wear out a rubber belt. Maybe they need to be changed.

Also, I've noticed that when I have those gatorback belts, they hardly ever squealed. They seem to be pretty good quality.

Gator back belts FTW

 

[Jetrosr]

when i first start my car in the morning the belts squeel like a mofo for about 10 seconds.. is this normal because its just so cold out? (10 degree nights)... i got some belt spray from my friend and it seemed to help but it just comes back..

That belt spray comes straight from Hell. Thats the nastiest, stickiest, dirt magnet-est stuff I've ever met since fix-a-flat. Everytime you work on the belt side of the engine you will receive several black belt-dust tattoos. I swear they must make that stuff from pine tree sap. You can try to remove it with engine degreaser, but make sure you read the directions or your car may not start afterwards.

Try pouring Ajax or Comet on the pulley side the belts (engine off). Many times fluid leaks and other junk gets embedded into the rubber or grooves in the pulleys and will cause a squeak.

If they are cracked or the rubber is hard and shiney, you'll need to replace them. There is no 'mechanic-in-a-can' to fix that.