Belt Squeal
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 522
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From: West Chester, PA
Belt Squeal I know it's normal for these cars to make some noises in the cold and on cold starts, but over the past couple of weeks when I start-up my car it makes this dreadful belt squealing noise. When the car is driven for about 10 minutes the noise completely disappears. The car has 64,XXX miles on it and I don't think the Serpentine has ever been replaced, so do you think the belt is losing tension and causing it to slip or the belt is just shot?
How old is the belt? Getting a new one might help if its really old.
But....when belts sit they cool off and they get harder, especially in real cold weather. When you first start the car the belt is hard....after it warms up a little it gets "pliable" or softer and more flexible. Then it stops squealing.
If the belt was squeaking because its loose, it would probably keep squeaking.
I went through a couple belts during the first 4 years I had my car when it was 100% stock and I had that stock movable belt tensioner. When I put my 427ci in I also got a Katech "fixed" tensioner, that was in 2002. I still have the same belt from 2002. If the belt is kept from bouncing every time you accelerate which the stock tensioner allows to happen, your belt won't last too long. Plus, as your belt stretches over time because its bouncing all the time, it starts to slip, especially when it rains out. With a fixed tensioner, you very well could have the same belt as long as you own the car. I'm going on 7 years with this belt and its perfect. Zero stretch, my tensioner is in the same place as its always been from 2002. Its a good investment.
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But....when belts sit they cool off and they get harder, especially in real cold weather. When you first start the car the belt is hard....after it warms up a little it gets "pliable" or softer and more flexible. Then it stops squealing.
If the belt was squeaking because its loose, it would probably keep squeaking.
I went through a couple belts during the first 4 years I had my car when it was 100% stock and I had that stock movable belt tensioner. When I put my 427ci in I also got a Katech "fixed" tensioner, that was in 2002. I still have the same belt from 2002. If the belt is kept from bouncing every time you accelerate which the stock tensioner allows to happen, your belt won't last too long. Plus, as your belt stretches over time because its bouncing all the time, it starts to slip, especially when it rains out. With a fixed tensioner, you very well could have the same belt as long as you own the car. I'm going on 7 years with this belt and its perfect. Zero stretch, my tensioner is in the same place as its always been from 2002. Its a good investment.
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