Squeaky belt saga

Post Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:52 pm

So, I'm on my third set of belts, and the Aux belt is still squeaking away when it gets started up, or when I'm downshifting to second hard, or even just all the time when its raining.

It's tensioned right, although the tensioner (manual version) is a bit tired towards the end of the teeth.

Any ideas on how to silence this mofo?

Post Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:56 pm

Does the polished area on any of the pulleys go right to the bottom of the 'V'? A 'V' belt must not run at the bottom of the groove.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:11 pm

Nope they're all flush or above the V groove of the pulleys.

It's worse when I start the car, and after a few revs it goes away. Seems to only creep back in slow 1st gear starts, harsh drops down to second when I don't rev match, and when it's raining or humid.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:29 pm

I had the same thing with a power steering belt and it was because some ham fisted mechanic had knackered the toothed bracket for tensioning the power steering pump. I ended up having a friend lever the pump with a jack handle to get it tight whilst I tightened up the nut.

After that the squeak went away.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:02 pm

Hmm the teeth on mine seem quite worn too. Ok will try this, cheers.

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:15 pm

Funnily enough, I had to perform the same operation on my brother's GF's Peugeot 206 yesterday. Those trolley jack handles do come in useful!

Post Mon Sep 16, 2013 1:25 pm

Rtaylor2208 wrote:I had the same thing with a power steering belt and it was because some ham fisted mechanic had knackered the toothed bracket for tensioning the power steering pump.

Cheap enough to replace: http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/T ... g_support/

The problem is caused by slackening off the bolt too much, allowing the rack teeth to slide off of the side of the teeth on the nut. The bolt should only be slackened the minimum amount to allow the adjuster to slide.