Approximately one out of every two or three times I start my 2006 xA (automatic, ~150K miles on it) there's a belt that squeals really loud for the first 20-30 seconds as I step on the gas. It happens more consistently if it's humid out or has rained recently, but lately it's started happening even when it's dry out.

Can anybody clue me in to what is going on, and whether this is something I could repair on my own? My wife wants me to take it to a shop but I'm way too cheap for that plus I'd enjoy the satisfaction of fixing it myself if it's something I could do in under an hour with a set of wrenches.

 

its probably the alternator belt. you can loosen the alternator bolts and then use a pry bar on the alt to snug up the belt or just replace it. the bottom bolt is a bit of bugger to get but you can do it.

 

Thanks mrrcom. I'll dig out my repair manual and look up where those bolts are.

 

If those have hydraulic power steering it could be the p/s pump as well.

 

It really sounds like a belt.

Although I can hear the squeal very quietly when it's going to happen, it's when I step on the gas that it gets really loud. Doesn't matter if I'm turning or going straight.

 

Have you ever replaced the belts? I do them about every 40-50k.

 

Takes about 30-45 minutes. Pry bar is so barbaric! Should have tension-pulley with adjustment bolt.

 

No, I haven't. I'm probably overdue, I should look into that.

 

So I was in the area lol and i deced to check out that alternator bracket. If you wanted to get a turnbuckle to replace the bracket this one https://www.mcmaster.com/30125T301/ would fit. You can take out the stud on the engine side easily and get one a bit longer.

 

Update: I applied the fix as seen in this YouTube video


and it worked perfectly so far.

___

 

Just be careful there. The video instructions say nothing about proper tension for the belt. (How tight is tight?) I'd even question his logic in simply tightening up the belt without determining if the belt actually needed to be replaced first.

 

Good point. I tightened it as much as I could applying firm muscle pressure with my ~18" prybar (and I'm not super strong). I've driven a decent amount since then (in cold weather and precipitation) without noticeable problems. So I assume I'm within spec but I don't know if I'm close to too tight. Any way to tell?

 

The only way to truly tension belts correctly is a Belt Tension Tool. That's one of the reasons most manufacturers have gone to serpentine belt systems with a tensioner pully that automatically tensions the belt correctly.