Squeaking belts

[Ilya]

Hey folks,

I have a little issue I can't seem to track down.

I installed new engine belts on saturday and the first time I started the car the belts went bananas. My father and I ended up spraying belt lube and it's been quiet, however every now and then while driving, it'll randomly start squealing like a pig.

- this was not happening before the new belts
- I did take apart the adjuster pulley's and they seemed to be okay/in working condition

Any ideas?

[EniGmA1987]

I dont know for sure, but I have heard others say you have to be VERY careful when disconnecting the belts with the adjuster pulley. If you turn the bolt the wrong way it will no longer work right and make proper tension. So you probably messed something up there...

[Ilya]

I haven't had a chance to look, but are the adjuster pulleys expensive? Lol.

[LouCast]

Make sure the belts don't have to much slack or play in them, I know you get nervous about putting to much tension on them but don't worry about it you can put some tension on them. I had the same problem on mine when I put in my new belts, they would squeal every now and then. I adjust the tension on the tensioner, as stated in the DIY, loosen the tensioner bolt then adjust the height of the tensioner, but I did it from the top of the motor looking down so you can feel how much tension is on the belt.

[Ilya]

Make sure the belts don't have to much slack or play in them, I know you get nervous about putting to much tension on them but don't worry about it you can put some tension on them. I had the same problem on mine when I put in my new belts, they would squeal every now and then. I adjust the tension on the tensioner, as stated in the DIY, loosen the tensioner bolt then adjust the height of the tensioner, but I did it from the top of the motor looking down so you can feel how much tension is on the belt.

I was thinking they might be slightly loose too. I'm the one who wrote the DIY lol. I do everything from the bottom because I have a lift and easy access, but top works too.

[cruzad3r]

is it the power steering or the a/c belt? either way, if it's squeal while revving/driving the car it's basically the tensioner is too loose.



see the two idler pulley, you can adjust the tension there

[Ilya]

Yeah I know how to adjust the tension. Sounds like I just need to do it a smidge more. I'm thinking it's the alt/ps belt.

[cruzad3r]

do you know how to check for deflection? check the manual for the range

[Ilya]

I know what the check is, but didn't have the manual handy so we just eye balled it. Evidently, our eye balls are off lol.

[Larz]

I have a question for you lot. I'm at 90,000 miles now and every time I have the dealer check the belts and hoses, they tell me all is good. I bough my car with 60k miles and have no concrete evidence either has been replaced - ever. The belts and hoses have visible part numbers and appear to be Infiniti brand products. My question is this: How many miles / years is the interval for replacing belts and hoses? Is it just a visual inspection for weakness or wear? My belts and hoses are not subjected to huge temp changes as in the north, but they do run in sweltering heat all year.

[Ilya]

I would change then. They are part of the 60k maintenance kit that Sewell Infiniti sells. I did mine at 53k and now I'm at 127k. Also, my accessory belt shredded (one row of the belt ripped off so I was down to 1/3 it's width, or whatever), so I needed to change them ASAP.

[ezb57e]

Belts can last an amazingly long time on many modern cars, including Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The bottom line is they need to be inspected frequently, especially after they have some miles on them.
3 or more cracks per inch is an industry standard for "time to go".
As far as the OP's problem, he took the adjusters apart, and there is a flat washer that should be on the back of the pulley that can get put under the center nut by accident, and the back of the pulley then scrapes the bracket, causing bad sounds.
Maybe

[Ilya]

Belts can last an amazingly long time on many modern cars, including Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The bottom line is they need to be inspected frequently, especially after they have some miles on them.
3 or more cracks per inch is an industry standard for "time to go".
As far as the OP's problem, he took the adjusters apart, and there is a flat washer that should be on the back of the pulley that can get put under the center nut by accident, and the back of the pulley then scrapes the bracket, causing bad sounds.
Maybe

I know the washer you're referring too. Pretty sure I put it together just right. You can tell where stuff goes based on the 'mating surfaces', etc.

[Larz]

Thanks Ilya. It's such an inexpensive thing to do compared to other maintenance that I guess even if the belts get changed early it's better having them fail. As for the hoses, I squeeze mine pretty often to check for crackling or rigidity and they seem to be soft and flexible enough.

[The00Dustin]

Thanks Ilya. It's such an inexpensive thing to do compared to other maintenance that I guess even if the belts get changed early it's better having them fail. As for the hoses, I squeeze mine pretty often to check for crackling or rigidity and they seem to be soft and flexible enough.

When my 06 M45 was still going to the dealer, they said the belts were cracked and worn and replaced them. I'm thinking if you feel comfortable inspecting the hoses yourself, you should feel comfortable visibly inspecting the belt yourself. Why? Because if either of those things failed, you'd have the exact same big problem (no coolant flowing into the engine leading to an overheat). The belts have other functions, but, for instance, you can steer without power steering, and you can live without A/C (while neither of those things is pleasant or easy).

[The00Dustin]

I haven't had a chance to look, but are the adjuster pulleys expensive? Lol.

I don't know how much they are, but I believe there is another thread where someone actually had a third party replace the bearings instead of the entire pulley, and that required "turning the bolt the wrong way." While I'd still be afraid to, I will also point out that this only applied to the 06-07 M45, the 06-07 M35 did not have an auto-tensioner, so this warning wasn't present in the belt change FSM for them.

[cruzad3r]

unless the puller screech while you spin it, then there is nothing wrong with it. if the belt is squealing and you already maxed out your tension, than you need to change your belt.

[Ilya]

unless the puller screech while you spin it, then there is nothing wrong with it. if the belt is squealing and you already maxed out your tension, than you need to change your belt.

By hand, they don't screech. My guess is the belt is loose. It hasn't made any noise the last 2 days, so maybe it's broken in?

Belts are brand new and the right ones.

[ezb57e]

Nissan factory belts are made in a way that they will shrink a tiny bit and tighten when subjected to abnormal temperatures such as those encountered when a belt slips. There is a limit to this effect.
Sometimes when you hear squealing, if you shut off the engine and touch the belts and pulleys, one will be noticeably hotter that the others. That's the one that is slipping.
Pulleys have much more load on them in operation than when just spun by hand.
Still, if they are dead silent and smooth, they will probably not make noise in use either.

[Ilya]

I tightened the belt today. So far so good. Will keep ya'll posted. I only did the main big one (AC/PS), because it seems that when it starts to wail and I turn off the AC it gets better (doesn't stop wailing) but will eventually go away.