Hello all. First timer here. I have a 2000 Accord EX 4 cyl. I have some really squeeky belts. First time I noticed was in the summer when I turn the A/C on, the belt starts squeeling for a little while till I rev up the car, then It goes away. THEN, this winter, I noticed my belt was squeeling even WITHOUT the A/C on, specifically on cold starts (I live in northeastern ohio, and it gets really cold here). It lasts for at least 45 seconds, and goes away while I'm driving, going faster. It sounds like the accessory belt. I had it changed in the fall before last.Tension on the belt seems fine. Had that checked. I even get a quick squeal when i start the car. Any suggestions? I have heard it might be a bad idler pulley with bad bearings? What should I change first? Belt? PLEASE help, I don't want my belts to break and be stranded somewhere out in this cold weather..thanks!!

 

Your engine is setup like my 95 accord. There are two belts and no idler pulley for the two outer belts. The tension for the PS belt adjusted by pivoting the PS pump. The serpentine belt tension is adjusted in the same way by pivoting the alternator.

I think that you need to figure out which belt is making the noise. Get some belt dressing. Have someone start the car and spray the dressing on the grooved side of the PS belt. If the noise remains, then try the serpentine belt.

Once you figure out which belt is making the noise, you can inspect the inside of the noisy belt for cracks. Replace if it looks bad.

Tighten the tension on the belt that is making noise.

 

I checked BOTH belts, and upon inspection, they look fine. Still can't isolate why the belts are squealing, if indeed it is the belts. What else could it be? It is hard to nail down because it is intermittent, and seems to happen a lot while i am driving the vehicle, not in an idle position. So, any other ideas?

 

Belts get hard & slippery with age & heat; that makes em sqeal too. Even if they look OK. You replaced one last year? Which one? Maybe the other one's noisy now?

You CAN run the engine with both external belts removed. If the noise is still there, then you'll know it's something else. Maybe idler pulleys for the timing belt (inside the plastic covers).

 

If it turns out to be the idler pulley's for the timing belt, will I have to take off the timing belt and retime it?

 

When are you due for a timing belt change? How many miles are on your car?

If you are going to replace the idler pulleys, then you should replace the timing belt.

 

I had the timing belt changed when my water pump went bad about a year and a half ago. I have 182,000 miles on the vehicle.

 

If it comes down to those idler pulleys, I would reuse the belts.

I think that you may be getting ahead of yourself and need to verify the problem.

I would spray belt dressing from the parts store on each belt when you hear the noise to see if the noise immediately goes away.

 

That's fine, but, the problem is, it usually only happens once I am on the road and driving.

 

Then I would tighten the tension on the serpentine belt. That seemed to be the one that would squeal on my car.