Well, I got the new water pump job done and drove the car about 60 miles a couple of days ago - one small problem with some leaking antifreeze. So, it got on the belt. Couldn't figure out where the leak was coming from, but I assumed the top hose (new) clamp or the cap. So, I got a new cap and changed out to a 'tight-down' clamp (also put clamps on the overflow reservoir). That stopped the antifreeze leak.

Now, I have a very high pitched squealing noise, but only on acceleration. For the life of me, I cannot figure out exactly where it is coming from, but it is definitely attached to the belt pulleys. Poured soapy water thoughout the engine area to try to clean off any antifreeze, then let it dry thoroughly. That seemed to make it worse.Before, it would go away after it warmed up. Now, it is not going away.

Battery is charging up fine, temperature gauge is steady after warmup, oil pressure good, a/c is cold, heat is very warm, etc... So, all systems seem to be working fine.

The belt is just 6 months old. I tried belt dressing today and will NEVER do that again. All that did was seem to slough some rubber dust or something and leave all the pullies filled with some sticky black stuff. Have no idea what it is. I currently have washed down all the pullies, and the belt, and will try to install it again tomorrow.

I took the idler arm pulley off and cleaned it really well. It seems to be turing okay.The tensioner and installed beltseem plenty tight enough to me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

The antifreeze may have damaged the belt. And adding the other stuff made it worse. I would replace the belt completly.

 

There is a belt wear indicator on the tensioner. Is it all the way over to the stop or is there still a gap?

 

I don't have this setup because it is a van. If I look straight down onto the engine, at the tensioner adjuster, I see a window cut out. On the insidebody of the part, there is an indented straight mark. Looks something like this:

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As you can see the notch is way over the right. Is that the same as the above gauge, that you mentioned? If so, I have to wonder if I got the right belt to begin with. If you go to Advance online, where I bought the belt, click on shop online, it takes you to PartsAmerica. If you look through the serpentine belts for my vehicle, you will see that there are three different sizes for ones with AC - 95.5, 97.5& 100.5. They sold me the 100.5 but it has made a squealing noise since day one.

So, how do I tell which was the original replacement size?

Thanks for your help.

 

Yes, when the arrow (or notch) gets all the way over to the right, then the tensioner has traveled as far as it can. I had this same problem with belts from Advanced Auto and Autozone. Brand new belt and the tensioner was all the way over and the belt squealed.

I solved the problem by drilling a new hole in my tensioner bracket. If you remove the tensioner you'll find a square peg on the back and a square hole in the mounting bracket for it to fit into. What I did was drill a hole just to the left of the square hole (as close to the square hole as possible and taking into account the arc). Then when I installed the tensioner, I inserted the square peg into the new round hole.

Contrary to what people have told me, you can fit a square peg into a round hole.

This rotated the tensioner enough where I could just slip a new belt on and still have plenty of travel left to allow for belt stretch and wear.

 

Since the belts come in three sizes 100.5, 97.5, and 95.5; I would think that buying a smaller belt would do it. I am going to buy the GoodYear GatorBack belt this time, in the largest size. I will install it right at the Auto store, so if it is too large from the start, I will immediately take it in and try the next size down.

I have to wonder if that has been the problem all along!

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I believe the correct size needed is 99, so the other two will not fit at all. You'll have the same problem with the GatorBack...been there, done that.

 

I have been search for a smaller belt, but not too much smaller because I would never get it on. I have found an 87.5, 88.5, 90.5, 90.873, 95.5, 97.5, 100.5. There are no 99" lengths that I found!

I have factory air, but I do have rear air. Not sure if that changed things or not, but I don't see any 'extra' pullies or parts.