Have you lot ever heard a squeaky dissonance when starting your car or turning the bike? It'southward annoying and even a bit embarrassing, just the noise is telling yous there's something wrong. A squeaky noise could be a serpentine chugalug noise, so it's time to look under the hood and see what'south going on.

After diagnosing a squeaky serpentine belt, your start question may be how to make the serpentine belt stop squeaking? Well, that'southward what we'll explain today! We will expect at what a serpentine belt is and what it does.

Merely more importantly, nosotros will provide a simple guide on how to diagnose your serpentine belt bleat and provide 4 simple solutions for this outcome. That way, y'all tin savor repose and safe rides again. Without further ado, let's get into the ultimate guide on serpentine belt noise!

What Is a Serpentine Belt and What Is Its Role?

Serpentine Belt
Source: Wikipedia.

The serpentine belt is a continuous flat rubber chugalug that drives a diverseness of components in the engine. Including the alternator, water pump, air pump, ability steering pump, and more.

The within of the serpentine belt features grooves that allow it to stay in place and increase drive friction, while the back of the serpentine belt is nice and smoothen.

Before the serpentine belt was introduced in the 1990s, vehicles required several belts to perform all the individual tasks that the serpentine belt is designed to do on its own.

The serpentine chugalug loops around several devices and an idler caster or belt tensioner allow it to go along in touch with each component and keep the serpentine belt tight.

The master purpose of the serpentine belt is to drive all the auxiliary functions of the vehicle. If yous'd like to know more than almost the serpentine belt, this article answers common questions about it.

In example yous're experiencinglifter tick noise,alternator dissonance,bad wheel bearing sound,differential whine noise,catalytic converter racket,auto clunking noise,automobile clicking noise, or bad automobile ac dissonance we have got that covered too.

Common Causes of Serpentine Belt Squeal and Other Sounds

If your serpentine belt squeal is there whenever you lot get-go your car or turn your wheel, information technology could exist time to requite it a expect. Serpentine belts exercise a very important job equally explained above and they last from l,000 miles to 100,000 miles.

That doesn't mean information technology can't neglect sooner due to other reasons, such every bit improper maintenance or environmental extremes. If the noise is coming from under the hood, it could be a serpentine belt audio, so you lot need to check information technology out.

Before you practise, you lot must sympathize the causes of serpentine belt noise so you understand what you should expect for when you're looking under the hood. Here are some of the most common causes of serpentine belt squeal:

The Serpentine Belt Is Worn Out

If you're dealing with a serpentine belt bleat, it could be because it's worn out or dry. The serpentine belt may stretch in fourth dimension, which means it volition start to slip and cause a squeaking audio.

The inside of the serpentine belt has grooves or ribs and those can also wear out over time, which impacts friction and tin lead to serpentine belt dissonance. The edges of the serpentine chugalug can also wear out or become damaged, thus leading to noise.

Most auto parts go bad over fourth dimension because they have a finite lifespan. So, the older your car is, the more than probable the serpentine chugalug noise is caused by normal wear and tear. Here'southward a short video guide on how to cheque for wear!

As a rule of pollex, car owners are encouraged to supplant the serpentine belt after 75,000 miles. If your serpentine belt is past due and it's worn or broken as a upshot, the serpentine belt fix would be to replace information technology.

The Serpentine Belt Is Dry

Alternatively, the serpentine belt squeal can be acquired by dryness. The belt is in abiding friction, so the temperature can make it dry and cause cracks that lead to noise. To brand sure, pop the hood and see if the belt has cracks.

If it does, information technology means the serpentine belt will snap at any moment, so it needs to be replaced. At that point, there isn't much yous tin can do about information technology, but dryness can exist prevented with proper maintenance.

The Serpentine Chugalug Pulley Is Worn or Misaligned

The serpentine belt itself is not the only matter that tin cause a serpentine belt to squeal. Sometimes, the issue is with the caster system that features the caster grooves that concord and motion the chugalug.

