The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I have a bit of a problem to solve. My car has P/S and A/C. Around 2200 RPM the belts start squeeling. I've tightened them as much as practicle to no avail. My thoughts are that the belts are just to long to keep up with the pulleys. I'd like to avoid going to a serpintine system or spending a bunch of money for a after market compressor and bracket system.

Has anyone had this problem before??????

Thanks,

Jon

Jono wrote:I've tightened them as much as practicle to no avail.

What does that mean?

Does it mean the belts are now so tight you can hardly deflect them? That would mean it is unlikely the belts are slipping and it could be a bearing that has gone.

Or does it mean you have moved the adjustment as far as it will mechanically go but the belts are still loose?

If so then you have the wrong belts and you need to find something shorter.

Try reving the engine as you look at the belts and see what is happening. The AC pump isn't sized or anything is it?

I should be more precise. The belts can be twisted 90 degrees. The mechanical stops have not been reached. I had this problem prior to rebuilding the engine and it still persits. The belts are new.......neither to long nor to short.

I think the belts can't spin as fast as the pulleys..........

however, I will crank it up and take another look.

You can't have them tight enough then.

Forget twisting them. Tighten them until you can only deflect them vertically by a half inch at most. Use a wooden lever to push out the pump or alternator as you tighten the adjustment.

However there is a slight warning with this. Get them tight enough to stop squealing but no more. Overtighten them and you can wear the front bearings in the pump and alternator.

Dave;

I really appreciate your time.............Something you said has got me thinking. I tend to leave things in the back of my mind for a while.......they tend to forment.......It's that or the large quantities of English Brown Ale.

I've gone through three sets of belts. In addition to the engine rebuild, the power steering pump and water pump have been replaced. The A/C was repaired. The only "original" piece of equipment hooked to the belt system is the alternator.

My squeeling is around 2000 - 2200 RPM. I keep thinking of that speed being resonant to something..........

I've never checked the alternator. Could it be the bearings?

I'll check.

YES!

If the bearing on the front of the alt goes it can have a squeek.

To rule out the belts slipping paint a mark on the belt in line with a mark on a pulley and see it they still line up after running the engine.

Dave;

I wanted to report back in. I took your advice and marked the pulleys and belts. The a/c - alternator pulley is slipping horribly. I briefly looked at a serprntine system..........I'll wait a while do to the price. I'm going to look at brackets and pulley alignment. Well......................I was hoping for an easy solution.

Jon

If it is tight enough it should not slip. The pump belts in particular have to be VERY tight.

You have to ask yourself this;

"If other people do not have this problem why is mine so different?"

Is the pump difficult to turn for some reason?
Are the belts correct?
Are they tight enough?
Are they a good fit in the pulley groove?
Any oil or grease in the pulley groove?

There has to be a problem or they would not slip.

Loosen off the alternator adjustment bolts until the alt just moves by hand. Stick a long lump of wood or a hammer handle down between the water pump and the alt. Push on the top of the wood so it forces the alt out and tighten it up. You will get much more leverage this way and it will be a lot tighter.