# New belts squealing?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [December 19, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614 "2008-12-19T20:42:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![spettypi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@spettypi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/spettypi)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614/1 "2008-12-19T20:42:24Z")

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I got the belts on my 1998 BMW 3 series cause they were cracked, the mechanic said and showed me. A few days after they were put on, the car started squealing for the first minute or so when i start it up (while idle or driving) and occasionally for a few seconds once it has been driving for a while.  
  
 I took it back to the mechanic cause I thought they might be loose. He said they were tight and thought it might be some fluid on them. He removed the fluid, but it is squealing again a few hours later.  
  
  
  
 Any thoughts? Is it the belts? What could make new belts squeal? One other clue - when i get the new belts i also got new pulleys and a power steering pump that was cracked.  
  
  
  
 Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated and thanks to everyone who has helped answer my car troubles in the past.

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**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614/2 "2008-12-20T00:50:27Z")

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You got a power steering pump that was cracked ? You mean the old one was cracked ?

Yes loose belts will squeal. Keep taking the car back to your mechanic until you’re satisfied. If the old ones weren’t squealing there’s no reason for the new ones to.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614/3 "2008-12-20T00:58:08Z")

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Here at my Ford dealer there are many cases when we need to install a belt slightly shorter than OE listed, squeel gone.  
First, check further for one stiff pulley that takes a bit to get up to speed.

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**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-belts-squealing/23614/4 "2008-12-20T01:30:31Z")

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look on the receipt. is a “tensioner” listed? if not, it should be. not just pulleys, but tensioner.