Finally installed my mechman, belt squeal

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Alright, so I finally got back from leave and was excited to work on my car.

Got everything installed last night (well, the alternator and "big 3"), turned on the car and it was way too freaking loud to keep it running. The belt was squealing so freaking loud.

Went to bed because it was late, and took another crack at it this morning. Loosened everything up a bit, as loose as I can get it, and turned on the car. It still squeaks a bit here and there when first on, but once it warms up the belt really starts to squeal again.

It's strange, it's like the belt is too tight or something...can't get it any looser! The more I tighten it, the louder the squeal gets... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif

Car is a 99 Honda Accord, 4 cyl...Alternator is a 200amp mechman...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/verymad.gif.3f39c5c2fd57527b671fad3efdfac756.gif

Click to read more...

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

well, im not a brainiac or anything, but usually when a belt is too small, dont you get a bigger belt?

 

[Bad4health 10+ year member]

i heard run a bar of soap on the belt to stop squeak, or use belt conditioner bought at local parts store

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

gunna sound crazy but you need to tighten it..

 

[MazzaSECv.2 10+ year member]

This seems to be a common problem with his alts. Mine had belt squeak as well and no matter how many belts I tried ect ect it still would squeak. Also happened to masterofallbass in his 04 jeep

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Alright, one for a bigger belt and one says to tighten it...not too sure about the dressing.

I can tighten it, even just a bit and it still squeals...just louder. I'll go try again and post what happens. Should've just bought a new belt while I was in the states, a bigger and normal sized one.

Alright, time to make it tighter

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

This seems to be a common problem with his alts. Mine had belt squeak as well and no matter how many belts I tried ect ect it still would squeak. Also happened to masterofallbass in his 04 jeep

Not liking the sound of that //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/furious.gif.fc81ca146dbff91fede3ed290dbc4f4c.gif That would **** to have wasted $500...what'd you do?

 

[SPL140.2 5,000+ posts]

usually its to loose because the belt is slipping or maybe caused by the grooves on the pully arnt lining up with the grooves of the belt. Just be careful not to make it to tight cause you may bend the pully

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Yeah, I've tightened it pretty tight and it's just really loud. When I loosened it up this morning there was almost no squeal, just little bits here and there. It got worse the longer I left it on.

Just tried tightening it again, and it's worse. ****, might have to take it out and look at the belt and see if I can get it looser.

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

how about finding WHERE the squeak is coming from? Maybe its not the belt at all.

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Well, it has to be the belt. NEVER had a squeak or squeal before the new alt...I guess that doesn't mean something else could've happened in the process...

It just has the be the belt though, why else would it change depending on the tightness? I guess I'm too scared to really look around while it squeals, doesn't seem like it'd be good for the belt (if it is the belt)...I touched the pulley from the alt, after only having the car on for about 5 seconds, and it's HOT...the belt is HOT too.

Took off the alt again, made a few adjustments, and getting ready to tighten again. Lots of play this time. Guess I'd **** as a car mechanic, I needs me some pictures when it comes to installing things //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Alright, not too sure WTF is going on...the belt is on so loose that I can almost take it off with my hand, and no squeal...at all...the belt is moving, but holy crap it's loose...Is this normal for a HO alt???

I guess if it works, I won't tighten it much more and call it good...

Weird

--edit--

Saw that I didn't hook up the little 4 prong dongle thing to my car, so when I hook that up something is freaking squealing...Disconnected it, and no squeal...now I'm really confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif Anyone with any ideas? Does that 4 prong dongle thing really need to be hooked up?? (I'm sure it does)

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Back to step one...will try to find a belt around here, hopefully then sell them on base or something. Going to try and clean the pulleys with a wire brush.

Should've known it wasn't going to be as easy as just installing it (which wasn't!!! LOL).

 

[mebcop 10+ year member]

I'm guessing when it gets loose enough it's just that its not tight enough to squeel... but it's still slipping

OR

The bearings are squeeling in the alternator and the tighter you get the belt the more the load on the bearings.... Hope not, but maybe

One way to tell is to get it running w/it squeeling and spray conditioner on the belt and see if the noise changes. If it doesn't, then I'd lean towards bearing.

 

[Boomintempo 10+ year member]

Yep, no belts on base...The shops around the villages don't sell jack either...wish I were in the states!

Well anyway, really hope it isn't the bearings or whatever. Brand new alternator. The belt on the car looks like it's in great condition. Went out and bought a wire brush to brush off the pulleys, maybe there's a residual of something on 'em.

I've watched the pulley on the alternator, and it does look like it's a hair off it center...just a hair though. Probably isn't anything...can't wait to wait a week for a new belt!

--edit--

No belt dressing around here either(usually sold out)...heard bar soap is good to use too?