Like well-nigh car parts, the caster tensioner may wear out over time, leading to a chirping audio. If that's the noise you hear, it could mean the pulley grooves are worn out.

Alternatively, the pulley can be misaligned. If the serpentine belt is croaky, the pulley won't be as tight, which can lead the belt to slip or snap and lead to squealing.

It'south not hard for mechanics to set up a misaligned caster but it can also be replaced. If you desire to check for serpentine belt pulley misalignment, this video may assist, but we recommend y'all get your car checked by a mechanic.

The Serpentine Belt Wasn't Installed Properly

A serpentine belt installation could exist ane of the easiest things for mechanics to practise. Nevertheless, the serpentine belt is a loftier-tension device, so installation requires precision. Professional person mechanics are very good at what they do, but sometimes they tin make mistakes.

If you've recently replaced your serpentine chugalug and you're dealing with a serpentine belt squeal audio, it could mean that information technology wasn't installed properly.

Luckily, it's very easy to make up one's mind if that'south the cause for your serpentine belt squeal. The serpentine belt fix, in this instance, would be to become back to your mechanic so they can check it again.

The Idler Pulley Is Non Tight Enough

The idler caster is responsible for driving the belt system of your vehicle. It regulates the belts that are connected to the crankshaft, and so it allows you lot to move a agglomeration of things in the engine, such every bit the alternator, Air conditioning compressor, and more.

This part needs to be strong and tight enough to hold the serpentine belt at the correct tension. If the tension is non right, the chugalug will slip and cause the serpentine belt squeal that's been bothering you.

If you think this might be the problem, have your auto to the mechanic and inquire them to bank check the idler pulley. If the serpentine belt has slipped, they volition be able to tighten the idler pulley and gear up the effect. To give you an idea, here'southward how to adjust an idler pulley.

The Serpentine Chugalug Is Exposed to Coolant

Engine coolant or antifreeze is mixed with water and it helps the engine regulate farthermost temperatures, and so it's very important. As the weather changes and the temperature fluctuates, the engine volition exist pumped with coolant and so information technology reaches an even temperature.

However, the coolant tin can cause impairment to the serpentine belt if even a little of it comes in contact with it or the drive chugalug. If there's a leak, the coolant volition drip or blow out of the engine fan, leading to a serpentine chugalug squeal.

The serpentine belt fix for this event is not to wash the coolant off. Why? Because once it comes in contact with the serpentine belt, the impairment is immediate. The only solution here would be to replace the serpentine chugalug entirely.

The Serpentine Belt Tin can Be Afflicted By Weather Conditions

The weather can have a huge effect on the lifespan of the serpentine belt. Cold temperatures can make it brittle, and then it can impairment more than hands. So, if yous hear a serpentine belt squeal when the conditions is cold but it reduces every bit the engine warms up, at that place isn't a big event.

Withal, you should get the serpentine chugalug checked past a mechanic just to be sure at that place'due south zilch wrong. Specially if the squealing sound persists even afterward the engine is all warmed upward.

Moisture tin can also lead to a serpentine belt noise, so the early on morn dew or heavy fog tin make your serpentine belt squeal. If this is the cause of the serpentine chugalug sound y'all're experiencing, it won't be permanent. It will go away, but if information technology doesn't, make sure to check for damage or other issues.

How to Diagnose a Serpentine Chugalug Squeal

As explored above, a serpentine belt racket can exist caused by many different problems. If the dissonance is temporary and it merely happens when you start the engine, accelerate or turn the wheel, it could hateful the serpentine belt is worn, damaged, or loose.

If the noise is continuous, it could mean the pulley or tensioner system is damaged. To be certain about what'due south causing the squeaky serpentine belt, you need to check nether the hood and brand a diagnosis.

