How To Quiet Squeaky Belts On A Car - Cheap And Easy Fix
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Here is how to quiet squeaky belts on a car. It's cheap and easy to do, and all you need is a bar of soap. If the belts on your car are squeaking, this is how to fix it. In some cases, it isn't the belts making the noise, but the belt tensioner. If that's what is making the noise, you'll need to replace it. If the car's accessory drive belt is causing the loud squeaking when it rubs against the pulleys, putting some soap on the bottom of the belt as well as the sides will stop the belt from squeaking. It doesn't take a lot of soap to get the job done, but make sure you turn the engine over a few times and put soap on the belt each time, so you cover the parts of the belt you can't reach. This cheap and easy squeaky car belt fix has been around for a long time and works pretty well.
If you want to buy specialized belt dressing, here is where to get it:
amzn.to/2W20lGl
My car was at the service 3 times with this issue. I paid around 300GBP to get it fix... no luck...and guess what? Your idea fixed it! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I wish I saw this earlier... ;)
You were robbed
Okay, so for what it's worth, I'mma throw in my two cents. It has been to my experience that if a belt is squealing, either something is misaligned or bearings are bad somewhere along the accessory/ serpentine. If you spray the belt with a little bit of water and the noise quiets. It's most likely an alignment issue. 9 times out of ten, it will be power steering pump because most are only pressed on. The point to the whole thing is that if the belt is out of alignment, or the bearing are bad somewhere, it creates extra resistance and will wear out the other pulley's faster. I let my tension pulley go unchecked for about 1 year. It killed my alternator and my idler pulleys. If there is a squeal, at least take it to a mechanic and pay the 30 dollars to have them look at it and go from there. But don't try and mask it. The annoying noise should be a push to make you want to fix the problem. Any how. peace
I have to agree with you.I know the tensioner is new but that does not mean it's good,the sound I am hearing is a classic misaligned tensioner using soap just masks the issue.
This fix definitely worked in my case. The affected belt is not overly worn but developed the leak immediately upon installation of a new water pump. I re-tensioned that thing several times and it did not fix the problem and to make it even more maddening--it was intermittent. Anyway, tried your method and it worked perfectly. Thank You.
Someone told me to use belt dressing on the belt to get it to stop squeaking. I went to the local auto store bought a can of belt dressing for five dollars and some change. I used it on the belt and the noise only got worse and louder--ugh. I seen your video, did what you showed us and it worked. Thank you.
Mr. Hoohoohoblin is a common sense genius. Squeaky belt corrected..Also the TOOTPASTE to get the HAZE off HEADLAMP covers worked perfectly. Time saved, and at least $40 SAVED on a trip to walmart to get the crap that DOESN'T work, BUT YOUR IDEAS WORKED !!!!
Thank You I am now a subscriber!
And never posted a comment on CZcams before so feel special sir ! :)
You're welcome! I'm happy I could help. I subscribed back.
Hi. Nice videos. Clear, to the point, and without all the dramatic loud music and graphics that other DIY video posters use. There is at least one video posted on You Tube by a serpentine belt manufacturer who advises very strongly against using belt dressings and sprays to quiet noisy belts. I have a vehicle with a GM Vortec 6 cylinder engine with a chirping belt. Thanks!
I hope some people read this post before attempting to quiet the belt noise on your vehicle. This video is very misleading and incorrect in many different ways. I read some of the top comments about different noises and none of them can be fixed with this "solution". If you put any type of "belt dressing" (soap, WD-40, candle wax, oils, etc) on your belt, you will contaminate your belt and pulleys causing dirt to stick in the pulley grooves (causing the metal pulley and belt to both degrade) and ending in more expensive repairs when a component actually fails.
When a belt is making noise it should be removed and inspected for wear (cracks, pilling, glazing, scuffed edges, stretching). Usually a belt will be worn in some way but that is not the reason the belt is making the noise, it's usually the result of another failing part. Bearing failure (bearing has movement or play) in an AC compressor, belt tensioner, idler pulley, alternator, power-steering pump, water pump or in extreme cases the crankshaft pulley damper will cause the belt to be out of alignment with the rest of the pulleys and cause this noise. Also a bearing that has lost its lubrication may not have play but may not turn well with the belt removed.
