Accessory belt questions

[Calab]

Occasionally the belt driving my accessories will squeal. It doesn't happen very often, usually when it's cold or it's wet outside. Because of this squeal I wonder if my P/S pump, A/C pump or alternator might be starting to bind up or fail.

This is a serpentine belt with a tensioner, right? This shouldn't squeal unless it's wet or something is jamming up. Maybe it's just old.

My questions are this...
- Is it difficult to swap?
- Can I run the car without it? How about for a short test?
- What are the chances that I need to replace the tensioner?

This is on an automatic 2007 base PT with about 45000kms on it.

Thanks for the help folks! Most of my posts are done while I'm at work, so looking things up and checking the car can be difficult.

[soyomb]

on my 2001 the alternator has it's own belt. the serpentine belt drives the p/s and a/c. replacing them is a bit of a chore due to the lack of space to work with.

i would try a belt dressing first to see if that clears up the squealing.

oh, and pick up a haynes manual. lots of illustrations to help you out. about $20 usd. and yes, the serpentine has an automatic tensioner.

[wwpptc]

It's usually the alternator belt that starts squeaking/squealing because it has no automatic tensioner. Like all belts on ALL cars, it will eventually stretch and since it has no automatic tensioner, you'll have to tighten it up manually like in the old days.

The other belt (power steering and a/c ) can give you a squeal even if the tensioner and belt are still good if you have spilled antifreeze on it as you are topping off your coolant level by opening the system at the t-stat fill point. It's directlly above the belt and is the main reason for the bleed valve on the t-stat housing. It prevents the bubbling out of the air/ coolant mixture that would invariably drop down onto the belt. unfortunantly, once you get antifreeze on this belt you can pretty well guarantee you'll need a new belt to get rid of the squeal. It immediately soaks into the belt and creates a slick spot that will produce the squeal until you change the belt.

Jerry

[mityqwik]

i have an 06 cruiser, and since my timing belt replacement, i have replaced the alternator belt twice, and belt tensioner, and serpentine belt twice, and still a sqwell out of the belts.I sprayed belt dressing on them, WORST thing you could ever do, because the next day it's worse.i took it to the stealership, they put it on the lift, looked at my belts and said my harmonic balancer was not seated all way in the block, and the belts were not lined up.He taped the the balancer and seated it torqued the bolt and its SILENCE . has been for a few weeks now

sorry for the looong story hope this helps

[CREWZIN]

mityqwik,

Who did the timing belt in the first place ...dealer or private mechanic?

[mityqwik]

private mech.i know ,i know. but ,but dam but i got it all fixed now again

[CREWZIN]

If your happy, that's all that counts. I would however, have a word with that private mechanic on what you found.

[mityqwik]

already have, he said he did everything correctly.oh well he wont see me around anymore

[golf55555]

The accessory belt is a snap! Pull the pass wheel, remove 3 bolts holdIng plastic cover inside wheel well... Put a wrench on the tensioner to remove pressure, slide belt off, put on new one! Reverse the steps and BAM! 30 min job!