Squealing belt, Battery?

[guysy]

Ive asked before and had one or two answers, But id like to try and solve a niggle on my car, It gets annoying, but isn't a big problem.

My bets are only 10k old, And they have all been changed, They all have good tension, And im sure all the pulleys have been changed too.

But my car squeals in the wet or really cold for a few seconds on full lock etc.

Ive read before a poor battery can cause this? I think maybe the battery/alternator or earth could need seeing too?

The battery is only 3 years old...

This is all if the voltage drop might be the cause of the squeal?

 

[guysy]

Mechanics where are you? in my head im thinking my battery isnt keeping up or my alternator, Or my earth needs cleaning, My belts have good tension so im wondering if it COULD be a voltage drop?

 

[sideways danny]

I'd be doing a battery drop test, and checking the alternator output. Worth checking the PAS pump for wear/play also as you mention the noise is on lock

 

[jenic]

Mine did this up until the PAS pump went, new pas pump and it stopped.

 

[guysy]

Thanks for the replies boys, My car doesnt have a PAS pump though.

Ive read a guide on testing the battery, Im a bit baffed though, think i need another read up, basically what setting does the multimeter need to be on, and can i test with the battery's connections both on?

I think its the voltage drop, got a multimeter, just need to find out how to use the thing correctly.

 

[guysy]

Cleaned the battery earth, The light earth, The alternator positive i think?

Propper clean up of the connections, The earth's themselves where ok but the bolts securing them where rusty, Seems to start better if that's not a placebo effect,

Still have a slight squeal, Thought id cured it, But today on full lock in cold, Got a squeal...

I think its the alternator belt... That's the only one that seems to have a tiny bit of play in it.

I know the aux tensioner is tight to adjust the the alternator looks easier... Can anyone tell me how to tension it a bit more?

 

[guysy]

I f**king hate the cold.. Lights are dimming with squealing ive ruled it down to the alternator belt slipping, How do i tension the alternator belt more please?

 

[keirravn]

it has to be the aux belts or one of the pulleys etc connected to that, iv never heard of a low battery causing squeal but a badly slipping belt could lead to a low battery (but it would likely snap/come off before it was loose enough to do so) you can rule it out by going to kwik fit who do free battery tests.

i dont know for your car specifically, but the following is generally applicable -

loosen any bolts holding the alternator to the engine (at the alternator side of any brackets that may be there) there is usually one big one at the bottom that goes the length of the alternator and one shorter at the top.

once thats done turn the draw bolt (most have this) untill the belt is tight (about in inch of play on the longest section) and regtighten the bolts, start the engine and go full lock to listen for squeals, if there is no draw bolt then follow the above except tighten belt by pulling alternator then keep pulling whilst you tighten top bolt then bottom bolt.

word of warning though - if it is a pulley/power steering pump then tightening the belt will wear it out faster, you can check all the pulleys etc, just follow the above but take the belt right off and spin then wiggle all the pulleys sideways, if there is a dry noise or movement on a sideways wiggle it needs replaced

 

[guysy]

Cheers for reply mate, Yeah battery voltage drop did puzzle me about causing the belt squeal as the lights would dim, When i actually used my brain i realised the belt slipping was causing the alternator to struggle and the lights to dim for that short 10 seconds...

The belt didnt have much tension in it... Looking at my gradads clio without the air con pump it looked a piss easy job and i could see what i needed to do, Got to my car... Fat f**king AC pump in the way ! took the RS grille out, Managed to slacken the alternator nut then had a go at getting good tension couldn't get enough leverage with various tools, finally borrowed a tyre lever bar, got it in place, tensioned and tightened.

Belt seems much more tensioned now... Hopefully fixed !