new belts but squeaking LOUDLY

girard · 07-05-2008, 04:59 AM

all participants to this site, thanks again for your helping on here, this site is the greatest.
My problem is I put new belts on my 92 corolla about 6 months ago, they are in good shape and proper tautness but for some reason when i first put on the air conditioner, THEY SQUEAK LIKE A CHORUS OF STRANGLING CATS, for about 5 minutes then it pretty much stops. I mean this isnt an ordinary squeak, it is LOUD. it is embarrassing; people on the side of the road standing there jump and look around, folks at red lights jump and look over like, 'is that thing going to explode"? I've never heard a squeak anything like this one, not even close.
Ive checked the belts, they appear to be in good condition and seem to have proper tension. I've used that belt spray and it caused it to stop for a couple of days, but then it returned in all it's loud aggravation. I've been told the belts are too loose, and that they are too tight, so I dont know which, if they are too anything at all. thanks, girardo

haul0348 · 07-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Some belts will appear to be in good condition but they will be worn slick on the inner face. That is why the belt conditioner helped for a short time and then went back to squeaking. And then as you said after a few minutes it stops is because the belt has heated up and is more plyable. Check the pulley side of the belt for cracks,dry rot,etc and double check your spec on the adjustment. Usually about a half inch to 3/8ths of slack will help.

girard · 07-05-2008, 01:02 PM

thanks for responding, but i forgot to mention, i dont know if this will make any difference. that particular belt is ribbed or the rubber has about 5 grooves cut in it longways down the belt. see the crank/pulley is cut with grooves in the metal too. i cant see the air compressor pulley that well, but i assume it is grooved too.the only other pulley type wheel on this particular belt is the idler pulley i think they call it and it is smooth I believe. what do you think

girard · 07-05-2008, 01:05 PM

just wanted to say i explained moreabout the wheels and belts. I dont know how this works. i dont know if you get this reply or it is shown in the general area of answers. so in the area of where you post a new thread I put more about the belts and wheelpulleys. thanks, see what you think please, girard

haul0348 · 07-06-2008, 12:09 PM

It is a serpentine belt is the idler pulley spring pull back style or bolt tighten type? And also can you see all the pulleys well enough to tell if they are all aligned good?

caddyman · 07-07-2008, 11:00 PM

Check pulley/idler bearings. I hate that belt goop! It causes more problems than if fixes! Air conditioning belt is probably glazed now, but it was, or is most likely too loose. They need to be pretty tight, not like the "big old cars."

girard · 07-13-2008, 11:23 AM

they appear to be aligned perfectly. my idler tighten pulley is the bolt tighten tignt. it seems to be all the way down (the tighten screw)therefore being at the most tightened, and at that point it feels allright. about 1/2 inch or so.

girard · 07-13-2008, 11:27 AM

you know caddy, I was wondering if it might be the air compressor bearings or idler pulley bearings, but I will say, I've never heard a bearing sound anything like this in 40 years of cars. Also, it never fails, it quits after a few minutes,,,,totally. But then when I park for a few minutes, it will briefly do it again. Not as bad as in the beginning, but loud again for about a minute. I mean it I've NEVER heard anything this loud on a car, unless one has thier headers off on a v-8. I'm serious. thanks, girard

dreck · 07-13-2008, 01:07 PM

It could be a bearing.. they can make some weird noises. Sometimes it is hard to find out where the sound is coming from.

haul0348 · 07-13-2008, 08:02 PM

Has the compressor had any oil added to it? Usually about 2 ounces per season.