squeeeell!

[senseipook]

My 03- mp5 has a problem with the belts- they squeel horribly when first starting thr engine, and frequently when drivi.g. the belts which are only about 3 months old seem tight..any ideas?

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Not tight enough or something's starting to seize (eg. alternator, water pump).

 

[tweety2300]

I would say to adjust them its not hard

 

[senseipook]

I know it was a dumb question- but i have been tightening them, with no change..

 

[Tiajaunatoad]

If the belts are tight enough, I would check to see if the water pump might be leaking a little coolant onto the belts.

 

[tweety2300]

Did you also loosin the pivot bolts on the alt and water pump I made the same mistake. If you look at the water pump there's a bolt going through it on the top of it. If you look you'll see it. Don't remove the bolt just loosin it

 

[RMW Guy]

Did you also loosin the pivot bolts on the alt and water pump I made the same mistake. If you look at the water pump there's a bolt going through it on the top of it. If you look you'll see it. Don't remove the bolt just loosin it

+1 I made this mistake the first time I did this job. DOH!!!!

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Here's what can happen: belts are installed nice and tight. However, over the first few weeks, they stretch out some and need to be retightened. If they are not, they begin to slip. If they slip long enough, they begin to glaze so much that they won't grip no matter how much they are tightened. This happened to me and I ended up getting a new set of belts, retightening them after two weeks, and all is well.

I also had a bad experience with Goodyear Gatorbacks...Gates belts worked much better for me. Good luck!

 

[ucyib2papi]

sonofa....

 

[M2P503]

Here's what can happen: belts are installed nice and tight. However, over the first few weeks, they stretch out some and need to be retightened. If they are not, they begin to slip. If they slip long enough, they begin to glaze so much that they won't grip no matter how much they are tightened. This happened to me and I ended up getting a new set of belts, retightening them after two weeks, and all is well.

I also had a bad experience with Goodyear Gatorbacks...Gates belts worked much better for me. Good luck!

My Power steering pump Belt is also squealing because it was to tight so then i loosened it a bit and retightned it and it still Squeals. Could ths mean that the tensioner pulleys are Stripped or perhaps the Bearings are spun? My Bearings are also Making a rattling noise when it is cold too.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Belts don't squeal when they're too tight...you could have damaged the bearing in the PS pump, which is why you hear a noise in the cold. If the belt was slipping, it was loose at some point. I would just go ahead and replace the belt...don't keep messing with it.

 

[M2P503]

Thanks M Speeder i am going to replace the Belt for Sure It squeals once in a while usually when cold but Sometimes when hot to. How tight should the Belt Be on the Power Steering Pump? Also where is the Bearing for the Power Steering Pump located? Is it hard to get to ?

 

[CheeseHelmet]

There should be roughly a centimeter of deflection when pressing down on the middle of the belt (between two pulleys) with moderate force. The service manual has all the details if you want specific figures. A general rule of thumb is to never over-tighten, leave it loose and if it squeals just add a little more tension.

Also, the water pump bearing is not replaceable, it's part of the water pump. If it's making noise you'll have to replace the whole thing (they can be had for <$50 from rockauto).

 

[M2P503]

Thanks for the update on that CH ive Just Replaced my Timing Belt and Water Pump so im sure the water Pump bearing is fine. Ill keep that to mind about the centimeter of deflection when pressing down thanks Ill keep you posted