You can definitely make a diagnosis at home following this guide we'll provide today. However, if yous're not a professional mechanic, you want to make sure you go to i and become their professional opinion. The diagnostic will requite you an idea, just y'all accept to be sure before you lot do anything.

Before you become started, make certain you don't vesture jewelry that can go tangled, wearable appropriate wearing apparel and continue in listen they might become stained or muddied, and wear rubber goggles.

Diagnosing a Serpentine Belt Squeal

Check the Serpentine Chugalug for Vesture

The first thing you want to exercise is popular the hood of your car while the engine is off and check your serpentine belt for vesture. Make a thorough visual and physical check to see if there are cracks in the safe, which happens with age equally the condom becomes thinner.

You also desire to await at the edges of the serpentine belt for signs of wear. If you lot find them, it could mean the belt is misaligned or the pulley is going bad. Look inside the serpentine belt for damaged rubber and check the thickness likewise. Retrieve, worn belts are thinner.

It's also important that you check to see if whatever areas of the serpentine chugalug are shiny or wet. If you find this, it ways the serpentine belt has been contaminated with coolant or other chemicals.

Overall, if you lot notice that the chugalug is damaged or worn in whatever fashion, see if it can be repaired or replaced entirely. If you demand a visual guide, this video tin help yous cheque the serpentine belt for wear.

Bank check the Tensioner

The next affair you desire to cheque is the tensioner and accommodate it if necessary. Your serpentine belt must have the right tension. Otherwise, it will become loose and lead to the serpentine belt squeal that has been bothering you.

The rule of thumb is that if you can button the serpentine belt more than than half an inch between the pulleys, you demand to tighten it. If you lot can have the serpentine belt and twist it more than halfway over, and then it's way too loose and you need to adjust immediately.

Now, tensioners tin can be transmission, hydraulic, or spring-loaded. If your tensioner features an aligning bolt, you will be able to tighten the chugalug very easily. Make sure you bank check the owner'southward manual of your vehicle to run into how you can tighten the tensioner safely.

To help you lot further, here'due south a video guide on how to bank check and accommodate the tension of your serpentine chugalug.

If you find that y'all can't tighten the serpentine chugalug or becomes loose very quickly, it could mean you need to supersede the tensioner and the belt.

Check the Serpentine Chugalug and Pulley Alignment

Caster and serpentine chugalug alignment work in tandem. If the pulley is aligned, the serpentine chugalug will exist aligned as well. If the grooves of the serpentine chugalug are not aligned, it will pb to a serpentine chugalug squeal and it can also crusade damage to the chugalug and other components.

This is why misalignment is always linked to excessive serpentine belt wear or damage. So, it's important to cheque the alignment of these components. To do that, y'all demand a opposite belt, laser alignment tool, or straight edge.

The pulleys should exist parallel vertically and horizontally. If they're not, they're misaligned, which tin can be caused past a super tight chugalug or attachments that are loose or improperly installed.

One of the easiest means to check for misalignment is to remove your serpentine belt, flip it 180 degrees, and put it back on. Then, start your car and listen for the serpentine belt bleat.

If it'south temporarily gone or significantly improves, it ways the pulleys are not aligned. If the squeal stays the aforementioned, then misalignment is not the consequence. Here's a video guide on how you lot can employ a laser alignment tool to make a diagnosis.

Do the Water Test

After you inspect everything, you should practise the water test on your serpentine belt to make certain it'southward worn or loose. To exercise this examination, turn on your engine, go it to low idle, and pop the hood.

Then, take a spray canteen with water and eject a bit on the ribbed side of the serpentine chugalug, simply ahead of the caster. Wearable protective goggles for this and keep your mouth close because some of the water may exist spat back at you.

Afterwards you spray, mind attentively. If your serpentine belt is not worn or damaged, the noise won't modify. Even so, if the serpentine belt squeal increases, it ways it's worn, loose, or both.

