Posts Tagged: belt noise
How to Find the Cause of Serpentine Belt Noise
The Most Common Causes of Belt Noise Quick Summary If you’re hearing belt noise, don’t assume the serpentine belt is bad. In my experience, the most common causes are a weak automatic belt tensioner, pulley misalignment, worn pulley bearings, or a belt that’s worn even though it looks perfectly good. The key to a permanent squeaky belt noise fix is diagnosing the entire belt drive system—not simply replacing the belt or trying to spray a belt to stop noise. In this guide, I’ll show you the same diagnostic process I’ve … Read More
Serpentine Belt squeals – Ford
Serpentine Belt squeals – Ford Serpentine Belt squeals on 1999 Ford Taurus with the 3.0L overhead valve engine, belt dressing doesn’t help. Belt dressing sprays a sticky layer of goop onto the belt and that stops the belt slip, but it’s only a temporary fix. It never corrects the underlying problem. Worse yet, the sticky spray picks up road grit and literally grinds up the pulleys, making the problem even worse. Start by replacing the belt. If it still slips, the problem can only be caused by a component that’s … Read More
Why You Should Never Use Belt Dressing to Stop Belt Noise
Why Belt Dressing Makes Belt Noise Worse Quick Summary If you’re hearing belt noise and thinking about reaching for a can of belt dressing, stop. Modern vehicles use EPDM serpentine belts that are designed to run dry. Belt dressing was created decades ago for older neoprene V-belts and is no longer recommended by belt manufacturers or automakers. In fact, belt dressing can damage modern belts, attract dirt, increase belt wear, contaminate pulleys, and hide the real cause of belt squeal. • Belt dressing is an outdated product designed for older … Read More