Another misconception with belts (especially in this video where you are putting a slippery coating on the belt) is that when you put a dressing on the belt to lubricate it you aren't causing any other problems with the system and it's "worth a try" because the belt tension will grip the pulleys. However, friction is really the only thing that keeps the belt turning the pulley. If you take that friction away (which you do when you lubricate the belt with soap) you will lose the ability to turn that pulley. This will cause lack of power created by the alternator, lack of cooling from the AC compressor (cannot pump refrigerant hard enough), or even engine overheating (cannot circulate coolant fast enough). All of these things can happen without noise because the belt simply slips over the pulley instead of turning it.
czcams.com/video/UF3W-vHPYHg/video.html
This video is a good example of how to perform some basic checks when you have a noise just like this one. The belt is removed after checking to see if any of the pulleys are moving laterally to the other pulleys in the system. Once the belt is removed the pulleys are checked for play in the bearings and should be spun to check for rough spots or resistance. When the real problem is found (the belt is not the real problem) you can replace that component and the belt and enjoy a quite ride without having to soap your belts every week.
As for everyone who has been ripped off by a dealer or mechanic that is lacking knowledge or experience I understand you are unwilling to go back and spend hundreds more on repairs that won't actually repair your vehicle. However in most cases taking your vehicle to the dealer it belongs to is the safest bet to get it fixed properly. Most dealers have people who have worked there for long periods of time and have first had experience with common problems that occur on different vehicles in one manufacturer (which does lead to laziness and misdiagnoses at times). Compared to your typical aftermarket garage, a dealer could save you money because they don't need hours to diagnose the concern. In the end though, don't put all your eggs in one basket and trust a single CZcams video on car repairs because you don't know better, and it's probably wrong (especially when you don't see any sort of professional traits from the video uploader (ie. face, car, garage, tools, etc)).
P.S. That whining noise at 2:37-2:39 is a normal noise for a SOHC Focus engine.
elzah1234 Read the part about belt tension and friction, or youtube a more professional video please :)
Thanks so much!!!! I leave for work very early and was worried my new neighbors would start a petition. It worked I am so pumped to leave tomorrow morning!!
Of course the first try should be proper belt dressing. But you are wrong about soap being slippery. It's only slippery when wet. When dry it's tacky. I've been using it on V and ribbed belts for over 60 years with no issue. Still, belt dressing is definitely preferable and there are auto parts stores everywhere. A squeaking belt isn't going to fail quickly (assuming you've ascertained that it's not in the process of shredding) so let it squeak while you drive to the auto parts store. If belt dressing doesn't help, THEN look for a bearing issue.
How long will it last squeaking? I'm in this situation and poor as dirt.
All true except dealer part. Never take your car to dealer for belt noise. Independent garage can fix it much cheaper even if they have to spend a few minutes to determine cause of noise. It's not rocket science.
This trick works 100%. I tried it and the squeak is gone. I had previously bought a belt dressing at Napa, but it only made the squeak louder. If this doesn't work for you then you either have a tension problem( bad Belt tensioner) or a problem with alignment of pulleys.
It's the camera I'm blown away by. Every frame, I can see the make and model of the belt clearly as it spins around!
THIS WORKED for my 1999 ford ranger..My radiator hose busted and antifreeze got on everything..After that my truck sounded terrible with a loud annoying squeal just like the one you played there in your video.I change both upper and lower tension pulleys and nothing changed.so i tried poring water on the pulleys and it would stop while i was pouring water on it but come back again in a few sec.SO i tried your method with the bar soap ,and I will Be Danged if it didn't work..NO MORE SQUEAKY NOISE>GONE > RUNS SMOOTH AND QUIET< so there ya go.. i am a live 65 yr old lady testimonial witness it that it FIXED 100% after my 4th application of a small chunk of bar soap ..Thank you ,you have been a blessing
You’re welcome
I wasted about 200€ on new belts (2 of them) and tensioners (can't remember how the other wheel is called). But the problem resisted. After I watched this video and tried it - like a miracle. Of course, maybe I have to buy the spray, but for now I can still drive my car normally. Really big thank you!
we parked our truck for a week trying to fix the noise. We replaced 2 pulleys & bought a multimeter to check the altenator & nothing worked. $100 later I seen this video. It took 5 minutes to apply & worked the first time..... I wish I watched this video $100 ago. THANK YOU
You're welcome. I hope it stays quiet for a long time.
I'm definitely trying this! This belt is SO irritating at the moment but need that cheap fix. Even better that I can see exactly how it's done on yours, for my 03 Focus! Big thanks for this video.
Thank you so much for this video! It may help that I have a 2002 Focus, but you were very informative. A five minute project and you saved me the headache of going to a garage.
Thanks a million!
