Squeaky Belts won't go away!

[KyleLovesHisKia]

One more interesting minor problem....
my 2000 Sportage 2-dr. Convertible 4x4 has squeaky belts.

I bought this vehicle new, and from day one, they squeak.
If the temperature outside is below about 60 F, they squeak....
the colder it gets outside, the louder they squeal.
When it was brand new, i took it 2 times to the dealer for warranty...
they couldn't make it stop.
ALL Belts have been changed with new ones several times.
Kia belts. Different brands of aftermarket belts.
They've been loosened. They've been tightened.
The belts were squirted with some crap you buy at the store that's supposed to make them stop squeaking. The pulleys were cleaned, then new belts AGAIN. No change. Someone told me "bent pulley"...which might make sense if it was ONE belt that squeaked......on my Sportage all THREE belts squeak like hell....... anyone?

[Axe Man]

The culprit is the power steering belt. And there is NO permanent fix.

Kia Canada came out with a TSB several years ago to address this issue. It involved a modified mount for the power steering pump. This TSB was never released in the USA. But it doesn't matter because that TSB didn't fix it. Canadian Sportages continue to squeal just like US Sportages.

You can minimize, but never completely eliminate the squeal, with this stupid but effective fix. Trust me. It works. Loosen, yes, loosen the power steering belt to just above the point where you turn the belt by hand. Believe it or not it minimizes the squeal. And as long as the belt isn't too loose you won't detect a slip in the steering wheel. The only time I now have a squeal is on cool and damp mornings. Once warmed up it's almost completely gone.

And DON'T use belt dressing. It makes the squeal worse....as you have found out.

[MeettheCreeper]

Originally Posted by KyleLovesHisKia

One more interesting minor problem....
my 2000 Sportage 2-dr. Convertible 4x4 has squeaky belts.

I bought this vehicle new, and from day one, they squeak.
If the temperature outside is below about 60 F, they squeak....
the colder it gets outside, the louder they squeal.
When it was brand new, i took it 2 times to the dealer for warranty...
they couldn't make it stop.
ALL Belts have been changed with new ones several times.
Kia belts. Different brands of aftermarket belts.
They've been loosened. They've been tightened.
The belts were squirted with some crap you buy at the store that's supposed to make them stop squeaking. The pulleys were cleaned, then new belts AGAIN. No change. Someone told me "bent pulley"...which might make sense if it was ONE belt that squeaked......on my Sportage all THREE belts squeak like hell....... anyone?

I dont know about anywhere else but we got the pwr str belt to stop squealing. It is a 2 man operation and even then quite difficult. THe belt needs to be ridiculously tight.

[Axe Man]

Originally Posted by MeettheCreeper

I dont know about anywhere else but we got the pwr str belt to stop squealing. It is a 2 man operation and even then quite difficult. THe belt needs to be ridiculously tight.

To me this sounds like a bad idea. I understand the desire to make the customer happy when they complain about sqealing belts. And they won't accept the fact that it's a design flaw. But in the end you may be doing the customer a dis-service. Overtightening the belt may damage the bearings in the power steering pump. Sooner or later they will be back with a snapped belt and a frozen pump.