Why does my belt squeak like crazy when it's cold out? Does it every morning. It's getting really old. I've got it as tight as I could get it and it still does it. Belt was new back in June, has about 6,000 miles on it. Is it time to change it already? I really don't know what how long the life of a V belt is. One of the girls that rides with me to school says it's trying to whistle us a song.
jamie the belt is probably glazed because of slipping on the pullys this normally caused by the alternator having to work harder to recover the amperage lost during cranking or if you have a sound system taking a lot of amps out of the battery also ck the belt to see where it rides in the pulley it may be too low or high try to rough sand the "v"
Never heard of belt dressing. I'll have to go down to Auto Zone and see about that. Earl, the belt was new in June. Has about 6,000 miles on it. I put it on when I put the engine back in. I have both a sound system and a couple of mornings I've had to do a good bit of cranking. This engine hates the cold. I don't see why it would have slipped in the first place since it's as tight as I could get it and that's mighty tight. I have a alternator and water pump pulley off the 360 that used to be in my truck that can take 2 belts. The crank already has a place for a 2nd belt on the 250. I think I'm going to try to swap the pulleys and run 2 belts through the winter. It dosen't squeak all the time, just when I take off from a red light or under heavy excelleration. LOL Scott. I don't think it's attracting anyone. It's just annoying and my goofy friends have to come up with a funny explination for everything.
Jamie, that's the elaborate deer warning system that was installed by the previous down in middle GA. It works. You haven't hit a deer, have you?
Maybe you have it 2 tight? It'll also wear out bearings in water pump/alternator, etc And running 2 belts? Thats not what those pulleys are for. They are so you can align stuff up better etc... Or one for alt/crank and one for crank/power steering, etc
Nope, haven't hit one yet. I've seen several though on the side of the road. One night back in August I was takeing my cousin back to NC and we were going up 372 towards Ball Ground and it was about 2 AM and pitch black out. I saw something in the road a ways up so I started slowing down. Someone had done hit a Deer and it was half way in my lane and I had to swerve around it real fast. Soon as I got around it there is another HUGE deer dead right smack in the middle of the road and I had to swerve back into my lane and off into the grass some to miss it. 372 is just a tiny little old timey 2 lane road and there isn't much room to avoid things like that. It was pretty scary. That Maverick has a ton of body roll in a panic situation. I don't think I can get the belt tight enough with my hand to hurt the bearings. And I if I could I don't think it would be slipping. On my truck thats exactly what the 2 belts were for. It had a third belt for the power steering. Can't see it hurting anything to put it on the Maverick.
I don't see the point in having 2 belts, but do as you wish. I don't think it was factory to run to belts to an accessory however. Just they were there so you can move the belts if necessary. The belt will squel if its over tight also. That's why I suggested that. With the belt as tight as you can get it, can you push the belt down alot? also a tip: Use a flatblade screwdriver, put it on the alternator fan and use it to pry it as tight as you can and have someone tighten up the bolts.
well... the belt is like 9.99 max?.... best choice would be to not try and fix it... but get a new belt... see if the squeaking continues... too tight... too loose.... these can all count for a squeaking belt... how many belts are you using... might not be the alt belt
Yep it was factory to do that, at least on trucks and bigger Ford cars. My grandpa's '78 Bronco is the same way and so is an old '71 LTD he has in his field. Anyways yea, I'll go ahead and put a new belt on. If that don't solve it I'm swapping pulleys. There is only one belt on it. Runs the Alternator and Water Pump. I like my cars simple. I don't care if Ford thought it only needed one belt or not. If it keeps squeaking, it needs 2. And besides, its like always haveing a back up if one breaks. If it had power steering I would have done $#!t canned it. These cars don't need it and you get used to parking lots and stuff after a while with manual steering. I appreciate it.
My first suggestion is the belt dressing that was mentioned earlier. Growing up on the farm, we used belt dressing all the time. I always have a can around, just used some on the lawn mower deck belts not that long ago, lol. Anyway, another thing to consider, what brand belt did you get? I have found that not all belts are created equal, and some are prone to squealing more that others. If you do replace the belt, make sure and ask the auto parts dude for a premium, heavy duty belt, not just a "regular" one. Some brands actually make two series, regular duty and heavy duty (I think "Gates" brand does that). Anyway, make sure your getting a really good belt and that alone might cure the problem. Art
Jamie, you must be at school, lol. I'm in the office killing some time on break before I have to go work on the computers out back in the factory. Anyway, sounds like you do have a decent belt, NAPA stuff is usually good quality. You could try another brand, Gates has always been a good belt company. However, first get yourself a spray can of belt dressing, it works pretty good, and any auto parts store carries it. Art