This was a big help! My car just came back from the garage yesterday after having been worked on for 2 weeks -.- spent a lot of money getting it all fixed up... only for it to start making this horrible squeaky racket... your tip saved me from going insane.
Cheers!
From England :)
+Bates7430 I'm glad I could help.
Another solution: My car squeaks due to the belts and I used "baby powder" and that fixed it permanently never had the squeaks again. I just poured it on when it was running and when its not, just try to get it on between the metal pulleys and the belt.
I was thinking that too. I was also thinking about replacing the belt too. I believe they sell kits that come with the pulley and the belt. Thanks for the tip man
when you were cutting the soap I got child abuse flashbacks.. lol
thornygravy wat?
If you are old enough you remember the connection between saying bad words and a bar of soap...
LAVA EWWWW i can still taste it
@@DoubleDogDare54 That's not child abuse.
@@cmk5724 I agree.
Dude at work told me to use gasoline on it, i found it a bit sketchy so i looked for help on the internet. You're video was at the very top so i gave it a shot. I was completely amazed how it worked for u so i had to do it ha! It worked n it took me less than 3 mins! Thanks dude
Iggster Salinas You're welcome. I'm glad it worked for you. I wouldn't put anything flammable like gas on the belt. That sounds dangerous.
***** right? & well the noise came back the next day so I'll dig deeper n see whats causing that annoying noise
Top notch! I followed your technique on my Ford Fusion 2.3L and the chirps are now gone.
Just used this to fix my girlfriends car. 2003 nissan sentra. It worked like a charm no issues. Thanks for the info!
thanks to you, my ford fiesta 1.6 RSI was making that same noise , i just watch your video and give it a test to my fan belt and it's stopped making that noise , it worth it thanks a lot .
You’re welcome. I’m glad it worked.
My car is having that squeaking sound right now and it got me scared... So gonna try this method! Thank you!
Katie Durrant You're welcome.
I wish I had seen your video before removing the belt and cleaning it and all the pulleys with soap and water. It still squealed once I put it all back together. Soooo, I grabbed a par of soap and applied it directly to a pulley while engine running (not to worry it's an Xterra so space is plentiful) and rubbed the soap across the pulley til squeal was gone. Thank you bunches!!
I used chain wax. It comes in a spray bottle usually used for ATV's or Dirt Bikes. Not sure if It's bad for the belt or not but it works.
This totally works, thanks mate. I will update later for how long it lasted. 👍
You’re welcome
How long?
This is an awesome video. I don't have bars of soap but will buy one for my mini! I'm glad you did this video. I've tried all kinds of oil spray for the belt & it made it louder. Thank you!!
You're welcome.
This totally worked. I had my belt checked - it is fine - just squeaky and has been DRIVING ME NUTS. THANK YOU!!!
You're welcome.
Omg this worked so good and it made the noise go away instantly...thank you
You're welcome.
while waiting for my booking at the mechanics in a weeks time for the squeeky belt, i rememberd watching this video years ago. grabbed a bar of soap put it on the belt and instant silence lol. .now my mechanic will most likely give me a lecture when I take it in😂
Glad it helped!
I signed in just to 'like' this awesome trick! In less than 3 minutes the noise was gone!
bobthetuber11 Awesome!
I have rebuilt two of them, one for necessity, one to sell for profit. gotta love that spi..... got an SVT and never looked back :)
thank you just had to do my timing belt twice (had to over tighten it) and now all my accessory belts are screaming, thank you im so tired and i just want to be done
This may stop the noise, but temporary. It will be more noiser in future. The best is try to tighten or loosen the belt accordingly and test it again, if you cant get rid of the noise thats mean it is time for a new one. I think it will be much safer and the cost are fair or may be lower from what you expect.
The soap works for that precise moment. After the soap dries it makes a worst square sound after that. And just dirties the things around the engine.
Great video man. I'm gonna try this tomorrow on my Trans Am. The squeaking is so annoying and probably louder than yours. Hopefully this works for me!
Thanks!
You're welcome.
@@hoohoohoblin my only question is how often do we to do this? Im from philippines and i will recommend my friends to watch your video
Many thanks for that. My belt is now so quiet. Cool.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! TOOK ME TWO SECONDS AND I WAS ABOUT TO GO SPEND MY MONEY!!!
i just did it while the belt was spinning
man this is a wonderful tip. my 2000 mercury sable was doing that annoying noise.and when i put a piece of soap in between the belt and two pullies the noise just stop like magic thnx a lot buddy ur a genius man !!!!! lol .. !!!!
You’re welcome. I’m glad it worked.
