squaling belts!!!!!!!!!!!

I just replaced the timing belt and all the outside belts. When I cranked it the first 5 or 6 times everything was great "NO" noise. Now when I crank it, for the first 3 to 4 seconds the belt(s) scream. I think I have them tight enough. They will flex down aprox 1/4 of an inch. I didn't want to make them too tight in fear of screwing up bearings in ac/ps/alt.
Can anyone give me some pointers? I have sprayed some STP belt dressing on the bottoms of the belts, it prevents it for a while? Like I said, once it cranks it stops? Please Help. Should I go tighter?

Maybe it is too tight?

Bearings going on something?

I wondered that too, but if the bearings are going out why does it only do it at start up?

I have found that they sometimes stretch after the initial run. Sometimes you have to retighten them after the get the initial stretch out. I have had to tighten them before a couple times before it finaly stopped.

I'm on the way out the door to work on it now. I've got radiator flush that I've got to get empty out and replace with antifreeze. I'll tighten these belts up a little and see if this helps...........

Tightening up is all they needed. I thought I had them tight enough but I guess not. So if your belts are whinning (like mine were) all you need to do is tighten them a little.

The alternator belt needs to be pretty tight. It only squeals at start-up because of the momentary load of the alternator. Mine did the same thing until I tightened them up more.

do not over tighten the P/S belt or you will destroy the pump tho only belt that needs to be real tight is the alternator belt

Great information!!!!!!!!! I will be sure to loosen up the P/S belt. It may be a little too tight. I never thought about the load on the alt. @ start up. Thanks again for the info. It's PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

Great information!!!!!!!!! I will be sure to loosen up the P/S belt. It may be a little too tight. I never thought about the load on the alt. @ start up. Thanks again for the info. It's PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

You can ususally verify that the offending belt is for the altenator by watching the voltmeter on the instrument panel. If it seems low and then suddenly jumps up to its normal as the squealing stops---> alternator belt. I wouldn't think the other two would cause any squealing during start up since generally there isn't any load on the AC comp or P/S pump.

I have the 98 rodeo and I can't figure out how to tighten the tensioner pulley to make the belt tighter.

I don't think that you can with this type, it is spring loaded. The ones described above are the old type that you had to manually tighten. Ours has a spring tensioner, which the only way to tighten is to replace the tensioner, which could get weak over time.

I don't think that you can with this type, it is spring loaded. The ones described above are the old type that you had to manually tighten. Ours has a spring tensioner, which the only way to tighten is to replace the tensioner, which could get weak over time.


Thanks for the info, I was going crazy trying to figure out how to tighten it. These forums are great!