# Serpentine belt squeals at first **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 23, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598 "2012-05-23T01:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![03tacoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/ed8c4c/32.png) [@03tacoma](https://community.cartalk.com/u/03tacoma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/1 "2012-05-23T01:08:13Z")
Hi folks, There’s a rubber belt that connects lots of stuff in my truck, I believe it’s the serpentine belt, and at around the 100k miles mark it began squealing when I first start the engine, especially when there’s been some rain. I can make the squeal go away by spraying the gears it connects to with WD40, and I curious as to whether this is something that needs urgent fixing instead. Thanks for any advice. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/2 "2012-05-23T01:40:51Z")
Your overdue for a belt and tensioner change. The EPDM rubber belt wears differently and a belt gauge to check the spacing of the v-grooves is the proper way to check for wear. EPDM rubber doesn’t crack like the older-style belts and wear is near impossible to detect with just visual inspection. Here’s a good article from [Gates](http://www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear/beltwear). ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/3 "2012-05-23T02:10:37Z")
Never spray lubricant on a serpentine belt. You need a new onr and probably a belt tensioner too/ ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/4 "2012-05-23T02:29:05Z")
And before you install it you may want to spray the oulleys down with some solvent. That WD40 leavs a lubricating residue that will not be conducive to a good Cf, and it also contains a solvent that might attack the polymers in the new belt. ---
**Author:** ![03tacoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/ed8c4c/32.png) [@03tacoma](https://community.cartalk.com/u/03tacoma)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/5 "2012-05-23T04:33:24Z")
Wow. I could swear it was the dealer that told me to spray the WD40. Is the belt something that I can replace myself as an amateur or should I just take it to a local mechanic? ---
**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:** [May 23, 2012, 4:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/6 "2012-05-23T04:49:06Z")
The belt change (and tensioner if you need it) is not very difficult if you are mechanically inclined. If you are not mechanically inclined and lack a repair manual then take the truck to an independent mechanic. You need to avoid any dealership that tells you to spray a serpentine belt with WD-40. Not a good idea at any time. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/7 "2012-05-23T04:51:11Z")
It should be easily replaceable, do not know your model. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/8 "2012-05-23T05:08:23Z")
You might have your battery tested too…A weak battery can make a belt squeal… ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/serpentine-belt-squeals-at-first/72598/9 "2012-05-23T06:13:42Z")
I noticed the AC compressor on my wife’s 06 Toyota Sienna was a bit noisy. I sprayed some water on the belt with the engine running and the noises stopped. The belt is 6 years old so it’s due for replacement. I’ve had good luck with Goodyear Poly-V Gatorback belts on my other cars. Don’t use belt dressing or WD-40 on a belt. Replacing a belt on a Tacoma shouldn’t be too difficult. Ed B.