Updated at: 22-11-2021 - By: Lucas

A serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt that powers a variety of engine components. The alternator, power steering pump, and water pump are all included. Aside from that, this belt is critical to an engine’s overall performance. As a result, you may be concerned if it squeals during startup. What may be the reason behind this?

What should I do if my new serpentine belt begins to screech at startup? Your serpentine belt squeals if the tensioner pulley that works it out is either deteriorating or has broken. ‘ This pulley is susceptible to wear and tear. As a result, the belt is able to move a little more freely. Squealing may typically be silenced by repairing or replacing the pulley.

Your serpentine belt is not likely to be the source of a screeching noise. The screeching sound in most cases is caused by a worn-out belt. The tensioner pulley may be the culprit if you just replaced it recently.

As you read this post, you’ll learn more about this serpentine belt problem and how to fix it. This will give you an idea of what to do if something like this happens to you in your automobile.

Let’s get started right away!

Where is the Squealing Noise Coming from?

If the tensioner pulley is worn out, even a new serpentine belt can make a squealing sound. In other words, even though the belt is new, you cannot be sure that your automobile will quit screeching.

It is common for the serpentine belt to make a screeching noise when the vehicle is starting up or accelerating. To put it another way, at these times, your engine is putting a lot of strain on your alternator.

A worn-out belt and tensioner pulley might shriek under such a heavy strain. You may still hear that squealing noise even if you have replaced your belt and installed a new one. This is because the pulley may still be worn out.

It has already been explained that this type of noise is caused by a relative sliding between the belts and pulleys, and as the rpm increases, this noise will become more noticeable.

How Do I Stop My New Serpentine Belt From Squeaking?

Find out where the squeaking noise is coming from before you do anything else, generally. In most cases, the belt and the pulley are to blame. If it does not attach to the various pulleys, the belt begins to slip and scream. Belt squeals are frequently caused by moisture on the ribbed side of the belt.

If you’re installing a new belt, your first port of call should be the pulley. Squeaking from your new serpentine belt can be prevented by following these steps:

Do a comprehensive investigation.

Start your vehicle by opening the hood. At all times, keep your arms and clothing away from the motor and its parts.

Look around for a spot where you may spray the belt with WD-40 and coat the textured side before it passes through a pulley, with the help of a flashlight.

In order to find the link between the belt movement and the sound, locate it. Using this method, you can pinpoint exactly where the screeching is coming from.

Lubricate the belt.

Spray will fly out in a path if you stand right in front of the belt, so wear goggles and avoid standing directly in front of it.

Apply WD-40 generously to the belt’s scream point to dampen it down. Short, rapid bursts are the best way to keep the belt from being saturated.

Keeping this in mind, apply the lubricant to the belt in the proper amount. The belt will be completely destroyed if the spray is overused. It’s also water-displacing lubricant, so WD-40 will help dry off the belt ribs as well.

When the wetness is removed, the scream normally dies down. Before applying the rubber treatment, commonly known as belt dressing, to the belt, allow the motor to idle for a few seconds.

The ribbed surface of the belt will be cleaned and any leftover contaminants eliminated by this procedure. Do not saturate the belt with WD-40 like you would. Run the engine for a few more seconds to make sure the noise has completely disappeared.

What to do if the squealing noise continues:

If the scream does not stop or returns quickly, the serpentine belt becomes glazed. It is common to see a reflective sheen on the sides of a textured belt after it has been gliding over one or more pulleys for a lengthy period.

A glazed belt will scream if it can no longer grip the pulleys, thus it must be replaced. Take note of the belt’s path before removing it once you’ve determined that it needs to be replaced.

Most cars have a map of the route near the engine or at the bottom of the hood. Before disconnecting the belt, make sure all of the pulleys are spinning. In most cases, the result of a jammed pulley is a glazed belt that indicates an even more serious problem.

Is there anything I can do if my new serpentine belt is squealing when I accelerate?

Even a new serpentine belt can screech when you accelerate because the pulley on which it runs has worn out, as I previously explained.

It sounds like an engine startup when the serpentine belt begins to screech as the engine puts a lot of stress on the alternator, which operates through the belt.

The alternator, cooling system, and power steering pump are all driven by a serpentine belt. The belt squeals when the alternator is under a lot of stress due to acceleration.

Because it is such a large belt, a belt tensioner is simple to remove and replace. Belts that have been used can become loose and scream when the car speeds up. A squealing belt might also be caused by worn or loose alternator pulleys.

A worn serpentine belt is the most typical source of squealing. It is therefore likely that the pulley is at blame if you have a new one.

In order to keep your belt in good condition, you may simply lubricate it with WD-40.

Final Thought

Serpentine belt squeals even if it’s a new replacement, even if it’s brand new. The serpentine belt squeaks because it does a lot of effort, especially when the vehicle is starting up or accelerating.

Check to determine if your pulley needs to be replaced as well as where the screeching noise comes from. You can also use WD-40 or another water-displacing lubricant to quiet the motor if necessary. One thing to keep in mind is that over-lubricating the belt can cause it to break down.