Ok guys, as most of yall know, I rebuilt the maxis power plant due to both head gaskets being blown. everything was perfect after. It was still cold so I didnt really use the ac much, but now that its been getting hotter and hotter ive been using it more and more. So heres whats happening. I start the car... real loud squeak for about 10 sec. then it goes away. I turn the ac on it come back, I turn the ac off and it stops. So I figure its the ac pulley bearing. Do some research and find a write up. I bypassed the ac comp temporarily while I was trying to find a place I could get the bearing from. It was fine for a day, next morning... same damn thing. So I replaced the pulley on the tensioner and the belt. Everything was fine for a couple days (still had the ac bypassed) then a couple days after it started again. So I take the last thing I could out, which was the alternator. Everything seemed fine with it. The pulley didnt squeak, and its still putting out ample power. Did my best to blow it out and what not and it was fine for a while. But then I just couldnt take the heat so I hooked up the compressor again. Everything was squeak free for a couple days and then it started again. The same way as before. I can turn the squeak on and off with my ac. What do yall guys think? Could it be the alternator? Could I not have enough tension on the belt?? IM LOST!!

 

Why don't you just try a new belt?

 

Yes you are right. More than likely its your alternator or as aj said, your belts could be brittle and not enough tension. Also, do you have any oil leak running on the belts?

 

I had this problem! I literally just had a new fan belt and pulley installed last weekend, ever since then, no more squeaks!

 

^^ fan belt huh? lol

 

Yea, it was for sure the belt. Id turn my car on and its squeal, and if the A/C was on, forget it. It would squeal for ever. The mechanic found that my pulley was also cracked somewhere so a new one was put in.

 

don't think the vq30 sports a fan belt....

 

My bill says that they replaced:

Poly - Rib Belt
Serpentine Belt
A/C Compressor Drive Belt
Idler Pulley
Drive Belt Idler Pulley
Pulley Bracket Assembly (bracket was cracked somewhere)

They changed those out, and no more squealing on start.

 

Had the same problem...well, almost...

 

had the same changed the both belts when i changed the alternator squeek gone so i dont know if it was one or the other they both got scrapt at the same time but im shure its the belt check 2 see if its shiny if it seems like its glossi change it

 

Just changed the Alternator out in my 97 SE yesterday (206k on the origional so I can't complain). Went ahead and replaced the belt as well while I was at it and while I had no squeal issues prior to the replacement now it squeals like crazy (@startup, accelerating, low speed turns). Need to put a tension measurement device on the belt and adjust the tension to spec since I can't tell by feel if the new (way less stretched) belt is tight enough or not... Maybe I overtightened it?

Any ideas? What is the recommended spec on belt tension?

~Luke

 

Hey Mountain_max - The specs are in FSM, just a measurement of deflection - about 1/2 inch iirc. not very much flex. but ... you may have it too tight, and now the alt bearing is squealing. Try to listen with a looong screwdriver touching alt housing against your ear. also at the tensioner assy.

 

Man I've been having the same problem for almost a year now. I've tried everything mentioned in this besides the fan belt so I will give that a try and if that don't work, I'm heading to the A/C shop. I have a thread on here bout the same issue: http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...me-please.html

 

There is no fan belt.... Two separate motors control the Rad cooling fans.

~Luke

 

Fast - Thanks for the suggestions! I'll give that a shot, I definitely don't want to kill the brand new alternator prematurely... that would make me .


Thanks
~Luke

 

tighten the belt until you can turn it sideways/ vertical and youll never ahve a problem and, dont quote me, but i think the spec is 10mm. without postin a pic; heres your belt( - ) heres the proper tension( / )

 

New belts will stretch out a little. It *probably* just needs a tightening. Don't over do it. There are torque specs in the FSM. I think mine are a little tighter than what is quoted in the FSM, it was still squeaking at the proper torque. Make sure the pulley for the alternator+a/c is inline with everything else, when it is loosened it can go wonky.

 

I just replaced my AC/alternator belt as well as my idler pulley. "Rebuilt" the tensioner, which is attached to the idler. When I first started the car I had the belt at a tension I knew was a bit loose but I also didn't fully tighten the idler clamp bolt. Sure enough, upon starting the car it squealed like a stuck pig so I simply started to tighten the tensioner until the sound went away and gave it an extra half turn or so and I haven't heard a peep out of it since, AC or no. It may not be by the book but I think it is a reasonable way to do it because it keeps bearing loading at the minimum required to do the job. If the belt stretches a little in the future I will tighten it the same way and as soon as possible to avoid belt damage, which may require running without the AC until I can get to my tools.