Alternator Belt Squeaking

[TVR MAN]

For the last 500 or so miles my alternator belt has been squeaking when the car is started from cold. It's not a ridiculously noisy screeching noise but just a fairly quiet but irritating squeak. The noise goes away after the car heats up.

It already feels very tight to me but I've never looked at anything like this before. Is it possible that the belt is too tight? Seems unlikely that it has become too tight over time?

If not is it worth tightening it or should I just replace it? Is it an easy job?

[Gizmo!]

They perish after a while. I must get around to doing mine actually.

[piefacemate]

Think it's located behind the PAS pump so you'd Might as well do both.

Tightening is easy, would just try this first of all.

[gd49]

TVR MAN said:

For the last 500 or so miles my alternator belt has been squeaking when the car is started from cold. It's not a ridiculously noisy screeching noise but just a fairly quiet but irritating squeak. The noise goes away after the car heats up.

It already feels very tight to me but I've never looked at anything like this before. Is it possible that the belt is too tight? Seems unlikely that it has become too tight over time?

If not is it worth tightening it or should I just replace it? Is it an easy job?

How old is the belt? Mine was still on the original belt when I bought the car, so was 7 years old. It started off doing the same thing, squeaking when cold and then stopping, but the length of time it squeaked for slowly increased. Then one day it didn't stop squeaking, until it snapped...

[TVR MAN]

gd49 said:

It started off doing the same thing, squeaking when cold and then stopping, but the length of time it squeaked for slowly increased. Then one day it didn't stop squeaking, until it snapped...

Like the trailer for a horror film.


I imagine it's still on the original although it looks in good condition.

I have my MOT on Thursday so I don't want to fk about with it until that's over while it still works at least! I'll get it changed after though.

Thanks for the advice

[83AndyJ]

I'm (well my car is) suffering the same problem, has been for a couple of weeks.

How did you get on doing yours?
Any problems I should be aware of?

[Pete Franklin]

Its not a difficult job- as said above do both- the only way to stop it squeeking perminantly is to replace it.

I always like to keep a spair alternator belt in the car as it also powers the water pump and having had it snap on me before i dont like the idea of being left stranded (or have the engine overheat)

[TVR MAN]

83AndyJ said:

I'm (well my car is) suffering the same problem, has been for a couple of weeks.

How did you get on doing yours?
Any problems I should be aware of?

I would recommend doing it yourself if you feel comfortable doing basic jobs. Previously I had only changed spark plugs and leads, basic stuff like that and I managed so I'm sure you would too.

Only difficulty for me was getting the actual alternator to move to loosen the belt. There is a bolt round the back and at the bottom of the alternator that needs to be loosened that isn't particularly easy to access but mine seemed to just turn with out tightening/loosening. In the end I just hammered the alternator round and then hammered it back again!