My girlfriends Lancer ES squeals when you start up the car. She purchased the car and it has about 60k miles on the car. I was told that the belts had been replaced but I'm not sure how to check to make sure the belts are on too tight, or are on tight enough. Any suggestions?

Fox

 

definitely sounds like belts... is it a high pitch squeal? does it squeal whenever the car is on, or just when you start it?

check the belts to see if they are shining at all, it's hard to find the perfect spot for tension, but push on the belts... if they feel loose then they probably are. if you can grab the belt and move it around on the pulleys or even come close to yanking it off a pulley it's DEFINITELY too loose.

 

Go to the auto store and get belt dressing and spray the belt down.

 

Feel the belts and see how much play there is. You'll most likely find one belt that is loose. Just tighten it up so it feels like the other ones.

 

don't waste money on belt dressing. when installed and tensioned properly belts should not squeal at all.

 

Thanks guys. I'll take a look at it later today and see what I can do. Hopefully I can fix this myself. My girl has been on my case about it.

Fox

 

yeah i had this problem when i did my belts. didn't tighten the alternator belt enough (you really have to think about how the tensioning system works on the alternator side)

 

umm...

Belts! lol

 

I looked at her car today and was trying to figure out how to add tension to the belts. Seems like the person that put the belts on didn't tighten them very well. There is a good deal of play in the alternator belt.

So how do I tighten them?

Fox

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=233304





sorry for the crappy pictures. that's the alternator belt tensioner, torque on the bolt that sticks out of the bracket there and you should be good to go. might be reverse threaded though, i can't remember... so don't do it too fast so you don't release all tension if it is.

 

I know this might be dumb advice. But what octane gas do you use? Try to run some super. I had a squealing problem in my BMW because I put some cheap gas in it. Ran some super from the Mobil station and it was gone after a few miles. Please don't flame.

 

I won't flame you.. But gas has nothing to do w/ belt squealing in a lancer.

Just make sure you adjust that tensioner w/ the proper wrench and it should solve your problems.

 

I'm pretty sure it's the belts. I have checked on my Lancer and they were very taught and on her's they were loose as crap. I just want to make sure I'm tightening the right bolt... also does anyone know the size bolt it is... none of my sockets fit it.

Fox

 

12mm or 14mm, I would think. Can't really tell from pics.

You have to loosen the one whose head you can see in the lower pic, just a turn or so. Then tighten the long one until the belt is properly tight. Finally, tighten the bolt you loosened in the first step to lock the tensioner in place.

 

Exactly like those bolts that I showed you. For the alternator go to the bolt on the rear part of the engine bay on the passenger side. There's that long bolt that sticks between those 2 things... well tighten that with a (i think) 14mm wrench or wratchet.