I just bought an '89 Nissan pickup. It runs great, but it has a very annoying and LOUD squealing fanbelt. It’s very loud, and no amount of gear shifting or braking seems to affect it.
It only seems to squeal when it’s very cold or very wet outside. The previous owner said he tried to resolve it and couldn’t, but I don’t know what he did or didn’t do to resolve it.
Any ideas?
Thank you!
Replace the belt.
While you’re at it, check any tensioners (if there are any), and make sure the new one is the proper size and at the proper tension. I tried a Goodyear belt on my Taurus once, and brand new it was about an inch too long and the tensioner couldn’t keep it properly tensioned. I thought I had the wrong part number, but no, Goodyear just made a lousy belt at the wrong size.
The previous owner could have done something silly like put dressing on the belt… or grease, even… thinking that would help.
I just helped a friend with a Ford F150 pickup, who had a sqealing belt. We ruled out the alternator, water pump, and power steering pump. When the mechanic took the belt off, it turned out he needed 2 new tensioners, as these had worn out of round, probably before getting stiff, and had started destroying the belt. A new belt and two tensioners later, he is a happy camper.
Replace it…Why haven’t you done that yet???
SOAP!!! I’m sure there’s a good reason not to use this trick, but a friend of mine back in college had this problem with his car. He just got a bar of soap, opened up the hood with the car idling, let the dry bar of soap skid against the belt. This sounds EXACTLY like the kind of thing that will hide a problem until it causes big problems–I personally know bupkus about cars–to illustrate, I learned pretty much all I know about them from Car Talk! Still, it was an instantaneous, cheap fix.
I am guessing that when the previous owner tried to resolve it he didn’t try replacing the belt, which is the easiest way to fix the problem. After a break-in period you will want to re-tighten the belt.
I’ve tried that, and it does work. Although it is a cover for a possibly more serious problem. Sometimes, dust, grease and dirt will get on the belt and cause it to squeal (same with breaks). However, it usually is better to replace the belt and go from there.
Just a guess, but maybe your AC compressor or compressor clutch is going bad? They usually freeze up and the squealing can drive you nuts, but the smell will tell you something too. Check anything the belt goes around for trouble.
Thanks everyone. I’ll get the belt replaced, or the tensioners looked at next time I take it in for an oil change.
I just bought it a month ago, so that’s why I know nothing about the condition of the belts. They “look” okay to someone who knows nothing about cars, though…