Squeaky Belt...

Okay, i've got what i think is a squeaky belt on my car... It's REALLY loud...

Someone suggested WD40, but when i popped the hood, i couldn't even FIND a belt, much less determine if that's really the problem... But i'm pretty sure it's the belt...

Here's the deal... Every morning, when i go to work, i go start my car up... squeak, squeak, squeak, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEAK... When i say loud, i mean REALLY LOUD... My neighbors are NOT happy... The warmer the car is, the less it seems to squeak when i start it - so the first time in the morning is obviously the worst...

If i rev the engine, the squeaking gets worse... Once i'm driving the car and the engine is warm enough where i can turn the heater on, that seems to make the belt squeak at times, too... i've noticed that, if the belt is squeaking while i'm driving, and i turn the lights off, the squeaking stops - so i'm wondering if it's somehow electrically-related...

Anyone have any suggestions on what i can do to keep the belt quiet until i can have a mechanic look at it...?

 

For diagnosis purposes, you can just take a hose, or any container of water, and dump it in the area of the belts. The noise will stop for a short time if it's just a belt problem. Like you said, it's hard to get enough access to the belts on some cars to retension them, or replace them, or treat them with belt dressing, if you can barely see them in the first place.

It's a least possible that you have a problem with your power steering, or the A/C compressor, or a belt tensioner, or some other mechanical device. But it's most likely just a loose or glazed belt.

 

Could that be brought on by excessive high RPM driving?

 

That sounds very much like a loose alternator belt mate, is the weather there damp?

 

The South is notorious for its humidity - even in winter...!


Thanks, Jeff... When do i throw this water into the engine bay, and should it be cold or hot or warm and should i do it while the car is running or while it's off and should it be done when the engine is cold or right after i finish driving the car...?

 

Sounds more like a bearing to me. Belt squeals aren't THAT loud. What car are we talking about?

I just went through something similar on a volvo - the tensioner bearing was shot. Belts don't normally squeal continuously - if the belt is that loose it would just burn through or rip...

 

With the engine running, whenever the noise can be heard, hot or cold. Don't drown the engine, just sploosh it down around the belts. It can't hurt anything, unless you dump water into the Power Steering fluid tank if the cap is missing. This is a Camry, right?

Is the Air Conditioning on or off? Does it make a difference in the noise?

 

A 2001 Nissan Sentra SE... A bearing...? What maintenance would that entail...? If i rev the engine, the noise gets louder and seems accelerated... The squeaking stops after a minute, but sometimes starts while i'm driving, like if i turn the heater on or if i'm pulling away from being stopped at a light or stop sign...

 

2001 Nissan Sentra SE...

i don't use the air condition - just the heater - so maybe that's the same thing - but yeah, if i'm driving with the heater on and the belt starts to squeak, usually if i turn the heater and/or my lights off, the squeaking will stop...

 

I still think it will turn out to be a loose or glazed belt. A bad bearing would cause a noise more like a "growl", and it probably wouldn't ever go away, no matter what you did. Try the cuppa water test.

 

LOL, just a cup...?!? i'm glad you said something, i was ready to go get a bucket...

Should i listen for anything when the car is running when i toss the water into the general belt area or should i be hoping that once the water hits, the squeaking will just stop...?

 

The nissan has the belt on the passenger side, with easy access, doesn't it?

Why not get some belt dressing and shoot it on. 2$ at pep boys...

 

Because, until now, i've never heard of "belt dressing" - and no, the belt is not visible...

 

If the belt isn't visible, then you'll need to remove whatever cover (probably plastic) is hiding them.

If you don't already have one of the Haynes or Chilton books on your car, it's worth every penny of the $14.95 or so. It will tell you where all the screws are that you will need to remove that panel. It's probably four or less screws.

 

Carbon,

You can probably access the belt from below at the crank pulley, most Nissans had spring tensioners so there is no way to adjust the belt. Most likely it is toast, unless you have a problem with your alternator, power sterring pump or a/c compressor. If those are locking up, have bearing probelms or have internal issues that cause poor rotation the belt will squeal. Try squirting some belt dressing from the bottom, if that quiets things down it is likely the belt.

You could try to start the car without the defrost on, that should reduce the load on the belt initially and reduce the start up sqeakies.

