Belt Squealing

Hey guys, it's my first post on here and i am a novice at this car stuff. Anyway, I needed to save some money so I decided to put on my A/C belt, which I did. However, now I'm hearing some squealing that gets louder as I accelerate. after a while it will disappear, but then it will come back next time I start up.

I was thinking I tightened the A/C belt or one of my other belts too tight. What do you think?

 

The belts should have approximately 1/4" deflection to ensure they are adjusted properly. Deflection refers to how much the belt moves when you push down on it, halfway between two pulleys. Hope this helps.

 

One of them is not tight enough. Check them, and ...
- see which one is loosest
- tighten it a bit
- repeat until squeal is gone.

You don't want a belt too tight, since that could shorten the life of the belt, and any bearings it spins.

 

Okay thank you, I'ma go outside right now and try.

-Joe

 

So I went for a ride in the truck today to the beach. And at first it was squealing then it stopped. Then when I left it started again then stopped. I don't know maybe I shouldn't over think it. I just like her running perfect. Thanks.

-Joe

 

A belt squeals because it is cold and slipping on the metal pully. When it warms up it gets sticky and doesn't slip. This usually means that the belt is a bit too loose.

 

Well alrighty I'll try to tighten them a little more. Thanks.

 

Well I tightened the hello out of it. I think the squeaking may be a pulley though. perhaps i messed it up a bit while doing the job. And putting on the A/C belt did not even turn on the A/C, apparently the fuse was blown, and when I put in a spare fuse it popped right away. So I may have a short fuse somewhere. Does anyone have any links on how to check grounds?

 

It sounds like you have attempted to fix an issue yourself to save money (we don't know what it was) and are making things worse. As you stated, you are "a novice at this car stuff" . From the wording of last post, your electrical skills are also at the novice level.

Without a complete description of what is going on, its hard for any of us to troubleshoot your issue.
Why did you replace the A/C belt in the first place? What is the history of that?

 

my test for belts is to grab them and try to twist them. if you can go past 90 degrees they are too loose..that method has never failed me.

 

you were just told that over tightening it can damage things and yet you "tightened the hello out of it" so at this point you are going to soon cause $$$$ damage $$$$ to your truck and your wallet.

we need to start over and get answers to the first time you had the need to touch the belt and why. was it not on? maybe something was broke and that's why it wasn't on? we don't know and cant help you without info that it sounds like you aren't sure about.

if you don't have a guy who knows how to work on cars (not one that just says he knows stuff) the best thing you can do is spend $100 to let a shop solve the problem for you or at the very least tell you what the problem is.

if you ruin the compressor that's $250 some odd dollars just for the part, if you ruin the idler pulley that's $20 wasted, if you have a belt come off or break and come loose it can do hundreds of dollars in damage depending on where it ends up going when it come loose

 

Alright well the history is one day I was driving and the belt started screeching super loud and just burnt off..I popped open the hood and the belt was just laying there under the truck. So I put on the new A/C belt thinking it would fix my A/C..but it turns out now that it must be something else. My check engine light has been on for about a year now, I've taken it two several shops and their computers have always said it is my oxygen sensors. One guy said I shouldn't bother with it unless I really have to. So I just been putting it off and was gonna have my friend do it with me. But then this belt thing happened. Your right though. I'm going to take it to a mechanic tomorrow. To fix the squealing and A/C. I still would like my friend to do the sensors because it's an easy job. Watcha think?

 

sensors are "fairly" easy, just presoak the threads with wd40 or rust penetrant first.

as to replacing the sensors, they may or may not actually be bad. they can be triggered by other things like clogged air filters, dirty maf sensor, or leaky injectors.

I suggest you have the shop clear the CEL codes for you and tell you if the o2 sensors are really bad or if maybe something else is going on. they won't mind and it wont hurt their feelings if you want to replace the sensor yourself

 

Kudos to you for trying to work on it your self. If you don't mess something up then you probably won't learn anything, so don't get discouraged. Keep in mind the more you put off dealing with the O2 sensors, your gas millage has been suffering, you're probably spending more money in gas than you should. Out of curiosity, did the shop test the O2 sensors or just base it off the code? When I bought my truck it was saying the same thing. Come to find out they were fine...my #1 spark plug was seized and ended up what was throwing the code(it was a bitch to get out without snapping the plug). Keep up the good work.

 

Wow, how did the plug being seized up manage to throw a CEL?

 

I wish I could tell you I was making it up. But me and the guy I bought it from went to auto zone and its what we were told. Bought the O2 sensors but needed tires and an alignment so while I was at Firestone had them just check it over and next thing you know they say sensors are fine and they cant get the plug to move. Drenched it in penetrating fluid and worked it mm by mm being super careful and got it out. No more code.

 

Belt don't just burn up and fall off normally without an issue. Sounds to me like you have a bad pulley.

 

I ended up getting an A/C compressor that was super expensive because I went to a franchise mechanic. Since then my A/C has been running fine. thanks for the input fellas.

 

My 1997 Tacoma 2wd ac belt has been squealing lately but ever since I bought the truck something to do with the ac has been making a rough noise under the hood and the other day the belt started squealing more than normal while I was driving and then all of a sudden it got hot an broke so today I put a new ac belt on the ac seemed to be working why I let it set an idle then about 5 minutes into it the same thing happened. I was wondering if basically that’s the same problem you had because I don’t know if it’s the ac clutch, the compressor or what. What did the mechanic tell you the reason for replacing your compressor? Thanks for any advice

 

@mtnmanintn When you say your A/C is fine, does it get cold? When it was in idle was it up and working 100%? The only difference to mine is that when I put it on myself my ac was still not working, and it did not get hot and fall off again.

Perhaps it is your compressor or clutch. Do you have any check engine lights on?