Here’s the dilemma. I own a 2003 4Runner. A year after purchasing the car, the serpentine belt began squealing. I took it to a Toyota Dealership in the area who replaced the belt and mentioned something about a “belt defect”. Two years later (~3 months ago), the belt began squealing again. So I…

Of course, a belt will stop squealing when you put a lubricant, like water, on it! Duh! If the belt goes true across the pulleys, look for components which are loading the belt. Remove the belt, turn the various pulleys with hand, or, wrapping the belt around each, and “feel” how easily they turn. T…

I had the exact same problem with a 2003 Toyota 4Runner just after we took delivery. The dealer’s service department changed the belt at least 3 times in the first month. One time, the technician didn’t get the belt on correctly and it pulled out the oil seal. At any rate, when we took it back an…

I should add that the engine in my 2003 4Runner is the 4.0 V6.

Just curious, do you think a belt tesioner can be too tight? When I changed the belt three months ago, I could hardly move the tensioner. It took almost all I had to get it loose enough to slip the new belt on. Of course, my hands were wet from antifreeze since I had to take a radiator hose lose …

You’ve found it: change the tensioner.

I supppose it’s possible, but probably unlikely. I would think that the service manuals that the Toyota service department has would show how much pull the tensioner should exert and a simple instrument could measure this.

I have a 2000 Blazer that’s quick picky about serpentine belts. I’ve tried Napa (Gates?) and Dayco belts. The belts didn’t squeal but were very noisy as soon as I installed them. I’ve had better luck with Goodyear Poly-V belts. This belt is much quieter on the Blazer than the others. They are a…

I doubt that the service manual has the tensioner value of the belt tensioner; but, there’s a way to get the value. The mechanic could test the tensioner by clamping a new tensioner in a vice, turn it with a torque wrench, and compare that value to the old one on your vehicle. What’s so difficult ab…

The Unfixable Squealing Serpentine Belt

Maintenance/Repairs

Triedaq July 25, 2007, 5:47pm 5

As Lt. Columbo would say, “Just one more thing”. I take the 4Runner to an indendent garage for my service work. After I got the belt tensioner issue resolved, I’ve had no more problems and had no need for warranty service. The servicing has all been done by my independent shop.

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The Unfixable Squealing Serpentine Belt

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