belt squeal

[mkalters]

I keep getting squealing from under the hood but cant figure out why. About 8 months ago my alternator belt brok with about 145000 miles on the car. I replaced it then about 2 months ago I replaced it again. This time it started squealing really bad I tried to tighten it up but it does not seem to have helped. I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the alternator belt he replaced the belt and still it is squealing like crazy. I kept fooling around with it hoping I could figure out what it was but it will not stop. Now the battery seems like it is dying. I was driving to work and if i turned on any accesories the car lights dimmed and the engine seemed like it was bogging down and of course it is still squealing. I took the alternaotr off and took it to pep boys and they said that it seems to be ok it is putting out 13 volts on their machine they said 13 to 16 volts is ok. I also took of the positive terminal while the car was running and it quit running I was told that was one way to test the alternator.

 

[xcellr8]

check to see if anything is touching the belt (other belts, etc.) tighten the pullies all over, that should fix it.

 

[GPR1]

Your water pump bearings are seizing up. The alternator belt also drives the water pump. My sons 1G 1.8 had these very same symptoms and finally ended up overheating and broke down one night as the water pump had seized up. Get it fixed SOON! May as well replace the timing belt while you're at it.

 

[mkalters]

Your water pump bearings are seizing up. The alternator belt also drives the water pump. My sons 1G 1.8 had these very same symptoms and finally ended up overheating and broke down one night as the water pump had seized up. Get it fixed SOON! May as well replace the timing belt while you're at it.

Hello Is there any way to verify that before I put all that money into it for the new water pump? I have the alternator and belts off now so if there is any way to check it now would be a good time. This is just my dailey driver and I do not want to sink the $300 worth of labor into it to get the water pump fixed.

 

[mkalters]

Ok. I called a guy who rebuilds alternators and he said that oncce your belt squeals it develops a glaze and that it is possible the belt just needs replaced for the 4th time does that sound right to anybody?

 

[xcellr8]

definetly possible, could just be a bad belt. 4 times bad luck!

 

[mkalters]

Well I took my battery to pep boys last night they checked it out once it reached full charge and the said it was fine. I then took my alternator to aDVANCE AUTO AND HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THEY SAID IT HAD A BAD DIODE. BUTTTTT the light was blinking on and off so I do not know what to think. I bought a new alternator and kept my old on. I am going to reinstall the old on then take the belt off my power steering pump and see if the belt still is squealing. Hopefully I will know something by either late tonight or early tomorrow. The thing that sucks is I do not have a garage so the car is just sitting in my front yard owh well.
Mark

 

[mkalters]

I know this post is long but please read it so you understand what is going on.I keep getting squealing from under the hood but cant figure out why. About 8 months ago my alternator belt brok with about 145000 miles on my 1993 eagle talon 2.0 liter 5 speed non-turbo. I replaced it then about 2 months ago it broke again so I replaced it again. This time it started squealing really bad I tried to tighten it up but it does not seem to have helped. I took it to a mechanic and he said it was the alternator belt he replaced the belt and still it is squealing like crazy. I kept fooling around with it hoping I could figure out what it was but it will not stop. Now the battery seems like it is dying. I was driving to work and if i turned on any accesories the car lights dimmed and the engine seemed like it was bogging down and of course it is still squealing. I took the alternator off and took it to pep boys and they said that it seems to be ok it is putting out 13 volts on their machine they said 13 to 16 volts is ok. I also took off the positive terminal while the car was running and it quit running I was told that was one way to test the alternator. Well I took my battery to pep boys last night they checked it out once it reached full charge and the said it was fine. I then took my alternator to aDVANCE AUTO AND HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THEY SAID IT HAD A BAD DIODE. BUTTTTT the light was blinking on and off on the diagnosis machine so I do not know what to think. I bought a new alternator and kept my old one. I am going to reinstall the old one then take the belt off my power steering pump and see if the belt still is squealing. Hopefully I will know something by either late tonight or early tomorrow. I was told that it might be the harmonic balancer how do I check that??? Please be very specific I do not know a lot about engines.

 

[x camaro owner]

i am going to tell you how to check harmonic balancer they say (which i can almost gurantee isn;t your problem) other than looking at it when it is spinning to see it is out of round thats about all you can look at. its a big ass pulley at the very bottom take flashlight start the car and look to see if it is out of round remember a circle looks like this O think about what it looks like from the tops and side while spinning. plsu you go the alternator from pepboys its probably defected get another. they usually are i gurantee they probably have about 50 defects in the back at any time. i would know i worked there before. the people are knowledgeable but the shit parts give them and the store a bad rep. sometimes it would take 2 or 3 of the same part before the car worked in the shop. ya there is a lot of defective crap at pepboys . hope you didn't get the prostart alternator, get the bosch one.

