You guys should know that tightening the belt too much will stress the water pump bearings and cause the water pump to fail.
You should also know that the squeeling is probably caused by the alternator which gets loaded up when you - just start the engine, stop at a light or stop sign with the brake lights going, have headlights on or the A/C or heater fan etc. Usually by the time it is squeeling from being a little too loose it has polished the pulley and it will keep slipping even with a new belt unless you scuff it up a little as suggested above . . . never heard of the bar of soap trick.
The power steering belt will make noise when you turn the steering wheel usually when stopped.
Lowering the engine RPM by letting the clutch out a little with no gas or putting it in drive sometimes gets the alternator pulley grabbing again or shutting off all the electrical loads until the battery charges up.

 

I just got an 05 XB with 58k on it. I also have terrible squealing. It is horrendous especially when A/C is on and I come to a stop and idle. Would that be the A/C belt? I know that sounds like a dumb question, but humor me.

Thanks,
Greg

 

i have gone in three times complaining of the noise now and each time they tell me nothing is wrong and its getting worse and more noticeable each month.

 

Greg !! It's the same belt!! Not a dumb question because it is really hard to see where the belt goes and even harder to find the A/C compressor unless you know what to look for. It is located way down in front behind the rubber flaps in the grill to the right of the radiator (left when facing the front end).

If you google the tsb eg031-07 it shows you how to properly tension the belt. About .4 inch belt deflection with 22lbs push on the long span of the belt when warmed up.

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=355628&da=y

 

It took you 3 times to figure out that if you want something fixed that you are better off doing it yourself. They don't call them Stealers for nothing!
You couldn't pay me enough to leave my box at one of those places.

 

Thanks, Jan06. Gonna try to fix it myself this weekend.

Greg

 

I checked mine engine was cool and 26k on odometer 06xB and it was pretty tight and that is still factory after more than 3.5 years of use.

 

Tightened the belt yesterday. A 2-person job, but took only 15 minutes or so. No squealing now. Hallelujah.

Greg

 

SO just how loose was it??

 

It didn't feel too bad when pressing down on it. Wouldn't have guessed it was loose just by feel.