Why does my alternator belt screech?
Worn/Cracked Serpentine Belt – Serpentine belts have grooves which fit into grooves in the pulleys. Over time, the friction wears down these grooves, resulting in a loose fit. A worn belt can, therefore, begin to slip, which is one of the causes the squeal. Alternatively, cracks can cause the belt to snap.
Can you drive with a squeaky alternator belt?
It’s recommended to have a squealing belt immediately replaced after spotting the symptoms and signs. Although you may be free to drive with a squealing belt, the issue will be worsening over time.
What can I spray on squeaky belt?
Spray just enough WD-40 onto the belt to lightly cover the area where the squeal occurs. Short, sharp blasts work best to ensure the belt is not saturated. Oversaturating the belt will result in severe slipping, which can permanently damage the belt.
Why is my belt squealing when I accelerate?
A squealing noise, often heard at engine startup, sudden acceleration, air conditioning turn-on, or during a U-turn is typically caused by belt slippage due to improper tension and/or a badly glazed belt. Serpentine belt systems typically employ a spring loaded belt tensioning pulley and sometimes these can go soft.
Is a squeaky belt a problem?
Your engine belts make a screech or squeal noise usually because the rubber belt is slipping on the metal pulley and just like your tires spinning on the road, this causes noise. The belt may be slipping due to improper tension or because it simply has gotten old and the surface has become glazed, cracked or brittle.
What is the screeching sound when I start my car?
What Makes Your Vehicle Squeal when Starting. Most of the time, the squealing is do to something called a serpentine belt. When you open your hood, it’s the incredibly long belt that winds around multiple pulleys. It connects the crankshaft to other systems like the alternator, power steering, AC, and water pump.
Can you spray wd40 on alternator belt?
Everyone has to start somewhere and spraying WD-40 on the serpentine belt is an “old trick”, it’s just not a good one. You’ll have to clean the WD-40 off the belt. Brake cleaner and a rag will do the trick. Keep an eye on the belt; if it keeps slipping or you start seeing cracking it’ll need replacing.