Lesabre gone crazy
rhogens
10-26-2005, 04:15 AM
Hey I have a 1997 Buick Lesabre with about 70k orgin. miles and when I crank the car up the s-belt squeeks or the rpm gauge goes up to about 3 or 4. I had the s-belt changed but i am still having the same problem. What do I need to do.
imidazol97
10-26-2005, 09:59 AM
Hey I have a 1997 Buick Lesabre with about 70k orgin. miles and when I crank the car up the s-belt squeeks or the rpm gauge goes up to about 3 or 4. I had the s-belt changed but i am still having the same problem. What do I need to do.
With belt off check all the things that are turned by the belt to be sure they are turning freely and have no looseness that might bind under pressure of the serpentine belt.
Check the pressure from the idler pulley. It may not push hard enough to keep the belt tight.
A battery that's low and not recharging properly could be demanding high output from the alternator causing some slippage.
Try spraying water from a squirt bottle (409 or something) onto the belt while the engine's running -- keep your distance from the belt. You might find out which pulley is slipping. But you'll have to compare tension on the belt with a good setup to be sure the idler pulley is putting enough pressure on the belt.
With belt off check all the things that are turned by the belt to be sure they are turning freely and have no looseness that might bind under pressure of the serpentine belt.
Check the pressure from the idler pulley. It may not push hard enough to keep the belt tight.
A battery that's low and not recharging properly could be demanding high output from the alternator causing some slippage.
Try spraying water from a squirt bottle (409 or something) onto the belt while the engine's running -- keep your distance from the belt. You might find out which pulley is slipping. But you'll have to compare tension on the belt with a good setup to be sure the idler pulley is putting enough pressure on the belt.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026