So that Napa serpentine belt I replace in May 2024 is already squealing. I ordered a new Continental from RA.The "Mileage Maker". Anyway it arrives in a square box 14" on a side stuffed with paper and those plastic bubbles and the belt rolled up like a portaband blade. ?? There is no Continental packaging as you would expect. Which would also be a much smaller package to ship. It has the RA alternate inventory numbers printed on it, but it seems way odd that it is packaged this way. I feel like I cannot really be sure it is a Continental belt.

EDIT- Looking online there is no info about how to tell if you have a Continental or knock off. It is also Hecho en Mexico not Germany.

 

Never any guarantees with these replacement parts. My serpentine will begin to squeal. I just put one dab of dielectric grease on the inner grooves and it instantly goes away. It returns in 3 - 6 months so rinse and repeat, but no squeal.

 

I got belt dressing because it got really loud while I was driving around. I had forgotten about reading you do that.

 

Just about all belts have part# and the manufacture on them. What year and motor? Have you checked the tensioner? I use Dayco belts.

 

The tensioner was very tight when I last had it off a few months ago. The part number on it matches the RA Alternate Part Number. There is no brand name. The previous belt I replaced in may 2024 was a Continental. I want to say it last more than ten years. It came folded on itself once with the Continental cardboard wrapped with the ends poking out like you get in the part store.

 

I heard more bad than good about belt dressing. I never tried it so I'm not the guy to ask about it. One guy said he used dielectric grease. I didn't really believe him but I thought how hard is that and what can it hurt? Dang, it worked exactly as he said. I believe I have a Gates belt so even these high end belts will squeal.

 

Belts squeal because they are slipping, or there is some dirt in the pulley grooves....

 

When I put the Continental on all those years ago I first cleaned all the grooves with sand paper, wire brush and solvent. They were very dirty.