Thread: Squealing fan belt

My air con belt was doing the same, replacing it with a new one stopped the squeal.

I've only got the one belt.
I have 130k on the clock & I haven't changed the belt since I've had it with 61k on the clock.
Maybe she's ready for a new belt, even though the belt looks ok with no visible cracking or deterioration.

What's the opinion.
Is there an adjustment I can do to possibly tighten it more?

Squeally drive belts are caused by it slipping when there's insuficient friction to cope with "drastic" changes in pulley speed ...like changing gears or starting the engine etc which put enormous stretching stress on the belt as the pulley surface bites for traction. Either the belt has stretched and needs retensioning and/or it has developed a glazed surface...both situations cause a loss of friction. If the belt tensioner is OK then sounds like it's time for a new belt as indicated by GuyG. Replacing said belt should be well within your capabilities...take a look at RAVE. On engines with a tensioner, normally it's simply a matter of levering the tensioner pully with a long spanner and holding it in place while the belt goes slack, simultaneoulsy removing belt. Release tensioner. Then thread new belt over all pulley wheels except tensioner pully, then using said spanner, moving tensioner arm so that you slip belt over it, release arm and pulley is in place....

Does it do it when you rev a bit just before you would change gears? If so it is probably an exhaust leak rather than a belt. Sounds very similar

As the previous reply said I would also have a good look at the manifold studs. I got caught by what was a definite slipping belt squeal & even had one guy tell me the turbo was on its way out. Finally find a broken stud on the manifold. You have to look hard if all the shields are still on but its worth the effort.
Regards Chris.

It squeals both when changing gears & when just revving it hard. More when driving thru the gears. If I drive slow thru gears, there's no sound.

I will have a look at manifold studs.
Thanks for your help everyone.
I'll report back.
Cheers

It is usually the studs at each end that go. The first time it happened to me I thought it was a fan belt as well

So is it as easy as removing old studs and replace with new, or does whole manifold come off and must I use a new gasket etc.

I'm tipping it's a fairly involved job??