Squeaking Alternator belt

[1FASTRICE]

1st gen AWD 5spd. Timing belt, alt belt and PS belt are all brand new and are not loose. When I start my car in the AM before work, it lets out a "yelp".. Im sure the cold mornings have a role in that (19 degrees). But after driving the car for a little while, everytime I slow down for a stop then start going again it starts squeeking.. and will stay like that until I turn off my heater blowers. Any ideas?

 

[Jeff99GS]

Check your crank pulley (harmonic dampener) If that goes bad and seperates it sounds like a sqeeling belt.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/problem-diagnosis/285374-i-changed-my-harmonic-dampener-just-time-pics-video.html

 

[1FASTRICE]

Crank pully will give an intermittant squeel? I just think that its weird that it stops squeeking when I shut my heater fans off.

 

[soulweaver]

try to make the belt even tighter than what you got it. If that don't work put some soap on the belt. If that don't work, try checking what jeff said

 

[1FASTRICE]

It has to be the belt.. I sprayed some belt dressing on it and it stopped squeeking.. for a few minutes. It only makes noise when the fans are drawing power

 

[Jeff99GS]

Check to make sure you dont have an oil leak that is spraying oil on the belts. Sometimes the oil filter can loosen up.

Its REAL easy to check the harmonic dampener...Just go under the car and put a screwdriver between the harmonic dampener and the frame and gently pry the pulley. If it wobbles or seperates into two pieces its bad.

Do NOT overtighten the belts. That can cause early bearing wear on the alternator/water pump/PS pump and crank pulley (harmonic dampener)

 

[1FASTRICE]

I think ps fluid may be leaking out of the pulley.. if its possible. I filled the ps lines last week and today it was dryed out. I can grab the pully and it kinda moves in and out like slight shaft play from the turbo.. Can that cause a leak onto the belts?

 

[-TunedDSM-]

Also check that your belts aren't rubbing on anything. My power steering belt was rubbing on my timing belt cover and the belt was nearly shredded in half.

 

[Jeff99GS]

I think ps fluid may be leaking out of the pulley.. if its possible. I filled the ps lines last week and today it was dryed out. I can grab the pully and it kinda moves in and out like slight shaft play from the turbo.. Can that cause a leak onto the belts?

If the Power steering is leaking on the belts they will always squeel. Check the rubber PS lines and clamps.


If the crank pulley wobbles or moves in and out AT ALL Its probably NOT shaft play. More likely it's a bad pulley. They are made in 2 pieces like and inner and outer layer with rubber in between. They Squeek until the rubber heats up enough to catch the other half and stop sqeeling.

I stole this pic from SOADweskey. This pic shows a crank pulley that is broke in 2 pieces. The small part goes inside the big part with rubber in between. Well that rubber gets cracked and worn. once it seperate it will squeel like all hell till it heats up.

 

[1FASTRICE]

If the Power steering is leaking on the belts they will always squeel. Check the rubber PS lines and clamps.


If the crank pulley wobbles or moves in and out AT ALL Its probably NOT shaft play. More likely it's a bad pulley. They are made in 2 pieces like and inner and outer layer with rubber in between. They Squeek until the rubber heats up enough to catch the other half and stop sqeeling.

I was referring to the PS pump pully is able to be pushed in toward the pump and pulled out a lil bit.. "Kind of like in and out shaft play". It may be only leaking when its "pulled out" of the pump by vibration.. ?

 

[Jeff99GS]

I was referring to the PS pump pully is able to be pushed in toward the pump and pulled out a lil bit.. "Kind of like in and out shaft play". It may be only leaking when its "pulled out" of the pump by vibration.. ?

Oh ok I see, I think a small amount of play on the ps pump is normal. I would suspect the rubber hoses before the pump itself.

However an overtightened belt can cause premature failure of the PS pump bearing/seals.

 

[MidShipCivic]

V belt's need little tension I barely have tension on my pump and it doesn't slip at all V belts are very efficient.

If it's not any abnormal problem like the others are saying above it's most likely your serpentine belt (alternator water pump and then crank pulley belt) grab a jack handle or anything long like pry back on the alternator and tighten it turn it on if it shouldn't squeak at all. Then tighten the tensioner screw to that tension and ease off of the tension until it starts to squeal.

You want just enough and not too much, I've done this way and I'm doing it currently I've even run with no tensioner bolt just lock bolt to hold the tension. You will want to put some lock tight on it for vibrations. I have polyurethane mounts and it does shake loose.

 

[jgrab]

i have the exact same problem but mine also does it when i turn on my head lights....and when i look at my apexi neo it only does it when i am at 12.4 volts now i dont know what that means but anytime i am under 13.4v it is making that high pitch noise

 

[MidShipCivic]

That's because when you turn on an electrical accessory you put more load on the alternator, because the electrical system demands more, and thus requiring more traction.

 

[JaybDSM]

wow this is exactly what was happening to me, as of yesterday i finally fixed this by simply tightening the tensioner on the alternator. That belt needs to be pretty tight otherwise it will slip and squeek. this is after i replaced the belt, and the harmonic dampener.

 

[Jeff99GS]

V belt's need little tension I barely have tension on my pump and it doesn't slip at all V belts are very efficient.

Only the 1g's have a V belt for the water pump, the 2g's do not. They have the flat type belt.

 

[GsXdSmKingGsX]

Its the painfullness of living in the northern part of the country. if you store your car outside like everybody normally does it will make that noise. its not just your car trust me on that. just tighten your belt.

 

[pboglio]

Read a good article about fixing squeeking belts. Mentions replacing the belt, then scuffing the pully where the belt mates to increase the surface friction. No belt dressing should be used as this creates slip which can overheat and destroy the belt. I've used ajax and sprinkled it on the pulley and it did work for a quick temporary fix.

 

[ds10591]

ive had the same squeel from my alternator though, but yes belt dressing is a quick temporary fix but i wouldnt recomend it, it can cause heat and easlily break your belt, learned from experience