1998 Dodge Caravan AC Belt Squeals

I recentyl changed the tensioner pulley and serpentine belt on my 1998 Dodge Caravan. When I went to replace the smaller ac compressor belt below that, several of the hardware fell off: large flat washer, thick smaller washer. I replaced them in the order I thought they went: thick smaller washer, larger flat washer with raised inner circle, the idler pulley, then the lock nut on the pulley(no washer because the lock nut appears to have an attached movable washer on it).

The problem is that now when I accelerate, more often then not, there is a loud squealing noise as if the belt is slipping. If I let up off the gas, the sound slowly disappears, is that the sympton for a slipping belt or the pulley not turning like it should? The sound appears to be coming from the ac belt (and or pulley) and not the serpentine belt.

Does anyone have an idea about whether I put the hardware to the ac pulley back on in the right order? Please advise. This is getting embarrassing and annoying. Thanks in advance.

My belt started doing this as well untill one day it squeeled once to many and snapped the belt. I will assume that the pully is all put back in order. look for: is it in line with the other main pullies? not crooked or out of line? is it loose with play with no belt on? does it rotate freely?

If all checks out: is the belt tight enough? I know on my van the tensionor pully is a threaded bolt you can tighten with a rachet at the top of the mounting bracket of the pully. be sure the belt is tight. also if the belt was replaced, be sure it was the right belt! a 1/4 of an inch bigger can make a huge differance.

let me know!

BLUEFOX

try spraying some wd40 and see what happens? often helps for squeaking belts

cerivera

I have replaced both belts and I have sprayed wd40 on the pulley and washers. It still squeals when I accelerate. My next step would be the pulley itself--maybe the bearing is going out on the pulley. I am still wondering if I put the hardware back on in the correct order because it did not squeal before I replaced the serpentine belt and removed the ac idler belt to do it.

Please advise.

try this
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/766/pulley9uk.th.gif (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pulley9uk.gif)
its a pulley diagram for 97' GC 3.0

Wrong size belt was the problem. Everything works fine for now. No more squealing. Thanks for your help cerivera and bluefox181.