Squealing Belts?

[66yostagea]

This is driving me nuts.

Only on first start up in the morning a very loud squeal comes from the general area of the belts. It happens whether the a/c is on or off so it is not slippage there.

On start up engine idles around 1000-1100 and the noise is deafening. Its an auto, and when I shift into reverse the revs drop to 8/900 and the noise stops. If I put it back into park the revs go up and the noise starts.

Before I start pulling things to bits has anyone got a clue????

By the time the car is out on the road its all quiet

Just went and started engine six times and it did it each time. Seems to be associated with rpm. BiIk/

Edited October 20, 2009 by 66yostagea

[Daleo]

First thing I would look at is belt tension, as it's a 5 minute fix.

Then, if all seems well, I'd check for belt wear, as they wear, the peak of each rib in the belt can bottom out in the grooves on the pulley.

The belt relies on the wedging action of the sides of each rib in the belt, not contact with the base of the pulley groove. You then lose the wedging action of the belt; voila! Slippage with a correctly tensioned belt.

Hope this makes sense, Dale

[66yostagea]

I understand that Dale, but why is it only in the morning and rev related????

Edited October 20, 2009 by 66yostagea

[zei20l]

its friction related, or lack there of. the belts are probably cold in the morning, and once the engine warms up they warm up and grip a little more. also they would stretch or shrink (i would guess stretch) when warm.

if they look old, replace them!

[Daleo]

At a guess, I'd say, first thing in the morning, the belt's less grippy because it's cold, also the load from the alternator is quite high, giving a rev while the alternator is loading the belt could cause the slip.

[Daleo]

With your squeal going away when the rpm drops to 900rpm, its much like backing off the throttle of a spinning tyre to hook it up.

[ssshonky]

Dont bother with that Belt Grip sh1t - does nothing!

as mentioned just find what belt needs to be tensioned and nip up the tension on it.

[Daleo]

Dont bother with that Belt Grip sh1t - does nothing!

as mentioned just find what belt needs to be tensioned and nip up the tension on it.

Agreed, belt grip, it actually does work, just covers up an existing issue, I use it from time to time on multi vee belt set ups (up to 15 belts over 6 metres in length) at work, to get to the end of a production run. But we then change them as a matched set. Put the cash towards a new belt.

[our12]

Hi.

The best way to stop a squealing belt is chalk. Chalk powder is ideal if not get a stick of chalk rub on sandpaper sprinkle the dust on the belt and if you still have a squeal it needs tensioning correctly. You dont need expensive sprays an lubes.

[M I K E]

you'll also find a bit of wd40 will make the squeal go away, only another temp fix but saves a headache from the belt noise

[atomaly]

i get a cold start belt squeak most of the time!

asked my mechanic about it and he just said it was common in stageas for cold start squeakage. haha

tightening the belts should get rid of most of it!..

[QWK32]

if tightening the belt doesn't work its time for new ones. belts usually squeak either because they aren't tight enough, or the belt or the pulley is worn to the point where the ridge of the "V" on the belt is touching the valley of the "V" on the pulley, usually its the belt thats worn. the belt shouldn't be that tight that it is so tight it feels solid or with very little play, running them this tight will cause wear on the pulleys and can even flog out the bearings on parts like the A/C compressor, Alternator etc.

[horrace]

mine also squeaks on cold morning start ups, but meh

[66yostagea]

So.

I have slackened off the altenator belt a bit. It seemed tight and the pulley grooves look very shiney compared to the others. I'll check in the morning and keep you advised.

[fat_stag]

lol yea when i bought mine i had the same issue. on my first service i gave it a tweek up about 6 months ago and still havnt heard a thing. i work with belts all the time and like everyone's sayin its ether not tentioned right or its worn out.

btw try not to take the cheat option with chalk or similar do it right and save future issues.

Edited October 21, 2009 by fat_stag

[66yostagea]

Fingers crossed. I think it is fixed.

I would have thought the altenator belt was too TIGHT, so I slackened it off a bit: that made it worse! So as Luke suggested I tweaked it up a bit and, voila!, she is OK.

Thanks to all for your input.

[fat-lad]

mine done the same, found that all the belts were too tight, loosened em off and all good,

ive found when i have replaced the belts and tensioned them up properly they squeel, but if i back them off a touch its all good,

[66yostagea]

After tightening the belt, first start today just a tiny sq--- then it stopped, so all seems good.

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

sounds like a Factory problem, like many f**king things with the Stagea's!

mine does it each cold morning. for about 3seconds, was going for 30seconds until i tightened it up, but don't wanna go too tight on them.