squealing belt

[dferguson2]

It was over 100 degrees today and the serpentine belt started squealing like a stuck pig, after the car got warmed up, but only when turning the wheel left or right and rolling. It doesn't do it at high speeds like on a freeway or going straight, nor when when idle. The car has over 80k and is 4 years old, and I was thinking of probably replacing the serpentine belt anyway. What troubles me is that if this car had a power steering box, which it don't, why is it only doing it when turning at low speeds. Otherwise the car is quiet as can be, I did check to make sure that nothing was rubbing inside the tire well...I have never heard of a cv joint making such a noise..

[Rain]

I changed mine at 60K, I have an '07 and it had cracks all over the place. Might be worth checking your belt.

[Betrivent]

your turning the wheels might be changing the alignment of the belt EVER so slightly by shifting the engine. You can tell if the belt needs changing if the ribbed side (underside) is cracking at placers where it's exposed

[CTScott]

It only does it at low speed while turning because that is when the electronic power steering is drawing a huge amount of current and hence putting a huge load on the alternator.

[Betrivent]

^ There is a n extreme possibility this is the correct answer. His next question would be whether it is his alternator going?

[CTScott]

^ There is a n extreme possibility this is the correct answer. His next question would be whether it is his alternator going?

If the alternator bearings were going he'd hear the squealing more, and it would be worse at higher RPMs.

[dferguson2]

Hi, I changed the serpentine belt last week. After a few days it was squealing at start up, loose belt. Tightened belt was fine until today. Started squealing again at slow speeds when turning . I checked the plastic parts underneath the engine/radiator, nothing loose. Checked the cv joints, they are okay. I checked the belt, not too loose, not too tight. It sounds like it is rubbing against something, especially when braking and turning. Any ideas? Is it possibly a engine mount?

[09sedan]

use a tension gauge to properly check the tension, it has to be exactly to spec. new belts have loose tension then what you dialed in for after first 10min of runtime , then you are supposed to readjust the tension after those 10min to the proper spec. (which i cant remember at the moment) :redface:

[nookandcrannycar]

use a tension gauge to properly check the tension, it has to be exactly to spec. new belts have loose tension then what you dialed in for after first 10min of runtime , then you are supposed to readjust the tension after those 10min to the proper spec. (which i cant remember at the moment) :redface:

I would guess that this is what happened when I had my belt replaced (that they didn't let it run for 10 minutes and then readjust it). I took my car back in within the next day or so, they readjusted it (presumably as described and for free of course) and it has been fine ever since (11k or so miles since belt changed).

[09sedan]

I would guess that this is what happened when I had my belt replaced (that they didn't let it run for 10 minutes and then readjust it). I took my car back in within the next day or so, they readjusted it (presumably as described and for free of course) and it has been fine ever since (11k or so miles since belt changed).

glad to hear !:smile: