# Belt Squeal **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, belts, accent\ **Created:** [February 3, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520 "2014-02-03T22:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bruskewicz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bruskewicz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bruskewicz)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/1 "2014-02-03T22:16:21Z")
2001 Accent 1.6, A/T. Just replaced alternator myself. Checked and adjusted all three belts; all seem tight. Now I have a belt squeal. P/S fluid is full. When car starts there is no squeal. 15 seconds later chirp starts. A few seconds later squeal is constant and remains throughout entire ride - except when I make a turn. During any turn squeal goes away, then comes right back. Can anyone help me fix this squeal? - bruskewicz ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/2 "2014-02-03T22:19:43Z")
I take it you put on new belts. It could be a belt not properly tensioned or the new alternator is bad. Also, the tensioner could be bad. A mechanics stethoscope or a piece of hose could isolate it for you. ---
**Author:** ![bruskewicz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bruskewicz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bruskewicz)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/3 "2014-02-03T22:30:29Z")
I did not replace belts. But, they still look good. Could new alternator be bad? I will try re-adjusting one belt at a time. Thank you. -bruskewicz ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/4 "2014-02-03T23:00:19Z")
Cheap rebuilt units can always be bad. Do the belts have a polished shiny look to them? If so they are bad. You can pour water on the belts and if they quiet down, then it’s a belt. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/5 "2014-02-03T23:20:12Z")
Like “Knfenimore” said, but I use a spray bottle and adjust it so it sends out a stream of water, not a mist. You want to try your best to spray only one belt at a time. When you get to the bad belt, the water should lube the belt just enough to get rid of the squeal for a moment. That will pinpoint which belt is causing the problem. ---
**Author:** ![bruskewicz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@bruskewicz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bruskewicz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/6 "2014-02-08T21:30:10Z")
To knfenimore and Yosemite, Thank you for your comments. Sometimes it is helpful just knowing other folks are interested! I was able to identify the squeal as coming from the alternator belt. I called the alternator tech support 800 number, borrowed a volt meter from AutoZone, and the tech walked me through the alternator tests. He concluded the “new” alternator was bad. AutoZone ordered a replacement, tested it on their machine, found it to be good, and I installed this second “new” alternator. (So, knfenimore, your comment “cheap rebuilt units can always be bad” was true. For the record, I have been using rebuilt parts for years. This is the first time one was bad.) Ok, that was a few days ago. For two days, the alternator was charging the battery as it is supposed to. Except I was also smelling a burnt smell, like burnt rubber. And, the second day, the belt squeal came back. This morning, after a local errand, the smell was back. The squeal was intermittent. Then, on the way home, the battery light came on on the dashboard. I got the car home before it died, lifted the hood, and found the alternator belt had broken. So, I will replace the belt. Hopefully, that will do the trick. (But, I wonder if how I installed the alternator could have caused the belt to heat up and break. The belt was not new, at least a few years old. And, by eye, the alternator seemed straight, not crooked. I hadn’t tried the water-on-the-belt test, as you both suggested.) Thanks again for your interest in my problem. - bruskewicz ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/7 "2014-02-10T07:44:55Z")
Did you try to spin the alternator pulley by hand? It should turn smoothly, with mild resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/8 "2014-02-10T07:48:37Z")
Alternator pulley is out of line, my guess. You should probably also check the tensioner is fully operational. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/belt-squeal/83520/9 "2014-02-10T08:09:23Z")
“Checked and adjusted all three belts” OP’s car doesn’t have a serpentine belt or an automatic tensioner It also sounds like the belt tension may have been set too high . . .