ALT / PS belt change

[bark89]

I changed the ALT/PS belt this weekend. Started up the car and it ran fine with no noises.

Yesterday I noticed that when I turn a sharp corner, I would hear a noise up front. It is not a constant noise but one loud squeal.
When I got home pulled the car in the garage and when I turn the steering wheel all the way to the left or right, the belt makes a god awfull noise. It is like it puts too much pressure on the belt and pullies.

Someone told me that maybe I tightened the belt too much. If it was too loose, it would squeal all of the time.

Any suggestions.

[A. Souphound]

Belt is too loose, and will squeal when the pump is put under a load. When you cramp the wheels as far as they will go....against the stops is the worst.
Tighten the belt and it will be fine.

Alvin

[AWP9521]

Most likely that's your Power Steering Pump making the noise, when the wheel is turned to full lock and yuo keep applying turning pressure on the steering wheel it makes the pump try to create more and more pressure to move the rack more but when at full lock the rack will not move and the pump keeps creating more pressure. This is not good for the steering system, by applying more turning pressure to the wheel in it's lock position and causing the pump to work harder it can build enough pressure to pop a rack seal or burst a hose. If the belt is even slightly loose the pump will actually build up so much pressure it will cause the pulley to slow down or even stop and make the belt slip on it causing the squeal.

Check your belt deflection, lay a straight edge between 2 pulleys and push down on the belt at the midpoint between the 2 pulleys and measure the deflection.

If the pulleys are between 7-11 inches apart the deflection should be 1/4"

If the pulleys are between 12-16 inches apart, the deflection should be 1/2".

If the deflection is more than that then you need to tighten the belts some more.

If the deflection is good then the only thing I can suggest is when turning the wheel to full lock do not put any more pressure on the wheel other than just enough to hold it at the locked position without adding presure on the wheel and the pump will not work as hard and squeal the belt.

[theFREAKnasty82]

what year is your intrepid? If you have a 98-04 Intrepid w/ 2.7, the alternator and power steering pump belt is maintained by an automatic tensioner. There's a special calibration for that automatic tensioner to accept a new belt. You have to take the tensioner off the engine and set the spring to new belt; reinstall tensioner and reinstall belt. If you didn't do that, that could be the reason why you have the squealing that you do b/c your belt tensioner is still in the "old belt" position.

[bark89]

That was it, the belt was loose. I got it home tighted it up and it has been running fine since. I could have sworn I had it tighter than what it was.

Thanks for the answers.