 

[mkalters]

i am going to tell you how to check harmonic balancer they say (which i can almost gurantee isn;t your problem) other than looking at it when it is spinning to see it is out of round thats about all you can look at. its a big ass pulley at the very bottom take flashlight start the car and look to see if it is out of round remember a circle looks like this O think about what it looks like from the tops and side while spinning. plsu you go the alternator from pepboys its probably defected get another. they usually are i gurantee they probably have about 50 defects in the back at any time. i would know i worked there before. the people are knowledgeable but the shit parts give them and the store a bad rep. sometimes it would take 2 or 3 of the same part before the car worked in the shop. ya there is a lot of defective crap at pepboys . hope you didn't get the prostart alternator, get the bosch one.

Hello I got my alternator at advance I have not put it on yet I am going to take a look at the harmonic balancer tomorrow..

 

[x camaro owner]

autozone, advance, pepboys, all the same crap

napa is the only real quality place

 

[Defiant]

Now the battery seems like it is dying. I was driving to work and if i turned on any accesories the car lights dimmed and the engine seemed like it was bogging down and of course it is still squealing.

Blown alternator bearings.

To "test" the harmonic balancer, put a chalk mark on the face that runs across both the rim and the hub. Run the car a bit, and if the mark isn't still aligned, the balancer is bazootied.

 

[mkalters]

autozone, advance, pepboys, all the same crap

napa is the only real quality place

Ya but right now they want $214 and advance wants $100 so I bought it at advance I only plan on keeping the car till next august so I just need one that will be good for a while. I got under the car today and loked at the harmonic balancer and it seems ok no rubber falling out anywhere and tight so I think it is fine. Next step is crossing my fingers and putting on the alternator.
Mark

 

[mkalters]

well put my new alternator on today seemed to be running fine them boom back comes the squealing and the belt get thrown any ideas? The belt is completley gone I cant even find it.

 

[mkalters]

well put my new alternator on today seemed to be running fine them boom back comes the squealing and the belt get thrown any ideas? The belt is completley gone I cant even find it.

 

[Defiant]

Have you checked the harmonic balancer yet?

 

[tylerk]

I got under the car today and loked at the harmonic balancer and it seems ok no rubber falling out anywhere and tight so I think it is fine.

You won't be able to tell if it's separating just by looking at it while it's not running. Use Defiant's method, it will take you all of 3 minutes.

 

[yankees1919]

Maybe I'm mistaken...But is all this over just a squeal...Before I'd replace the alternator or do nething with the HB i'd try putting on a belt that is just a small bit smaller than the actual size. I had a HORRIBLE squeal and replaced the belt with a napa 1 size smaller and its great

 

[mkalters]

Well it threw another belt on the way home from work last night. I will get a new belt today and test the harmonic balancer. Also is there any way to check the tension on the alternator belt with stuff lying around the house? I saw that it should deflect with 22 ft pounds pressure .3 to .5 inches how do you know how much pressure you are applying without special tools?

 

[mkalters]

Just to let everyone know it is currently at the mechanics. Iw ill repost when I hear something on it.

 

[ZarZ]

Just to let everyone know it is currently at the mechanics. Iw ill repost when I hear something on it.

Hey, when you find out the cause can you let me know? i just rebuit my engine new alt and pump. keeps throwing belts and squealing. we changed alt and pump and still doing it. Also i don't remeber a harmonic balancer. i remeber a pulley only. the reason it broke the first time on mine was the alternator bracket bolts snapped off. hasn't been right since.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

hello,

my 'bucket' while the eclipse is in the garage is a 94 galant. i have had the same problem, sorta. my alternator went out and was replaced. shortly after i had the same squeal (and throw belt). looked at everything everyone has mentioned above to no avail. after 4 or 5 belt replacements (you can actually get it down to about 10 min_5 cussin' and 5 to replace belt, because after the 2nd in 3 days i carried a spare) i started using 'belt dressing' (can find in any auto parts store). i have to spray it on about once a week, but i have no more squealing. a can cost about $2.00 and the can will last 2-3 months (far cry from a $17.00 belt every 4-5 days). i have been doing this for about 5 months on the same belt and am on my second can. this was cheap, and it worked for my 'bucket'.

jim

 

[gsxeclipse102]

this all exactly happened to me. It was the harmonic balancer (crank pulley with rubber in the middle). the rubber breaks off and the outer ring starts wobbling all over the place hitting belts and such even started to go through the timing belt cover but luckily didn't hit the belt.

 

[djm75]

Mine is doing the exact same thing. Itonly has 92K on it though. So plese let us know what the mechanic say's.
Don

 

[mkalters]

Hello good news and bad news. The mechanic from the garage said that he cannot find anything wrong with it. The belt still squeals sometimes mainly when you start it in the morning or taking off from a stop but not near as bad as it was before. I have no idea if it continues to get worse I will post and let everyone know if I find a solution.