If you're not sure if your accessory belt is causing the noise, or if it's a tensioner, drip or spray some clear water onto the belt and if the noise stops / goes away, it means it's the belt and not your alternator or other bearings.
Great video, definately better than having it looked at at the shop or spending $
Sorry, false alarm.... I called the mechanic to fix it but it was only my battery dying (coincidentally) at the exact same time. So thanks Mr Hoohoo for the tip because now the noise of my car belt went away! :)
You're welcome. I'm glad you got it running again.
Thank you too! Worked like magic on 2000 Ford Taurus.
Well , I guess I'm trying this "Magic" to my Honda Civic tomorrow :)))
Cheers man !
I know it's been 5 years... but would like an update plz.
Lol
Nearly 10 years ago now, did the soap fix this man's Civic?!
Yeah using belt dressing will work for a quick fix but as I learned today the belt will eventually break and disappear. Lost it today in -16˚C weather. Lost power and got about 1 km down the road and power steering went also. It was too cold and in an inconvenient place to get a nylon on to get me home so the car sits and waits for my return.
great advice. i'm going to try that hat trick as soon as i can... thank you very much.
Aaron Sierra You're welcome.
Done it. I am a woman, and I fixed my squealing fan belt. Well done me. It was annoyingly noisey, not now, its good.
+Allison Kazakevics Great!
How long did the soap treatment work for you? I had a squeaky serpentine belt on my 96 Caravan and the soap trick worked better by far than anything else. Prestone belt treatment spray made it much worse even though it explicitly states OK for serpentine belts! Luckily was able to quiet it down by 1/2 just by applying a small wire brush to the tread side of the belt while it was running and completely eliminated the squeal after using the soap. Hoping it lasts!
I look forward to trying this later today. Hopefully it works
Another thing to I don't know if he said it because I did not watch the entire video but its good if the bar soap has a low in it I have an F 150 and I have WD 40 on my belt which will cause it to squeak sometimes you have to change the entire belt in this situation but the soap works temporarily also try brake fluid with a rag that will get some grease out as well
Holy shit it worked I'm so glad you posted this video you saved me a lot of Time and money. I will be sharing with friends and family thanks again.
Did that turn out to be a permanent fix, over time? Also, do you think candle wax would do the same thing?? Thanks for the video, it worked!
The belt will start to squeal again as soon as it gets wet. Use paraffin wax from a candle on the inside of the belt. Its waterproof, won't degrade belt material and it's permanent.
It works
until it gets in the rain .....nice bubbles
Maarten Yzer candle wax works as well without the bubbles lol
🤣🤣🤣
Youu Aree The MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNN $
It a great tip. I must admit I have done it a time or two. Next you should do the old egg in the rad trick
Yea my bottom pulley locked up on me and I changed it out... back on the road again... appreciate it man...
Great! I'm glad it was an easy fix.
Great trick. How long does this remedy last? I mean does the soap wear off and then eventually you have to soap it again or does it stay good for a while?
Dude. That Bear Grylls knife was boss.
Made my car sequel even more
That might mean your tensioner is too tight.
@@jewelleryrecoveryspecialists belt misalignment and slipping causes squealing on acceleration.
Title should be "How to *temporarily* quiet squeaky belts." This works good if you're on the go though! WD-40 also works.
Eggy Was going to say the same thing about WD-40. Works great.
+Eggy Shouldn't use wd-40! petroleum-based lubricants will breakdown the rubber! (But that being said, it WIll make it temporarily quieter).
Hey thanks for that quick tip, will try it out in the future.
It worked 100% thanks man you saved my life
You’re welcome
i'm going to use surfboard wax, probably the best stuff out there.
Hahah, cool good short tutorial mate. I will soap my starlet life 97 today.
do something to benefit people around the world just like what he did. i would say thank you to him or just be nice and stop negative comments.
I had serpentine belt squeal on my 1999 Taurus wagon. Belt was tight and pulleys were all good and were aligned. I removed the belt and inspected it closely (especially the grooves. I then borrowed my wife's poultry skewer from the kitchen drawer (couldn't find my awl right away), turned the belt so that the grooves were facing the outside of the belt. I then proceeded to dig out approximately 287 itty bitty little stones that were partially embedded in the bottom of each of the grooves along the length of the belt. I replaced the belt and the noise was gone. Just something to try before spending a lot of money on parts. Also, It might be a good idea to use something that didn't come from the kitchen - just sayin'.
Good point. Sand and dirt can get crushed into the belt and cause problems.
gb177
You are a genius! This is honestly the only thing that has worked for me.. How does it work exactly? And how long does it last?
