Trying to identify the source of a squeeling drive belt
 

in my 99 accord lx...

I am not sure if it's the alternator belt or the PS belt. I suspect the former because i have tightened the PS belt pretty good.

here are the symptoms:

I hear a quick squeak when i first turn the car on and when accelerating.
I am more likely to hear it if i open the throttle quickly than gradually.

but even w/ my head right next to the belts i can't figure out which one it is...

i'm going to go in there and tighten the alt belt anyway but i was just curious to hear what you guys thought.

thanks :)

Well, there's only 2 belts, so if not PS, it must be the Alt/AC belt. Sometimes old belts will slip even when tight. Also, make sure you don't have a dragging bearing on AC compressor.

good luck

yeah - sounds reasonable. i did however forget to mention that the belts are new...

If it's a 4-cyl, the car will run just fine with either belt removed. Waterpump is driven from the timing belt. Battery will be OK during diagnosis.

The alternator & AC compressor have more momentum, so they are more likely to squeak on sudden revving.

Or...
You can spray some water on each belt separately. I'll make the sound change, so you might be able to tell which belt is doing it.

Awesome - thanks Jim that was the question i was getting to... that's great to know for future projects. as it turns out it was the alternator.

Obviously w/ only 2 possible sources and with 1 ruled-out after there was only one possible source but i was still curious as to why the alt belt would be more likely to squeak - thanks for clearing tht up.

Thanks guys

The outermost belt only drives the PS pump, which of itself doesn't act like much of a 'flywheel'.

The inner belt drives the alternator & AC compressor. The whole armature of the alternator is a big chunk that has a lot more momentum. You said you're more likely to hear it when you SUDDENLY rev it. That was my basis for thinking it's the alternator belt.

yep - and clearly you were correct - noise is gone :-)
thanks again!