Do You Get A Belt Dressing?

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

Hello pro's

I have a squealing alternator belt on my 2001 1.8vvti SR hatch but only at low revs like when im in 1st accelerating to 2nd gear...its a low/medium squeal for now...checked the belt tension yesterday and its fine...sprayed a little wd40 but didnt make much difference today as it only makes the squeal when your driving and not when im parked up and running the engine!

So iv'e heard you can buy a belt dressing that does something to the belt...may be soften it...i dont know...any ideas or experiences guys?

p/s...the condition of the belt is fine and not totally worn!

Sam

[Raistlin]

The device providing the tension slipping out of position is all I can think of as to why it stops when you tighten it, and then it comes back.

Alternatively it may be something to do with the belt itself.

Hopefully it's not faulty.

I did have a cambelt change on a car some years back where it whirred like a vacuum cleaner for a few days afterwards until it was properly bedded in (I didn't even think belts needed that...), took it back, they checked it, everything was allegedly fine.

Eventually the sound went away.

If the squeak in your case is just a quiet, regular noise, rather than the loud horrendous sound reminiscent of two bits of rusty steel being rubbed against each other (or fingernails on a blackboard) every time you pull away, it might just be that.

Retension it, put a streak of correction fluid across the stationary part of each component across onto the engine block/subframe, then if it starts up again, recheck the alignments of these lines. If one of them is now broken, you've found your culprit.

[Jamesbelfast]

The cam belt and auxiliary belt are both entirely independent so forget about marking the pulleys etc.,

Applying belt dressing is only hiding the problem and is not a cure.

Either the auxiliary belt, its tensioner or one of the pulleys it drives are at fault.

Continued squealing is definitely a sign the belt is slipping and of continued to be used it will fail fairly quickly. The build up of heat due to slipping can vause the belt to delaminate rapidly. On engines fitted with timing belts it is not unknown for a failing auxiliary belt to take the timing belt with it.:)

[SAM LOVERS HER TOYOTAS]

The cam belt and auxiliary belt are both entirely independent so forget about marking the pulleys etc.,

Applying belt dressing is only hiding the problem and is not a cure.

Either the auxiliary belt, its tensioner or one of the pulleys it drives are at fault.

Continued squealing is definitely a sign the belt is slipping and of continued to be used it will fail fairly quickly. The build up of heat due to slipping can vause the belt to delaminate rapidly. On engines fitted with timing belts it is not unknown for a failing auxiliary belt to take the timing belt with it.:)

Hi and thanks for the reply...you mentioned that the cam belt and auxiliary belt are both entirely independent...but i can only see 1 long belt and not 2 seperate ones? I took the car down to a local mechanic and he confirmed that the belt def.needs replacing as it does have small cracks going across! He did say he would lubricate all the pulleys well before he puts the new belt on! I pray its not the tensioner or one of the pulleys it drives that are at fault because that sounds more serious!

Thinking if i buy the belt myself will it be difficult to fit myself? As far as i know on one of the pulleys towards the lower back has a cover which i prise out with a flat screwdriver...behind it i should find a tensioner nut...if i turn this nut slightly towards the rear of the engine with i think a 19mm socket...the belt should loosen and then i slip it off and grease all the pulleys and then put the new one back on in the same way...and then tighten that tensioner nut and put the cover back on...also i'll make sure the belt is dead central on each pulley so it runs straight!!! Am i right??? Or should i pay a mechanic £20 to do it??? Please help

[Jamesbelfast]

Get a proper mechanic to do the job. Under no circumstances should pulleys be greased or lubricated - they are meant to run dry - they have sealed bearings. Any lubrication added will only make the belt rot very quickly indeed. If the tensioner or any other pulley is worn then you have no choice but to replace it.:)

If the engine does indeed have a timing belt then it is enclosed under a cover and can't be seen.

[Gooli]

Had the multi rib belt squeel myself.

Changed to a new one, but it started slipping again after one year.

Bought a second one (think it was manufactured by Bosch). Does its job year after year.

So with the risk of favoring any certain brand, it seems not all belts are alike.