The belts are squealing, esp. on cold mornings, and my steering feels kind of funny when the car hasn't had time to warm up. I figure the belt for the power steering pump is over-stretched, and I'll have to replace the belts soon. Anyone know what size belts to buy? And maybe what to check for to make sure I have to replace them? I don't want to tighten the belt tightener just yet, for fear of the belt snapping.

 

mine also squeal before the car is fully warmed up. is it possible to just grease it?

 

Na, they're gonna squeal either b/c the belts are worn and they have no grip = replace them, or they're loose and they don't have enough friction = replace or tighten.
Belts exist to turn something, powersteering pump, a/c, superchargers, etc. using the power of the engine to turn them. They need friction to turn the wheel/pulley of the part in question. Grease is the anti-friction, and although that would make the noise go away, it would not make the problem go away, Young Maxima-Padawon.

 

Just replace them, they're not that expensive. The outer belt (main belt) which drives the A/C compressor and alternator, is very easy to change. The inner one is a lot trickier because you have to pivot the power steering pump to release the tension. I accidentally broke the adjuster bolt when I did this, what a pain! If you have it done, the labor probably isn't that much. Just don't wait around, it will either leave you stranded or worse! I almost got into an accident with a school bus once because my PS belt slipped and I couldn't turn in time.

You can put on belt dressing but that's only a temporary solution. Just buy new belts and put them on.

Good luck, guys!

 

Sizes - any auto store will have the right sizes - they can look it up.

Belts should be changed every 60k...

If you don't know when the belts were last changed, just change them...

 

They are not expensive, even for the good belts (good year gatorgrip).

 

i had my belts replaced about 2 weeks ago and they started squeling pretty much right after being replaced....the old, worn out ones did not. It's really cold out now, if that makes any difference

 

Your belts are incorrectly tensioned. Go have them tightened and that will take care of it.

 

is there a specific torque they need to be tightened to?

 

1/2" deflection with 15lbs of force at the middle of the longest span.... or something like that... just tighten it a little at a time until it stops squealing... the mechanic should know what to do.

 

i did the same thing, broke my tenstioner bolt.....just go any autozone and they will get the corrct sizes for you