Greetings from a newbie to this forum. I just bought a '98 EX from a neighbor. In the last couple weeks since I got it, it has developed a squeak in what I believe is the balancer belt.

The squeak seems to be coming fromthe wider belt that's lower in the engine bay, which I think is thebalancer. It'sbelow a thinner belt that runs my power steering pump, which I think is the drive belt. Is this correct?

I'm looking at replacing one or both of these, but I'm just trying to make sure the timing belt and balancer belt aren't the same thing. The timing belt was replaced at 105,000 miles, and I can't figure why that one would be making a noise already. I also don't think it's coming from a pump, because belt dressing seems to take care of the problem for 24 hours or so.

Thanks in advance!

Brian

 

Any belts not covered with plastic are drive belts. The timing belts are sealed away to prevent debris getting in. The belts may be loose and/or need to be replaced. The Haynes manual recommends a belt deflection (how far you can push the belt) of 1/4" for a belt span of ~7" between pulleys and 1/2" for belt spans of ~13" between pulleys. From you're description it sounds like its the A/C compressor belt or the alternator belt. Good luck!

 

Thanks Finch... you're right on. It's the A/C-Alternator belt. I'm going off the Honda factory shop manual and it's not indexed, so the only place the belts are discussed are in the section for the actual component they run... which is why I was having trouble figuring out what I was dealing with.

The factory manual doesn't mention a replacement procedure that I can find... just an adjustment procedure. Should I be able to replace it by simply taking the tension off, removing the belt, then replacing and re-tightening?

Thanks again.