Causes and Solutions for Squeaking Alternator Belts After Replacement

In front of your car, there are multiple pulleys. These pulleys are belt-driven components that are kept in working order by the alternator belt's (also known as drive belt) mechanical force.

Squeaky noise is produced when these pulleys or your drive belt fail. It can be very annoying and embarrassing to hear a screeching or whirring noise in front of your vehicle, whether the belt noise goes away when the car is warm.

A damaged alternator belt is the most common cause of this squealing noise. If the alternator belt squeals after replacement, it's even more unpleasant. Schedule an appointment with a car mechanic by searching online for car repairs near me to fully diagnose the issue and complete the necessary repairs to resolve the problem.

We'll look at the causes of squeaking drive belts after replacement in this post, as well as how to identify and solve the problem.

What Makes an Alternator Belt Squeal After It Has Been Replaced?

There are a few reasons why your alternator belt continues to whirl or whine even after it has been replaced. Let's have a look at the causes without further ado:

Faulty Hydraulic Belt Tensioner - In some cars, the drive belt is tensioned by a hydraulic belt tensioner. A small shock absorber, similar to a spring-loaded tensioner, controls this type of drive belt tensioner. When this tensioner fails, the vehicle belt squeals when turning; most of the time, the noise occurs while the engine is idle. Rattling noises or leaks on the tensioner and the belt are signs of a failed or defective Hydraulic belt tensioner. This component may break at any time. However, most persist longer than others. If you hear noise after changing your alternator belt, you should have a mechanic examine your hydraulic belt tensioner by searching for repair garage near me online and making an appointment.

Spring-loaded Tensioner Failing or Bad - It functions with the help of a strong spring, as the name suggests. While the engine is running, the spring assists it in automatically adjusting the drive belt. If the spring breaks, the tensioner will bounce back and forth. When this happens, either your drive belt starts slipping at random intervals or your vehicle begins to screech. In today's cars, this belt tensioner is common.

Faulty Tensioner Bearing or Idler Pulley - When you remove your fan belt, you may see that some rollers are not retaining anything. Tensioner bearings or idler pulleys are the names for these rollers. These are most commonly observed in cars that only have one large belt. Inside these bearings is a small bearing that guarantees proper spinning. A screeching or whirring noise will be produced if the little bearing fails. Because several belt-driven pulleys produce the same noise when they go bad, it's difficult to pinpoint where the noise is coming from. To simply determine if the idler pulley is causing the new alternator belt to squeak on startup, obtain a stethoscope and evaluate the source of the squealing noise. Alternator bearing failure, steering pump failure, AC compressor bearing failure, and water pump failure all produce similar noise. If a thorough examination reveals that the noise is coming from your idler pulley, schedule an appointment with a skilled technician by searching online for car garages near me.

Misalignment of the Drive Belt or Pulleys - As you may know, your car has multiple pulleys that are connected by a drive belt. The majority of your car's components are belt-driven. The alternator belt linking the alternator to the engine pulley, for example, allows the alternator to turn in tandem with other belt-driven components in your car. Misalignment of the belt or pulley is a common cause of screaming drive belts that have been replaced. The grooves on your belt are not aligned with the ones on your pulley, which is known as misalignment. It also indicates that you have moved the belt slightly in or out of one of the pulleys.

Bad Belt - Because the drive belt's principal purpose is to convey power from your engine pulley to other belt-driven components, a whirring or squealing noise is produced if your belt breaks or you replace it with a low-quality belt that lacks the strength to carry all of the pulleys along. If you hear a screeching noise after replacing your alternator belt, it's likely that the replacement belt is too tight, too loose, or that one of the causes listed is present.

What Is the Best Way to Repair a Squeaky Alternator Belt?

If you've made it this far, you're interested in learning how to diagnose and remedy belt squeals. As a result, I'll walk you through how to figure out where the squeaky noise is coming from and how to correct it step by step. You'll be able to tell if the noise is coming from a bad bearing, a bad tensioner, a bad belt, or a misaligned pulley.

Before you begin, pay close attention to your engine fan. If you're not careful, it can rip your fingers off. In some vehicles, the fan starts spinning as soon as you start the engine, while in others, it does not. In any case, stay away from this device. Because certain cars' belt tensioners require a unique tool to pull, you'll need a proper tools box nearby.

Step 1: While your engine is shut off, analyse the reason of the squeaking. Depressor raises the fan belt to determine whether it is too loose or too tight. If your belt is worn out, the pulley may be unable to provide sufficient pressure to the belt, resulting in a squeak.

Step 2: while your engine is running and screeching, spray it with WD40 and see if the noise goes away. Ensure that this fluid is sprayed into the pulley grooves. If the noise persists, you may have a faulty pulley or tensioner. If it comes to a halt, you've got a bad belt or pulley misalignment.

Step 3: Check to see if the pulleys and belt tensioner are running straight. Examine the pulleys one by one to check how they are rolling. To examine the down pulleys, you may need a work light.

Step 4: While your engine is idle, examine the drive belt to see if it is going straight or side by side.

Step 5: If you still can't figure out where the noise is coming from after following the previous procedures, turn off your engine and remove the belt. Depending on the type of car you're working on, you'll require high-quality mechanical tools. Look to see whether the belt has any markings. A belt with few markings is not necessarily a bad belt. However, if there are a lot of markings, it means the belt is worn out and must be replaced.

Step 6: Hold the pulleys firmly in place and play them back and forth to identify any defective pulleys. Some pulleys will always play slightly, whether they are in good condition or not. For example, the power steering pump pulley will always play whether it is in good condition or not. When it goes bad, however, you'll be able to tell by how it plays. Replace or repair whatever is creating the squealing noise.