Serpentine Belt

[tclelland]

Does a squeaky serpentine drivebelt indicate it's time for a replacement? The Haynes manual makes it look like an easy job and I am unsure if it was ever replaced. A friend of mine recommended "belt dressing" as an alternate to replacing. It does not look cracked or dried out.

Where to buy and any additional help is as always.....appreciated.

[TraceZ]

Does a squeaky serpentine drivebelt indicate it's time for a replacement? The Haynes manual makes it look like an easy job and I am unsure if it was ever replaced. A friend of mine recommended "belt dressing" as an alternate to replacing. It does not look cracked or dried out.

Where to buy and any additional help is as always.....appreciated.

Belt dressing sucks.

Try replacing the belt. If it still squeeks you have an extra good belt. look at the idler pulley and other accessories for the source of the noise.

[shadyphi]

Does a squeaky serpentine drivebelt indicate it's time for a replacement? The Haynes manual makes it look like an easy job and I am unsure if it was ever replaced. A friend of mine recommended "belt dressing" as an alternate to replacing. It does not look cracked or dried out.

Where to buy and any additional help is as always.....appreciated.

I had a squeeky belt about 1 month ago. I tried the belt dressing stuff, and it worked for 2 days, and then the squeek came back.

Next I replaced a belt with help from a buddy... ( did that in like 2 minutes ).... and the squeek is gone! Since you and I both have a 97 ... and the squeeks occured around the same time... sounds like you need a new one.

If you replace the belt, and still have a squeek, the belt tensioner may be going bad.... I'll bet 5 bucks though your belt is just due for replacing.
Autozone has em for around 10 bucks I think.

[Rob B (shoebox)]

Don't ever bother with belt dressing.

Go to Autozone and get a Goodyear Gatorback belt.

[BadWS6]

Did the Gatorback belt on my 97 about a 5 min job and the squeek is gone

[Joe 1320]

never use belt dressing on a serpentine belt. It was intended for the older V style arrangement. One other note, mine used to squeal on every WOT gear change ever since new. The dealer couldn't figure it out either. A new belt didn't even solve the problem. Evidently my automatic was changing gears so quick that the belt had a hard time slowing the accessories on a shift. The only thing that worked was an underdrive pulley set with it's dedicated belt. The accessories were slowed to begin with and the belt had an easier time. Just threw that out there just in case.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

A belt change is easy, and I'm not that experienced in car maintenance. Your first time it should take you no longer than 30 minutes....and that includes getting the tools and the car on ramps. The instructions are on your radiator cover and the tensioner uses a spring. You just put your socket on the tensioner rotate it away and pull the belt off. At about $15 for a belt, the dressing wouldn't be worth it, even if it did work.

[Injuneer]

While you are under the front end of the car to change the belt, look at the harmonic balancer/crank pulley. I've seen a few posts over the last 6 months or so of people experiencing failure of the rubber ring that holds the inner and outer parts of the damper together. The rubber dries out and starts to crack. It isn't likely to happen, but its worth taking a look. While the belt is off the crank pulley, grab the edge of the pulley and see if it wobbles at all.

I'm alos starting to see posts regarding worn out idler pullies.

The earliest 4th Gens are now approaching 13 years old. Age will be taking its toll on some of these parts.

[Joe 1320]

I'm alos starting to see posts regarding worn out idler pullies.

The earliest 4th Gens are now approaching 13 years old. Age will be taking its toll on some of these parts.

As a matter of fact, just replaced my tensioner and pulley about 300 miles ago. It was starting to squawk.

[raroZ28]

The belt is very easy to change. I didn't even use ramps. I just used a 12mm or 14mm ratchet. I can't remember which it is. Put it on the tensioner pulley under the car, turn it to loosen the belt, take the belt off, put the new one on just as easy. Takes about 2 minutes start to finish.

[tclelland]

Thanks guys! Squeak gone. Gatorback from Autozone for $17.00 and ten minutes later I'm back in play. Game on!!!!