If the serpentine belt squeal quiets down for a moment before returning to normal, it could mean there's misalignment. Information technology also ways the serpentine belt or caster is worn out.

At present, if the serpentine chugalug squeal stays exactly the same after spraying the water, it means that the serpentine chugalug is not the issue. In that example, the effect could exist the motor or auxiliary pump.

The water test only takes v minutes and it will help you confirm whatever conclusions you made later the visual and physical inspection!

How to Stop Serpentine Belt Squeal

Now that you understand what causes a serpentine chugalug bleat, it's fourth dimension to explore the temporary and permanent solutions available!

Employ a Belt Dressing Spray

Belt dressing sprays will temporarily quiet your serpentine chugalug squeal. Yous just accept to spray the ribbed side of the serpentine belt and it will better friction. The WD-40 Spray is very recommended. When you utilize it, make sure you protect your eyes and peel because these sprays tin can irritate.

Belt Dressing Spray

Here'due south a curt video guide on how to spray your serpentine belt safely and effectively.

Keep in mind this is a short-term solution; it will buy you some time, but take your machine to the mechanic as soon as yous tin.

Use Bar Soap

If your serpentine chugalug is muddied or contaminated past grease or oil, using a bar of lather can aid. The dirt or contaminants will cause information technology to slip, which is why it could be squealing.

Simply rub the bar soap on the ribbed side of the serpentine belt and it may reduce the dissonance temporarily. However, you need to find what's making the serpentine belt and pulley dirty in the offset place to deal with the source.

Align or Tighten the Serpentine Chugalug

Every bit previously discussed, a loose or a misaligned belt will cause that annoying serpentine belt bleat. So, check the alignment and tautness to make the necessary adjustments.

If done well, y'all won't hear the noise again. If y'all're non sure how to practice this, take your automobile to a mechanic so they tin do it for you. Proceed in listen that if the belt or pulley is worn or damaged they may go loose or misaligned very speedily, which ways they need to exist replaced.

Replace the Serpentine Chugalug

Replacing your serpentine chugalug is oft the best solution. If it has go damaged or worn because it'south very onetime and it'due south no longer in proficient shape, it makes more than sense to replace information technology.

However, if the serpentine chugalug is not too quondam, you can repair the worn or damaged components. This volition save you lot coin, just make sure you go to a professional person mechanic.

Decision

The serpentine chugalug is one of the most important components of your vehicle. If it starts to bleat or make any noise, information technology'due south important to check it out immediately or take it to a mechanic so they can diagnose information technology.

There are ways to reduce a serpentine belt bleat in the short term that won't price you lot much money. However, you lot should have your serpentine chugalug checked out by a professional person as presently as you can.

If you have the skills to repair or replace the serpentine chugalug yourself, become for it! Just brand sure you get the right replacement and install it properly. If you don't have the skills, hire someone to do information technology and brand sure they have experience.

Frequently Asked Questions Near Serpentine Belt Noise

Q: Why does your car belt bleat when it rains?

A: If your serpentine chugalug squeals when it rains information technology's because it might exist getting wet. Water from your tires tin splash on the belt and cause it to slip, leading to a squealing sound.

The racket should disappear once the serpentine belt gets dry. Still, if the dissonance continues, there could be some other issue causing the serpentine chugalug to squeal. Make a diagnosis and accept advisable activeness to solve the issue!

Q: How to fix a squeaky belt with soap?

A: As mentioned earlier, you lot can use bar lather to temporarily reduce a serpentine belt squeal. This is a short-term solution and all you have to do is rub the bar soap on the ribbed side of the serpentine chugalug. Information technology's not recommended that you do this for long, so make sure you find a permanent solution.

Q: Is it safe to bulldoze with a squealing belt?

A: It's safe to drive with a squealing serpentine belt for a few days or a few weeks at about. Nonetheless, it'south not 100% prophylactic to drive around with a faulty or damaged component. The sooner you get it checked and fixed or replaced, the amend.