Now back to the Black FXX video-

 

i never start the car with anything on, except the CD player, but that's always on... i don't usually turn the heat on until the temperature gauge shows some life...

i just went outside with a cup of water and popped the hood... i found two belts - both on the passenger side - about half way down in the engine bay... i guess i didn't see them the last time i looked because it was dark out...

Anyway, i started the car up and she went into her usual squeaking tirade... i jumped out and tossed a splash of water onto one of the belts and the squeaking stopped immediately... i ran the car for about ten minutes, playing with the heater and the lights... The water, i guess, would eventually dry up and so the belts would start getting squeaky again - really faint though - but then when i turned the lights on, they would go into full squeak mode again... When i turned them off, the squeaking would stop right away...

So does it sound like it's the belts...? There's no panel or anything covering them, they're just pretty well hidden...

 

YOU DIDN'T GET A PPI DID YOU? NOW THE ENGINE HAS TO COME OUT FOR 30K SERVICE AND BELT CHANGE.

 

Lights on/off mean alternator load...

Could be normal, particularly if the belt is toast. Might be a bad alternator or battery or some other part of the electrical system causing abnormal alternator load.

Try starting the car without electrical stuff turned on, (lights, cd etc.) and turn the steering wheel back and forth, if it squeaks with load on the power sterring pump it is likely just the belt and some belt dressing will help for a short time.

 

I had the same problem on one of my old cars years ago. It turned out to be the belt running through the power steering pump. The pulley was loose and would eventually get into line as the car warmed up. The noise was abnoxiously loud at first but went away as I drove. I don't know if the Sentra has one but I would bet it is a belt running through a component's pulley.

Try the belt treatment first. If that doesn't work try the mechanic. I think it only cost me $20 to have them reach up in and tighten things up.

 

Speaking of the alternator, my car, when left to idle in Park, drops dangerously low in the RPM range sometimes... i mean, sometimes it'll touch down to below 500 for a second... A few weeks ago, it would stall out after a minute or two of idling in park, but it hasn't done that... Still, it doesn't idle healthy at times...

Auto Zone seem okay for belt dressing...? i'll go there after work and get some and see what happens... i assume there will be directions on how to apply this "dressing"... Is it a liquid...? Should i just hunch over the engine bay and get it on there, or will i need to get under the car to do it...?

Thanks for all the help guys, i really appreciate it...

 

Its just a tacky spray...goes on easy , about 2$.

If the ferrari dealer is closer, they may have it too. Figure 699$ or so for the can...

 

My pileoshytski did that...changed the altnata and the problem went away. But then, it could be your belt not spinning the altnata at the minimum required speed to provide the system with enough electricty juice.

Belt dressing... I put it on whilst the engine was running...but you have to be careful not to get limbs caught in the belt also wear something over your eyes....beer goggles or whatever...to avoid getting the belt dressing flung back into your eyes...or you could buy a can and read the instructions...or whatever.

 

You just quoted the price for v8 belt dressing. v12 belt dressing is a LOT more expensive.

Carb, make sure to get a can of i4 belt dressing...

 

when it comes to belt dressing they are pretty much the same, goo is goo...

If you are having idling probelms it very well could be the alternator, low voltage and/or excessive load can cause yoiur described symptoms-

Have you ever replaced the alternator and/or battery? How many miles?

 

Car has about 90,000 miles, i just got it on November 7th... Never replaced the battery - and i really hope the alternator doesn't need to replaced - that's why i got rid of the last car...!

i just got back from Pep Boys... They did a diagnostic check to see what was going on... They said i needed to replace my power steering belt and my alternator belt... i asked the guy what would make them squeak like that and he said, "because they're old... and starting to crack"... They wanted more money than i was willing to give at this point in time, so i just got my car back and bought a can of belt dressing...

i followed the directions, spraying the dressing on both belts while the car was off and on... They don't squeak as bad, but they still squeak and no matter what, they still squeak when i start the car... The can says, "For best results, apply in intervals", so i guess i'll be putting some more on tonight and tomorrow and so forth...

i guess it's inevitable that i'll need to get these belts changed, but you guys don't think i need a new alternator, do you...? Alternators are expensive...! i'll get a new battery and i'll get the belts done soon, but just the word 'alternator' makes my skin crawl...