Squealing serpentine belt

Question

I have a 1997 Dodge caravan.. It has had belt issues for a very long time. Getting a new belt fixes it, but the noise comes back shortly thereafter. Right now, the squeal is so loud it hurts your ears when idling with hood open. And can be heard a block away. I do not have time or money to take to the shop right now. I put belt dressing on it, but the belt flew off the second the dressing hit it. I do not believe it is the belt, but a pulley. It sounds like something is spinning against metal. Making a very loud high pitch squeal. Revving the engine to higher RPM makes no difference, but make the squeal louder.

Answer 1

One of the items that the belt powers is defective and this is causing the squeeling.  For example, if the air conditioner compressor is bad then the belt will slide around the pulley making that horrible noise.  Another possibility is the spring-loaded belt tensioner or idler pulley.  The bearings can go bad and this prevents the wheel from  spinning and again causes the loud squeeling.  New belts wont fix this.  Take the belt off and verify that all of the pulley wheels rotate properly.  Then repair the one that is bad.

Answer 2

U have changed the belt a few times, but don't just keep changing the belt.

Get water pump bearing, alternator bearing and idler bearing checked.

Answer 3

The belt isn't staying tight so your problem is a bad belt tensioner, get it replaced.

Answer 4

do what mister SS says and then go to another dealer or service center, because they obviously don't know what they are doing. Or maybe they just like taking your money.

Good luck!

Answer 5

From what you have said I would have to agree with you that there may be a problem with one of the pulleys. I had a BMW with exactly the same problem, changed the belt three times and in the end I decided to strip out the pulleys.

Using a "V" belt gauge it became obvious that there was a difference in the angle of the "V" section on the bottom pulley.

There was no logical explanation for this but changing the pulley with a scrap yard part sorted the problem.

In future don't waist your time with belt dressing products, they tend to solve a problem for a short time but if the belt is worn it needs to be replaced not dressed.

Ja.

Answer 6

belt dressing is your problem, the pullies are loaded with sh*t  

you need to get a new belt, make certain you have exactly the right belt..sometimes you may get a belt that is just alittle too long..that could also cause you the squealing problems

i would get a new belt, take the old one off, and clean all of the pullies.  then put the belt on.  dont use dressing, or spray anything on your belt.