The squeak is caused by the rubber rubbing against the metal pulleys. The soap makes it a little bit slipperier, which stops the squeak. How long it lasts varies depending on what is causing the squeak and how much friction the soap needs to overcome to stop the squeak.
the easier way I do this is by using liquid dawn or sunlight yellow let your car run while its running just put a few drops on the belts and you will hear the squeaks disappear right away I have been using this method for 25 years and before that my father and his father lol no joke we are a family of car guys
+Larry Williams I didn't even think of liquid soap. I'm sure it works great.
just applied liquid soap didn't do anything
+Jordon Williams it works for me all the time I only ran into one car in my whole life that it didn't want to catch...did you try putting at least a half of cups worth outa do it
i only drive old cars with v-belts i will try thanks!
+Johnny T Doe me to
This worked!!!! lol. I can't believe it.
Awesome!
Somebody beat me to it but your knife is smokin' ! K-Bar make the best. I just ordered a khukuri from Nepal, can't wait for that bad boy. 3 Chirra at KHHI website. I'm going to try the soap on my wife's Roadstar motorcycle. It is belt drive and there is a very annoying squeak only when it is in motion. Wish me luck.
I only wonder, the compound of the soap, with time doesnt start eating the rubber and the metal it is in contact with?
Congrats to you DIYs !
I gotta use this on my audi, my car the ac belt has its own belt that only powers it and it squeals for like 5 seconds when I first turn it on and then sometimes let's out a little squeal a couple seconds after but it's so embarrassing to have it happen lol
Don't take care of real problem but does work
Had a squeaky belt after I changed my thermostat. I got some coolant spilled on it.
Soap trick worked great!!! Thanks hoohoohoblin!!
You're welcome.
I know this works from past experience, as well as using WD40, silicone spray, and soapy water in a spray bottle. The thing I always wondered is that if you do this, aren't you causing slipping to make it stop squeaking? If it's slipping wouldn't the aux items end up being under powered like the alternator, waterpump, AC compressor etc?
It's easier to turn up the radio!
That is definitely the fastest and easiest solution.
You know wassup lool.
Bmx Denver lol yeah that works lol
Facts
The radio doesn't work either.
This might suck but my opinion, would be to find the right belt thats squeaking and JUST CHANGE IT!
Wd40 is a quick fix and it might stop squeaking, but it will wear your belts even more and might cause it to slip off or brake while your driving. Think about it it stops the noise but is it really fixing the problem, but really this is just my opinion. Do what works for you
This worked perfectly, thanks bro!
Vin Diesel You're welcome.
Dielectric grease on the underside of the belt. Last a pretty long time and is water resistant. Its the stuff they put in lightbulb sockets to keep the water out saw dealership mechanic doing it when he couldn't figure out the problem.
the last line was so cute........thanks.
I wonder if you could slowly pour liquid soap or some other lubricant on the belt while it's running that would do the trick without hurting anything
Have this noise on small car I have in Crete Mediterranean for holidays, will try that as its neat. Seems like belt gets dust and dirt as it has no under engine cover...
Worked great for me on my old Dakota, thanks for the tip
You’re welcome. I’m glad it worked.
Thank you so much, it worked! I can return the new belt I bought.
Your video was great I tried it on my 2007 Nissan Armada and it was very effective thanks a lot
You're welcome.
by golly it worked!...only question is how long will it last...
best youtube ever, i solved the issue, thank you
Try using talcum baby powder. I used it by pouring on the belt you think its rubbing and it permanently got rid of the annoying squeaky noises.
This may work, but its just a band aid to hide the real issue. It wont last forever and eventually something will really go wrong because you ignored the root cause on the noise... If you want a permanent fix, pull the belt off and find out which pulley or component is bad and fix it.
For how many days it remains quiet before you need to re-apply the bar? My car's alternator belt broke (it was very noisy) ... the new one has not started squeaking yet but good to know this little home remedy.
OMG you have made my day!!!! trying this when I get off work! :-)
Thank you soo much! It worked like a charm!!
Great Dustin! You are awesome! ;)
Try to wash yourself with soap, but don't wash it off. Leave it there for a couple of days.
And watch your language!
I just did it to my car it works thumbs up
Thankyou!!!! My belt was getting so anoying.
Nice and useful info. Thanks for posting!
Great video! One question though: Does this pose a risk of the belt sliding off the pulley?
this is the exact noise my truck is making right now!
thank you! Going to try this tomorrow.
You're welcome.