1996 avenger power steering Belt
soular-energy
06-06-2007, 06:45 AM
Hi, Been having problems with the belts that I replace on my car for the steering pump. I put them on and tighten them up. No noise initially but after a few days the belt begins to squeal again. Eventually it starts to screech to the point where you can't turn the steering wheel on the car or the air cond. on without being emabarassed because of the noise. Am I doing something wrong as far as installing it. I know its the right belt. Maybe its the adjustment that I make that is wrong. How do you tell when its the right adjustment. Does the belt tensioner get tightened down to its mounting bracket so that it cannot move after the tenisioner adjustment is made or do you tighten it to the point it can actually move freely if need be on its own or something. I've replaced three belts in the past month. What am I doing wrong? Thanks a Bunch
WaFFeL
06-06-2007, 10:20 PM
I had the same problem, just got some belt cleaner at autozone and it stopped then and there.
l_eclipse_l
06-07-2007, 10:13 PM
Are you using an OEM belt or some brand you found at Autozone or something? The belt should have just a tad of play, but be nice and tight. Do not use belt dressing, it dosn't help. If all else fails have a mechanic do it for you and show you what your doing wrong.
gthompson97
06-09-2007, 01:01 AM
It's probably too loose, or you may be leaking a fluid onto the belt, making it slippery and it squeals like a mofo....that happened to me one time when my front crank seal was leaking, but that wasn't a fun experience.
Anyways, as far as belt tension goes (assuming you have the 4 cyl 420a motor), go underneath the car between the AC pulley and the crank pulley and try twist the belt, if you can turn it more than 90 degrees (straight up and down), then it's not tight enough, but if you can't turn it quite 90 degrees, then back off the tensioner a little bit. But when you're "checking" the tension, don't reef on the belt with both hands, just take your index and thumb and use your better "judgement" as to how forcefully you turn the belt. After you get the right adjustment, tighten back up the adjuster so it cannot move a single inch and you should be good to go.
Also like stated above, belt dressing just makes things worse in the long run, so don't use that shit.
Anyways, as far as belt tension goes (assuming you have the 4 cyl 420a motor), go underneath the car between the AC pulley and the crank pulley and try twist the belt, if you can turn it more than 90 degrees (straight up and down), then it's not tight enough, but if you can't turn it quite 90 degrees, then back off the tensioner a little bit. But when you're "checking" the tension, don't reef on the belt with both hands, just take your index and thumb and use your better "judgement" as to how forcefully you turn the belt. After you get the right adjustment, tighten back up the adjuster so it cannot move a single inch and you should be good to go.
Also like stated above, belt dressing just makes things worse in the long run, so don't use that shit.
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