Determining proper tension for new serpentine belt

[RMcG]

I recently installed a new serpentine belt. I used a Bando belt from Rock Auto that is supposed to be as good as an OEM belt. Everything went fine, but the belt started squeeling more and more shortly after installation, so I tightened the belt using a crowbar for leverage.

Since tightening the squeeling has stopped, but I am worried that the belt is too tight. People on the forum here have cautioned that if the belt is too tight, it could adversely affect bearings in the parts contacting the belt.

Is there a good way to objectively determine proper belt tension?

Thanks,

R.

[CB900F2]

See the attached TSB with tension spec....

[RMcG]

Thanks CB,

I appreciate getting the specs. The belt tension specs appear to require a belt tension tool, the Denso BTG-20 Belt Tension Gauge, correct?

I do not, of course, have such a gauge. I have found a couple of interesting videos the give a trick of twisting the belt 90 degrees to determine appropriate tension. Do you or anybody else have any comments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMiB3CnZpRc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f1eE9U-khU

Thanks,

R.

[castles]

you could see if this guys squeaky belt solution works for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRrVMtyIqIY

[RMcG]

Originally Posted by castles

you could see if this guys squeaky belt solution works for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRrVMtyIqIY

Thanks, in fact I already saw this video and the solution of slowly turning the key worked for a while, but the squeeling got worse.

R.

[B.B._07]

Originally Posted by castles

you could see if this guys squeaky belt solution works for you...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRrVMtyIqIY

That video is useless, guy just offers up a theory when the real solution is obvious (the belt needs to be tighten).

I wouldn't be overly concerned with the belt being to tight. I've changed the serpentine belt on a Toyota 1.8L 1ZZ engine which is the big sister 1.5L 1NZ in the Yaris. The 1ZZ has an auto tensioner and it puts a lot of tension of the belt. If you're super concerned about the tension being too high you can loosen the tension to the point that it starts to squeak and mark that point on the tension adjuster with a paint pen/whiteout/nail polish/scratch awl/etc. Then tighten it a little bit, mark the point, and test it and repeat until the squeaking goes away. I used that method and my belt is nice and quiet.

[scylla]

Yep, best way to do it right there B.B.
A Yaris belt is so easy to tighten that it only takes a few tries to get it right if you have an ornery belt.

[Billiam]

We bought a 2010 4 door hatch with 126k on the clock back in January. The belt was squeaking quite a bit. So I replaced it with a new Dayco. It was no better. No matter how much I cleaned all the pullies and the belt, no matter how much I adjusted the tension, it still squealed some.

So I went with a Gates belt. Dead silent. Zero noise. The only adjustment I've made was when I put it on.

[RMcG]

Originally Posted by RMcG

Thanks CB,

I appreciate getting the specs. The belt tension specs appear to require a belt tension tool, the Denso BTG-20 Belt Tension Gauge, correct?

I do not, of course, have such a gauge. I have found a couple of interesting videos the give a trick of twisting the belt 90 degrees to determine appropriate tension. Do you or anybody else have any comments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMiB3CnZpRc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f1eE9U-khU

Thanks,

R.

Thanks to everybody for their comments. I checked the belt tension using the 90 degree twist method advocated in the youtube videos above and the belt tension was fine. So I have just left the tension as is and I have no noise at all. Problem seems solved, at least for now.

Thanks,

R.