belt Slipping?

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:47 am

Hi all -

In the recent damp and cold weather, i have developed a problem... When the car is started i get the dreaded screeching belt noise for a while until the car has warmed up, at which point it stops.

Any idea which belt this is more likely to be, and how i can either adjust the tension on it, or how much it will be to replace...

Regards,
Tom

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:14 am

Alternator belt. Might be a slot on one side of the alternator to tension it? Maybe?

Mark

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:45 pm

My car is doing exactly the same, does it happen when you start it regardless of if the fansd are on or off.
The reason being is cuz someone said to me it's more than likely the fan belt which is the most common one that make the screeching noise.
Let me know if you have any joy finding out or if you find out out of this discussion.
Cheers

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 1:51 pm

ye it does it regardless... but only in the cold or wet. when its warm i have no trouble... ie when i wake up on saturday afternoon and drive down to the newsagents for some brekky

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 2:23 pm

The fan belt is actually a 'fan belt' in that it doesn't drive the fan, it drives the alternator, as well as sometimes water pump and perhaps other stuff. Fans are usually electric motor driven these days.

Mark

**Joined:** Fri Dec 31, 2004 5:22 pm **Posts:** 135

I had this prob a few weeks ago, the noise got worse when I put the lights on. To see if it is the fan belt I was told to pour a small amount of water over the belt while it is screeching, if it stops the belt is probably worn out. They can be tightened with the adjuster bolt but it isn't that easy to reach.
My local garage said that you can get cheeper belts (£5-£7)but they can sometimes screech if they are not a perfect fit, they recommended genuine mazda belts so I took my car back to the mazda garage where I got it and they replaced the fan belt and the power steering belt under warranty, should have been about £50 for parts and labour.
I hope this helps.

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 3:04 pm

It must be that belt cuz like mark t said it's for a few other things so that explains why if I turn my sterio on mute it also stops thats when i'm driving and taking off from lights when the engine is not fully warm.
Thakns mark didn't realise the belt has a number of jobs.

(learn something new everyday as they say)

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 3:18 pm

My 'fan belt' went in my Fiat Panda years ago - I thought "oh, well, the battery wont be charging, I'll sort it out when I get home" and then noticed the water temp soaring rapidly. That's when it dawned on me that the 'fan belt' drives the water pump as well!!

Mark

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 3:19 pm

[quote="JAJC82"]I had this prob a few weeks ago, the noise got worse when I put the lights on. [/quote]

When you put the lights on, there's a greater demand for power from the alternator, so it's more likely to slip ...

And the water pump is usually THE most important function of the "Fan" belt, althought on the 323, I think it also drives the oil pump, which is also pretty critical !

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:03 pm

mmm this sounds a bit dodgy... it doesnt affect the noise if i turn the lights on i dont think but i will check... I might get it looked at when i get my exhaust fitted.

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 7:43 pm

I had same problem with mine last month.A tip from a mechanic i know, was that the fan belt is slipping and a quick spray from a can of WD40 onto the belt should work

and it did the trick :lol:

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:21 pm

It may not be this, but just a thought the power steering can also screech.

**Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:41 pm

It may well be cause by the belt becoming "hard" with age and the noise is cause by the action of the belt moving in and out of the V in the pulleys. The noise is worse when cold because the belt is harder then, as it warms up the rubber softens. Could be caused by the PAS or the Water Pump/Alternator belts. When the belt is noise spray a bit of WD40 on to the inside face of each belt in turn and see which one stops it, it won't stop the noise permanenlty but you'll know which belt to replace. I'd change them both anyway though

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:37 pm

So when my mrs keeps screeching and screaming which belt needs replacing there? LOL
Or is that a common fault LOL

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:48 pm

[quote="asifestoril"]So when my mrs keeps screeching and screaming which belt needs replacing there? LOL
Or is that a common fault LOL[/quote]

I'm afraid thats a non-optional standard feature, mate .....

:cry:

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 2:13 pm

[quote="asifestoril"]So when my mrs keeps screeching and screaming which belt needs replacing there? LOL
Or is that a common fault LOL[/quote]

Just spray her with WD40......LOL..... :lol:

**Joined:** Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:40 pm **Posts:** 187

Just spray her with WD40......LOL.....

:lol:

:twisted:

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:09 pm

I may be mistaken, but I suspect a quick spray of WD40 will only make her squeal louder ...

:roll:

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:20 pm

Depends where you spray it :twisted:

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:18 pm

I would have thought that spraying the belt with oil would make it slip worse (quietly!)...

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:08 pm

I generally find that mine stops screeching if I spray her with money. WD40 makes her smell funny....

**Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:26 pm

So does spraying her with.. oops wrong forum again :roll:

Rude Mark

**Posted:** Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:37 pm

Belt screaching stopped now just had the belt tightened slightly and it's completely stopped this is since last Thursday so will let you guys know if it stays quiet or if the belt snaps cuz it's too tight lol fingers crossed it should be ok I don't wanna tempt fate.

**Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:30 pm

lofl! @ spray her with WD40! i have the same problem in the cold. it annoys the hell out of me tho i didnt think of it to be somethin serious.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 10:08 am

asif - did you see where the tensioner was and how far the guy tightened it?

Or even better - did you do it yourself?

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:02 pm

Didn't do it myself but seen him do it it somewhere near where the actual belt is.
Can't explain exactly cuz didn't see properly just seen his hand go around that region so your best to ask someone a bit experienced.

Still going well though not a squeek out of it now.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:14 pm

Can i be cheeky and ask how much it cost?

:lol:

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:01 pm

Nothing

I was having an oil change and getting a knocking noise looked at and he just did it for me.

Just tell a mechanic that you know to have a look or ask what it could be and they usually just take over and do it for you if you ask too many questions about the problem.
Well thats in my experience or maybe he's just a kind mechanic :?:

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:33 pm

cool - fair enough....

Mental note.... need to find a kind mechanic.

**Posted:** Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:38 pm

Do you not just have one mechanic you always go to?

Or do you do most things yourself?

Me I can't do shit and just dont trust myself so I need a regular mechanic.

Actually this forum is like a mechanic itself probably better at times.
Thank god for this forum!

Oh and Craig and who ever else sorry don't know whoelse is involved.

belt Slipping?

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