Suzuki swift squeal
Discussion
Daughters 06 Swift starts and runs fine but most days when you first start it there’s a terrible squeal from under the bonnet, it only lasts for a few seconds, sometimes it’s immediately after you start it, sometimes you can be 50 yards up the road and it does it. If you stop and rev the engine it makes no difference to the squeal and it just stops and then it’s fine.
At first I thought it was the alternator belt but now I’m not sure!
At first I thought it was the alternator belt but now I’m not sure!
It will be the alternator belt most likely. Could also be the a/c drive gelt but less likely.
Pretty easy to change but the alternator belt has a very short run across the water pump pulley so needs to be tighter than you might think.
There isn’t a threaded adjuster so if you are diying you’ll need a good lever to move the alternator while you tighten back down.
I know all this after having a trial with the mrs swift. First garage failed miserably in not tensioning the belt correctly and the second needed s couple of goes to get right.
Pretty easy to change but the alternator belt has a very short run across the water pump pulley so needs to be tighter than you might think.
There isn’t a threaded adjuster so if you are diying you’ll need a good lever to move the alternator while you tighten back down.
I know all this after having a trial with the mrs swift. First garage failed miserably in not tensioning the belt correctly and the second needed s couple of goes to get right.
I wouldn't personally recommend using wd 40 for that as the chemicals in wd40 COULD POSSIBLY deteriorate the belt prematurely & then it could fail sooner.
The way to do it is with a garden type hand sprayer with water set on jet & spray it as accurately as possible onto just one belt/pulley to identify the culprit.
Either way, now that you identified it the other day, have you adjusted it yet?
I take it not as it came back, so now you need to get back under the bonnet again & do what you could have done then.
The way to do it is with a garden type hand sprayer with water set on jet & spray it as accurately as possible onto just one belt/pulley to identify the culprit.
Either way, now that you identified it the other day, have you adjusted it yet?
I take it not as it came back, so now you need to get back under the bonnet again & do what you could have done then.
Kev880 said:
Did squirt a bit of WD40 on it
Oil rots rubber - it may already be too late for that belt, but make sure you don't do it again. Oil will also encourage the belt to slip since it is a friction reducer. If the belt tension is too low then you need to fix that. If the tension is about right then an application of belt dressing spray may be enough to cure the problem. A cheap alternative to belt dressing spray is to rub a bar of soap along the friction side of the belt (while the engine is stopped, obviously). Both of these form a slightly tacky layer which helps the belt grip its pulley.
Kev880 said:
Well the belt was apparently ok so it was tightened a tad and we shall see!
Be aware that modern "Poly V" type belts can appear to be perfectly serviceable from the outside, but the inner ribs can wear to the point that they don't grip the grooves in the pulley. If it starts squealing soon after being re-tensioned, then a new belt is likely the answer, though they are not very expensive.Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff