'99 Maxima Belt Squeak

[glemon]

I have a 99 Maxima SE witha 5 speed, a few months ago I took it in to a quickie shop for an oil change and they said it needed a new serpentine belt. I figured I could do it myself so I passed on their offer to replace it.

I got a Gates belt at the local chain auto parts shop, put it on, it squeaks for just a very few seconds at start up, I have tightened it quite a bit.

I have more experience with old British cars and on them if you tighten the belt to much you will ruin the bearings on your water pump and or generator in a hurry.

So my question is should I live with a momentary squesk on start up, or tighten up the belt some more and risk premature bearing wear?

I have tightened it to the point were I am getting pretty good resistance from turing the adjusting lug, and ther is very little flex in the line.

[maxhopper]

You need to loosen the 12mm nut on the side of the tensioner pulley before turning the adjusting lug, then tighten the nut on the pulley. The belt should have approximately 1/4 inch of deflection.

[glemon]

Thanks, I did figure out about the nut on the pulley, I have also tried some belt dressing, but can't remember if I tried that before or not, I assume the 1/4 inch of deflection is on the bottom where the lnger run is.

That is tighter than on the old brit-mobiles I work on that I think or more like 3/4" of an inch or so. Thanks, Greg

[maxhopper]

...I assume the 1/4 inch of deflection is on the bottom where the lnger run is.

That is correct sir.