Last winter I replaced my PS and Main belts- I got gatorback's for both. I haven't driven more than 2k miles since then either. When I start my car up I am getting a squeeling noise again, only once in a while though.

2 problems:

1. Car will occasionally squeel when starting- comes from the belt area (passenger side)

2. When I put my a/c on I will get the exact same noise and it doesnt stop.

What could be causing this? 95 Maximas only have the 2 belts which I replaced, correct? What does the a/c have in common with the car starting that would cause both to squeek.

As far as the tension is concerned it was checked out, and I was told it is perfect.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Tighten up your belt.

-matt

 

I was told that if I make it any tighter it's going to snap/be way too tight. I pulled on it a little today and it felt very tight, there was barely any play

 

mine was doing the exact same.... when the ac was turned on it would squeel and wouldnt stop i just tightened my belt alot chances are you wont snap your belt andif you start to smell rubber then thats when its too tight.

 

I guess I'll give it a try then.

Not to sound like an idiot, but we have 2 belts right? The main one, and the power steering belt. I was told to check the accessory belt, is that the right name instead of "main belt"

 

Maybe you spilled something on the pulleys? I have never had this problem, but I would think a little oil on the pulley/belt would reck havoc.

 

yes that is the same thing which has the AC compressor the alternator the idler pulley on it and then there is a second belt connected to your power steering the one you want to tighten is your accesory belt AKA main belt...

 

also there is a point when you are tightening it where it doesnt want to go any tighter..I just tightened it a little past that point untill it quit squeeling.. Also if you buy a new belt the tension on that belt will always be looser because the belt will not be worn in. So if your belt has been on your car for 2K miles you say then it should be okay. Just tighten untill no squeel.

 

i geuss I'm the only one who uses a ruler and measures the deflection.

On a side note........

The oem belts are like $14 and $8, granted they are not made in japan (sometimes you get one from india, sometimes the usa) but for the price it's silly to get aftermarket ones.
the only high quality belts that are non oem are gates, gates are f'in hardcore, not positive that they have an application for a max though

 

I replaced my main belt and this started happening. The belts I used aren't dealer parts so tightening up the idle pully after three months of use should fix it.

 

Dude! Why did you bump a nearly two year old thread????? Noobie!

 

I'm glad he did, now I won't have a problem bumping this thread




Alright, my problem: there is a squeek coming from the forward belt area, near the a/c, alternator, etc. It's not so much a squeel as a chirping sound. Cheep cheep cheep in fast succession.

1) The belts are brand new
2) I made sure the idler pulley was nice and tight, and it is.
3) I've tightened from that lever on the top of the pulley, and I've tightened it so much I starts to scrape against the pulley? I sounds really bad and makes a harsh metal sound, and I have to loosen it slightly. But, even at that tight and through the metal screeching, the belt chirping doesn't go away.


It was fine for about two weeks until I turned on the a/c the other day, now it does it again. It'll slow down and stop at idle but it'll squeel really loud during acceleration.


Thoughts? Ideas? I'm fresh out...

 

my belts have been tweaked like 3 times, funny, when i had it done at the dealer it NEVER did it.....

 

Had a thought. Could the idler pulley be bad?

When I tightened everything up there after changing the belts, I did it like this: tighten up idler pulley nut, then tightened the adjuster lever up top. I've read some people say to tighten down the adjuster lever first, then the idler pulley, then fine adjust the lever. Could that have caused a problem?

 

You need to have the pulley nut loose, adjust the tension up top, then tighten the pulley nut.

 

Agreed.

 

If you tighten you belts to tight, you will put strain on the front bearings of all you accessories, alt, compressor, etc. It could lead to early replacement of those items. Like someone said, oil might cause it, also do you wash your engine down? I would also make sure you have the belt in the groves. I bought a car used and replaced the belts. A few days later, my son told me it was squealing bad. I looked and the belt was in pieces. When to NAPA and got a good belt and went to put in on. I found the pulley on the replacement alternator that the last owner put on was a 3 grove instead of the required 4 grove pulley, my problem all a long.
Lyle

 

No, I don't think a groove problem is the cause, as I made sure they were all aligned with the ribs before hand. And I think I said it wasn't squeeling for a week or two, then it started when I turned on my A/C for a bit. It also slows to a stop during idle, but starts up during acceleration (though it doesn't make the sound at decceleration).

I'm going to take the pully off and re-install it as mentioned, see if that helps.

 

To me, it sounds like a bearing is going out in your alternator. I had this same thing happen in my other car before I bought my Max. Have a bud help you exactly locate the sound while you stand over the engine bay and the hit the accelerator a couple of times. This will help you locate and resolve the issue.

 

^I think you're right!

I did the re-install of the idler pulley as it's supposed to go, and it didn't help. I thought the sound was coming from the idler, but the alternator IS right next to it. Is there anything I can do besides replace the alternator?

 

About the only thing I can think of is get an alternator rebuild kit or get one from the junk yard for cheap. An already rebuilt alternator may set you back, if you go to an auto parts store, a couple franklins if I am not mistaken.