# Mazda protege belt tightening **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** protege, mazda\ **Created:** [March 2, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-protege-belt-tightening/45391 "2010-03-02T05:35:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![topspin411](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@topspin411](https://community.cartalk.com/u/topspin411)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-protege-belt-tightening/45391/1 "2010-03-02T05:35:20Z")
a friend of mine has a 2003 mazda protege and it squeals on start up in the mornings. i think one of the two belts needs to be tightened. does anyone have a belt diagram for the 2003 protege and also instructions on how to tighten the belts on that model. i have done this job on my jeep, but it has an automatic tensioner and i think the protege doesnt. thanks. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-protege-belt-tightening/45391/2 "2010-03-02T15:53:48Z")
Your friend needs a mechanic to check the belt(s). They may be dry rotted and/or cracked. An experienced mechanic can tell if a belt is too loose or too tight just by feel. If you tighten a bad belt your friend may be stranded in the middle of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![topspin411](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@topspin411](https://community.cartalk.com/u/topspin411)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-protege-belt-tightening/45391/3 "2010-03-02T18:52:05Z")
i told them that originally, however the belts are new as they were replaced but the squeal is still there on start up.