squeeling fan belt?

stock240 · Post by **stock240** » 09 Mar 2006, 03:24

hey everyone
im pretty new with this whole forum thing , 18 from australia and my first car is a 1989 240 gl auto sedan.
The problem that i am having with it though , is that when i start the car after it has been sitting there for a while (enough to get the engine cold) a loud squeeling sound come from under the bonnet... sounds like im losing traction on the rear tyres ha ha .the sounds goes away after i start to drive the car for about 10-30 seconds , and because im a poor uni student with lack of funds i thought id see if anyone on a forum could explain what this noise may be rather than seeing a mechanic and forking over hundreds of dollars.....
i will have a real good look at it later and if i find that it is the fan belt , is there a way to stop the noise?

thank you
cheers

armalite · Post by **armalite** » 09 Mar 2006, 06:25

Sounds like a classic loose fanbelt to me. Loosen the bolts on the sliding mount that supports the alternator and use the adjuster on the alternator mount to take up any slack before re-tightening the slide bolt.

You should be able to twist the fan belt through a quarter turn with your fingers as a rough guide, If it won't turn then it's too tight and you may damage your bearings in the alternator, fuel pump or steering pump.

If it won't stop squealing, get a new one, they're cheap. If it breaks on a run then you have a serious problem unless you have a passenger wearing stockings

stock240 · Post by **stock240** » 09 Mar 2006, 07:31

thank you very much .. i will be onto it first thing in the morning
cheers

armalite · Post by **armalite** » 09 Mar 2006, 07:43

before anyone else mentions it, I meant 'water pump' not 'fuel pump'.

Must remember to engage brain before typing.

Apart from that the rest stands.

LaRy · Post by **LaRy** » 09 Mar 2006, 09:04

Hi, if it is not helping to adjust / change the fanbelt, it could be the roller bearings in the alternator. I had exactly the same symptom as you. After so many years the grease is dry, so the balls are not rotating they are sliding. After 10 - 30 seconds the balls start to rotate instead of sliding around, because the sliding will heat up the dry grease and melt it. It is possible to remove the alternator and without any special tools split it and put some new grease in the bearings. Just make notes about all electrical connections.

stock240 · Post by **stock240** » 09 Mar 2006, 17:48

oh ok , well first up ill check the belt if thats not it .. then straight onto the next idea
thanks a heap mate