squealing belts, my belt is yelling at me. Options

[MaskedMan]

Ok so when I turn my A/C on at idle, it will start to squeal. It will squeal faster and louder when I increase the RPMs. It was fine with my A/C off before, but now it's starting to squeal a little bit even with my A/C off. I already tried tightening my belt, but it didn't seem to help. If I turn my A/C on when I am cruising on the highway or anywhere above 3,000RPMs, It will be fine and quiet until my car drops to idle and then I will hear the squealing again. Thoughts? Questions? Comments?

[LewFX]

replace the belt

[xs94st]

LOL i was about to post about this cept on my power steering!! LOL

[MaskedMan]

replace the belt

ok boss

[FortuneCookie]

Squeeling is caused by loose tension between the belt and the pulley. Either tighten the belt or if the belt it torn, replace it. If your belt is not torn, just tighten the belt tensioner. If the noise proceeds, use belt dressing.

[GotToyota]

My car just started doing this as well, but it does it whether the AC is on or off. So I just need to check the belts and make sure they aren't cracked or anything, if they are, replace them?

Then if the belts aren't the problem, just tighten up the belt tensioner? Where is the belt tensioner located on a 5S?

-Matt

[FortuneCookie]

My car just started doing this as well, but it does it whether the AC is on or off. So I just need to check the belts and make sure they aren't cracked or anything, if they are, replace them?

Then if the belts aren't the problem, just tighten up the belt tensioner? Where is the belt tensioner located on a 5S?

-Matt

Yes, ripped up or cracked up belts are sign of wear. There is less tension between the belt and the pulley, which is why it is squeeling. But if there is no damage, just tighten the tensioner. I'm not sure where the tensioner is on a 5SFE, but it should be just a small bolt where you just use a socket wrench to turn it and it should tighten up the belts. Powersteering has it, alternator has it, and harmonic balancer has it. Look closely. It should be attached to a small cube like figure as well. And you can tell it's adjustable when you turn the screw.

[MaskedMan]

If im not mistaken, the only place to tighten this belt is by turning the bolt on the alternator bracket.

[FortuneCookie]

If im not mistaken, the only place to tighten this belt is by turning the bolt on the alternator bracket.

Honestly, it really depends on which belt you are talking about. The harmonic balancer has TWO belts! The first belt is for the alternator and the pulley and back to the balancer. The second is to the A/C compressor to A tensioner and back to the balancer. And the THIRD belt would have to be your TIMING BELT to your timing belt tensioner to your water pump and back to your Cam Pulley. Look very closely to which belt is loose or just push down on them to see how loose they are. Like I said before, that is how it is on the ST. Not sure about the GT but it's still a Toyota. So look closely since most of the engines in our generation are made like that anyways.

This post has been edited by FortuneCookie: Oct 20, 2007 - 2:51 AM

[Bitter]

if it squeels then replace it, dressing just lets it slip silently or some of them swell and soften the rubber, which can lead to a faster belt breakage.