Can You Over Tighten A Fan Belt?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you over tighten a fan belt?

An over-tightened belt can burn out any bearing that the belt rotates on

, including alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, idler pulleys, etc. An over-tightened timing belt can ruin any pulley bearing it is connected with.

What will happen if fan belt is over tight?

If the belt is too tight, it will cause

excessive side loads and overheat the bearings

. This in turn causes noise, decreased output and even the seizing of the alternator. If the belt is too loose, it will cause the alternator to slip. This slipping can cause the alternator and the battery to work harder.

How tight should a fan belt be?

How do you know when a fan belt is tight enough?

Will a fan belt squeal if too tight?


A belt that is either too loose or too tight will often slip against the pulleys, causing the squeal

. While the motor is running, pour water over the squealing belt. It the noise stops, it tells you the belt needs tightening.

Can a loose belt cause rough idle?

So if you have searched for answers to the question, can a bad serpentine belt cause rough idle? The answer is

yes

.

Why is my brand new belt squealing?


Belt or pulley misalignment

is a common issue that causes changed serpentine belts to still squealing. Misalignment means that the grooves on your belt are not aligned with the ones on your pulley. It also tells that you shift the belt a bit in or out in one of the pulleys.

Why is my belt squealing when I accelerate?

A squealing noise, often heard at engine startup, sudden acceleration, air conditioning turn-on, or during a U-turn is typically caused by

belt slippage due to improper tension and/or a badly glazed belt

. Serpentine belt systems typically employ a spring loaded belt tensioning pulley and sometimes these can go soft.

Why does my fan belt squeal when I start my car?

Common Serpentine Belt Problems


Worn/Cracked Serpentine Belt

– Serpentine belts have grooves which fit into grooves in the pulleys. Over time, the friction wears down these grooves, resulting in a loose fit. A worn belt can, therefore, begin to slip, which is one of the causes the squeal.

What noise does a loose fan belt make?

A loose drive belt will often be

noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal

. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose.

Will loose belt cause overheating?


A belt can slip and run hot if there is not enough tension

. A loose belt may come off of its pulleys in the worst-case scenario. If your belt is loose, you may have other mechanical problems such as under-performing water pump, which can cause the engine to overheating. Avoid performance losses.

What does a loose alternator belt sound like?


Squealing Noise when cold

If you have a high pitch noise when you start the car for a few seconds, it is definitely time to check the alternator belt. You can also experience a constant high pitch noise if the belt is always loose.

How do I stop my fan belt from squealing?

How do I know if my pulley is squeaking or belt?

Can I put WD 40 on a squeaky belt?

If your alternator belt squeaks, or your power steering belt starts slipping, the noise can be infuriating. With this specially formulated spray from WD-40 Company,

squealing belts are no problem at all

. Just spray a little WD-40 Specialist Automotive Belt Dressing with the engine running.

Can you drive with a loose belt?

A loose drive belt can compromise your vehicle’s ability to power accessories like power steering, air conditioning or your alternator, or could possibly even cause internal damage to the motor.

Why is my car squealing while idling?

Usually a squealing noise coming from the engine compartment during idle is an indication of a

loose or worn out belt or pulley

. However, it can also be a transmission issue if it’s low on transmission fluid or there is a blockage inside the transmission lines.

When I start my car I hear a loud screeching noise?

What Makes Your Vehicle Squeal when Starting. Most of the time,

the squealing is do to something called a serpentine belt

. When you open your hood, it’s the incredibly long belt that winds around multiple pulleys. It connects the crankshaft to other systems like the alternator, power steering, AC, and water pump.

Why is my car making a high-pitched squealing noise?

You hear a high-pitched squeal when accelerating: If you notice a loud squeal when accelerating, especially if your car is just warming up, it could be that you have a

loose or worn fan belt

. Usually if your fan belts are worn, it could mean your timing belt needs replaced as well.

Can a loose belt cause alternator not to charge?

A:

Not necessarily

. The next step is to verify that the drive belt that turns the alternator is properly tensioned. A belt that is “too tight” or “too loose” will cause charging issues that, in turn, will cause the problems your customer describes.

Can a tight serpentine belt cause overheating?

Bad Serpentine Belts Cause Vehicle Performance Issues


The vehicle may frequently overheat

. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly.

What happens when car belt is loose?

If your alternator belt gets too loose as you’re driving,

it may cause your engine to stall

. This means that you’re engine essentially shuts down and you’ll be forced to pull over onto the side of the road. Obviously, you wouldn’t want this happening on a busy street or rush hour traffic on the highway.

Can a bad belt tensioner cause overheating?

A seized or loose drive belt tensioner can cause the belt to snap, which will disables those accessories and

can cause problems such as overheating

, a dead electrical system and battery, or a disabled AC system.

Can I spray wd40 on my fan belt?

How long will a squealing belt last?

The good news is a serpentine belt can last

up to 50,000 miles or five years

, with proper maintenance, before it needs replacing. Heat and friction of normal use slowly wear down the belt before it breaks.

Why is my car squeaking when I go over bumps?

Your Car is Squeaking when Going Over Bumps

The steering and suspension parts that connect your wheels to your car contain several rubber bushings, as well as ball and socket joints.

Worn bushings or joints

can cause a squeak when going over bumps.

Is it safe to drive with a squealing belt?

How do I get my V belt to stop squeaking?

Will a loose serpentine belt squeal?

How tight should alternator V belt?

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.