Belt squeek

Had my serpentine belt done by Toyota 4 years ago and drove less than 10,000 miles since then. Belt squeeks at startup but goes away after a while of driving. Squeek also goes away if I spray the underside of the belt with water while it's running, which tells me it's not a bearing issue. The belt looks fine and is not tracking uneven as it spins. The tension is also tight when I grab and pull it when the truck is off. Do I need another belt so soon? Any assistance is appreciated

 

Could be. Sometimes time can wear out a belt as much as miles. Have any pics or a video?

 

I have squeak on the belt ONLY when it rains on start up. Goes away after a few mins of idle and doesn’t make any sounds when dry. I may just replace it soon since it’s a cheap item. But I’ve always wondered about the sound too. No cracks in the belt and tracks even.

 

I had a new belt put on a few weeks ago. 2 weeks later it was starting to fray and making all kinds of noise. Faulty belt I guess....

 

Pulleys wear. Check the pulleys. They are easy to change

 

Sound goes away when I spray a little water on the underside of the belt, so pulleys should be good

 

No pics or video cause tracking and belt condition are perfect. It's not a loud squeek but it's there until I spray it with a little water. It may be just time like you said

 

Put a new Bando brand belt on it. Should be right around $20. Maybe dealer used a cheapo belt.

 

I sell lots of Gates belts at work every day, but for my money (apparently they're about the only thing my employee discount makes a really good deal, too!) I use Bando on my own vehicles. They're like half the price, and I've never had an issue with one.

 

Chances are the belt is just a little dry. You have not put many miles on in 4 years since installed. You can try spraying both sides of the belt with 303 protectant spray or original Armor All. See how long it takes for the squeal to return. If it returns fairly quickly then replace the belt to eliminate the noise. If it takes awhile, then respray when the noise returns.

 

Sorry I don’t mean to hijack - how often or miles should the belt be changed?

 

FYI, spraying water/brake cleaner/anything else on the belt, and the sound going away, does not rule out a pulley bearing. All that does it make the belt slip a little and put less stress/rpm on the offending pulley for few seconds.

 

Ok Im going to just replace the stupid thing, you think Bando over Gates?

 

Thanks, but my squeel also goes away after a while of driving. If it was a bearing, I dont think it would do that

 

Thanks, but I dont think im comfortable with spraying the belt with anything.

 

Please do not spray armor all or anything like that on the belt. If anything, buy "belt dressing" aerosol from an auto parts store and use as directed. That is made for the purpose and will quiet a noisy belt for a while. Sometimes belts will squeal from dampness and that goes away when it warms and swells a little.

 

Im with you on this one. Not gonna spray anything crap my belt, not even belt dressing. All I did was spray one little shot of water on the underside of the belt and the squeek immediately went away.

 

Belt dressing is purpose made and will definitely help longer than water will. It's up to you, you can always buy and install a new belt and be done with it. Just get a good one. We used to use auto trans fluid on squealing vee belts. That worked well too.

 

Yes, Im thinking Bando or Gates. Leaning toward Gates...

 

Belt squeaks at startup to drive locked fan and Alt to charge batteries.
Mine did that for 100,000 miles. Then I lost a rib in the belt at 214k. Replaced belt with autozone gold and no more squeak at start up for last month.

05 Sienna had a worn pulley. Squeaked with new belts. Recall replace main pulley and squeaks gone last five years.

Can be hit of miss at times finding the squeak.

Out of alignment of any pulley can make it squeak too. Brothers s10 had a worn tensioner that was off by 1mm.