Belt Squealing

I have some belts that are showing their age on a 90s Bronco but don't have any cracks in them yet. I may just try this for the heck of it and report back down the road.

Cheers,
 
ALBPM said:
Maritimer, probably did his belts in with the degreaser which dried them out and cracked them.
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I'll support this. They had tiny cracks when I inspected them. The WD-40 turned the belt dressing to goo, I believe, which is what made the mess. Basically, the belt dressing deserves to have the factory destroyed. Don't let it near your vehicle.
 
I had squeaky, squealing, chirping belt after a JDM engine swap. Prior to full belt installs I turned it over with only the alternator hooked up and no noise whatsoever. Then once all connected the worst damn noise ever...........and it got worse with throttle input.

Read this post, turned the belts to see if more than 90 degrees of turn was available and low an behold they all were, left the ALT alone, tightened the PS & AC. Cranked it over and less noise, tightened once more, and little to no noise.

Thanks guys !
 
I have a squeal on my 97, it's a 4 cylinder model. It's goes away after the engine is warm. It's squeals for about 5 seconds after startup, then goes away. It comes back like 1-2 times. What could cause this?
 
Check to see if the belts are tight enough. Half inch deflection. Also observe the condition of the belts. Are they old and worn? Replace them if so. I do not recommend belt dressing.
 
Your belts are probably a little bit loose. The squealing immediately after startup is caused from the drag of your alternator turning hard putting out the current that was used when starting the car into your battery.
Tighten the alt belt just a little as you get too tight it will take the bearing out of the alt.
 
ALBPM said:
WD-40 works great on Belts and also preserves them. That's all I have used for years. It dries and doesn't hold/attract dirt like the sticky belt dressing.
I have never had a broken belt or any problems from the WD-40.

Also, check you Power steering fluid level.
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I couldn't believe this WD-40 thing so I had to try it. Our forklift at work squeals horribly after it's been run and warmed up, then shut off and then when you start it. The belt squeals like crazy! The guys at work have been trying the dressing multiple times and it only helps for a few days at most. I sprayed it with WD-40 and it has not squealed since! Not sure if the belt has ever been changed and I'd imagine the forklift (an old CAT) is probably 20 years old.

Amazing ALBPM!
 
Belts Squeal Help!

Ok I see the posts here about belts squealing so I figure I'd try. I have a 96 4runner that's been sitting for about a year. Finally got the chance to replace tires, replace oil, register and all that but now since it's cold, the belts have been squealing. I turned off the AC and it stopped. BUT, now that I'm at a red light or at a stop sign, when accelerating, it would squeal. It would then eventually stop when I let go of the pedal and accelerate, sometimes. Tried the belt dressing and it doesn't work. I am going to replace the belts but I figure maybe it might be something else. I am not a mechanic but would like to get this fixed before the snow comes. I live in NJ. Any help?
 
papichyno said:
Ok I see the posts here about belts squealing so I figure I'd try. I have a 96 4runner that's been sitting for about a year. Finally got the chance to replace tires, replace oil, register and all that but now since it's cold, the belts have been squealing. I turned off the AC and it stopped. BUT, now that I'm at a red light or at a stop sign, when accelerating, it would squeal. It would then eventually stop when I let go of the pedal and accelerate, sometimes. Tried the belt dressing and it doesn't work. I am going to replace the belts but I figure maybe it might be something else. I am not a mechanic but would like to get this fixed before the snow comes. I live in NJ. Any help?
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The belt is loose, and needs to be tensioned. Belt dressing is a band-aid, and even a new belt will squeal if it isn't tightened properly.
 
Mine does this mainly when the weather is cold. It's done it for years even after replacing the drive all the belts. It squeels loudly for about a second when I start up then whistles until the engine warms up.
 
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Here is what I have done after years of dealing with fine sand that will Polish your pulleys. With in return will even cause new belts we squeal. That the pulleys and sand blast them to add some Ruffness to them. I have don't this to many old cars and trucks is it right I don't know but it works and I don't have to hear the squeal at start up or on hot days anymore
 
OK, Can someone please give this non-mechanic a step by step guide on how to tighten the belts on my 4runner? I see 3 belts: power steering, AC and alternator. My 4runner fooled me last Saturday. When I started it, the squealing stopped. So I'm thinking it was good to go. Then the damn thing squealed like crazy on Sunday. I saw one youtube video on how to replace the belts on a 4runner but the video wasn't specified. I'm really thinking about getting a mechanic to replace it but I'm afraid he's gonna charge me an arm and a leg. :help:
 
papichyno said:
Ok I see the posts here about belts squealing so I figure I'd try. I have a 96 4runner that's been sitting for about a year. Finally got the chance to replace tires, replace oil, register and all that but now since it's cold, the belts have been squealing. I turned off the AC and it stopped. BUT, now that I'm at a red light or at a stop sign, when accelerating, it would squeal. It would then eventually stop when I let go of the pedal and accelerate, sometimes. Tried the belt dressing and it doesn't work. I am going to replace the belts but I figure maybe it might be something else. I am not a mechanic but would like to get this fixed before the snow comes. I live in NJ. Any help?
Click to expand...

Mine is doing it pretty badly right now. It's the alt. belt mainly in my case. I have new belts, just haven't installed them yet.

As others have said though, your belts probably need an adjustment if they are fairly new. If not, could just be time to replace them.
 
papichyno said:
OK, Can someone please give this non-mechanic a step by step guide on how to tighten the belts on my 4runner? I see 3 belts: power steering, AC and alternator. My 4runner fooled me last Saturday. When I started it, the squealing stopped. So I'm thinking it was good to go. Then the damn thing squealed like crazy on Sunday. I saw one youtube video on how to replace the belts on a 4runner but the video wasn't specified. I'm really thinking about getting a mechanic to replace it but I'm afraid he's gonna charge me an arm and a leg. :help:
Click to expand...

How to: Change Drive Belts 3.4 L 5VZ-FE - YotaTech Forums
 
Hepar said:
My belts squeak sometimes, but that's only after it rains. They can get a little wet since I have the sport scoop.
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Even though this is an old thread, I am glad to see that someone else is experiencing belt squealing after rain. I thought that the scoop was the culprit and I am surprised at this. I have also experienced the squealing after coming to a stop after driving in steady rain. I have owned cars in the past with factory hood scoops but have not had issues with belt squeal during wet conditions like I have with my 4runner.
 
Hepar said:
My belts squeak sometimes, but that's only after it rains. They can get a little wet since I have the sport scoop.
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I recently got the scoop and and now have a squeal on start-up if the vehicle sits for a while. Never happened before the hood scoop. If it does squeal, it does it for maybe 5-10 sec. I also have a digital volt meter inside, and while it's squealing, the battery voltage is at 11.5 v and as soon as the squealing stopsm the voltage goes above 12 and rpms go up also as soon as the squeak stops. Alternator belt?

Also, this is pretty cool.

 
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