I just installed a new serpentine drive belt. When i turn on the engine, it doesn't squeak but makes a constant faint sound. Question is, is the new belt supposed to make some noise until it breaks in or is something wrong?

 

Faint ...

 

At first, a squeal is not uncommon as the belt adjusts. However, after that, it should be silent. You should tighten the pulley itself first so it doesn't wiggle on the bolt. Then, use the 14mm adjuster to push the pulley down. Finally, tighten the pulley bolt.

~THT

 

If you could elaborate on that a bit more, I also have drive belts (both) to change and want to be ready for anything.

 

Look to the left of your engine. You'll see an adjuster just about the idler pulley. That's the 14mm adjuster I'm talking about. Tightening the adjuster drives the pulley down. If the idler pulley is too tight, the adjuster can't do it's job.

~THT

 

that bronze ish thing by the thermo?

and if that then you push that down to help adjust the Drive belts your were saying?

 

Nope, just to the left of your red arrow. You tighten it like any other bolt and it pushs the idler pulley down.

~THT

 

yea thats what I meant. Sweet thanks for the info. Should help me when putting new belts on.

 

I did mine took about an hour or so.

 

any advice or things to watch out for, for those who havent yet done this but will?

I remember reading in the how to, did you have to put something betweent he flywheel to stop it from turning in order to get the bolt off? or just had a friend put his foot on the brakes?

 

Stop the flywheel? Nope.

~THT

 

WTF?? An hour to change a belt???? And you if here a faint whine it could be that the belt is on too tight.

 

Shat ap NOOB.... LOL

 

it shouldnt' take more than 3 minutes to do

 

Well if its your first time it'll a lot more time.
I think my problem is that i took off the nut on the side of the belt tensioner instead of just loosening it. then i adjusted the tension at the front of the engine. when i went to put the nut back on i think i pushed the bolt inside by mistake. when i tightened the nut, the bolt was bareley sticking out, it was almost flush with the nut. The bolt is supposed to stick out a bit right?

 

Unloosen the tensioner and redo it. It sounds to me like the pulley is missaligned due to the fact that the bolt was not holding it in place during the adjustment and is not making full contact with the belt on the other side since you can put the bolt back in.

You should already have the bolt on the idler pulley, only not on very tight (finger tighten it). Now go ahead and adjust the tension adjustment bolt to your desired firmness. Finally go back and tighten the bolt on the idler pulley.

 

Quick question, how tight is the idler pulley supposed to be at the end? Very tight or gradual tightness?

 

it should be tight enough so that the belt doesn't cause it to spin