I've got a 94 TS V6 which has a drivebelt that likes to squeal a lot when cold, mostly when idling or <20kph, but occasionally with momentary squeals at 40-50kph (no more than a second or two max when this happens).

The manual is extremely light on details, and I don't want to do anything that could result in problems/damage. So is anyone able to help out with a better description of the process for adjusting the tension to stop the squeal? I'm guessing the tensioner is the one positioned above and slightly forward from the alternator pulley, towards the rear of the engine bay?

And if I decide it is too much hassle to adjust myself (although I would prefer this option), has anyone got accurate info on the price I could expect to be charged for an adjustment only by a mechanic?

Any help very much appreciated, thanks guys.

If it's been squeeling for a while, then most likely it's gone hard. If it wasn't hard before, then it will be now because of the heat from it slipping.

I'd get it replaced.

it's a new belt (a few months old now), and has been squealing since it was put in, pretty much.

I think I can help here.

When the belts are manufactured, it's a piece of rope braid covered in rubber. The problem is that the rope braid sometimes isn't completely flat and may actually extend once in use. This creates the squealing sound. Usually the people who install the belt expect people to bring their car back in the following weeks to tighten the belts so they don't squeal.

To tighten the belts you should find one of the tension pulleys just above the alternator. It has two bolts, one on the tyre side, and one on the firewall end. Loosen the one on the tyre side, then tighten the one at the firewall end until you can just turn the belt edgeways. To test this, simply twist the belt with your two fingers, but don't use too much force. The other pulley was decidedly more annoying to get to and I actually snapped mine under some uncommon circumstances (15C Morning + Overtightened + AC on High + Heavy Acceleration & Turning). Try tensioning the "alternator" belt first, if it still squeaks, take it back. I wouldn't even bother dealing with the "Air Conditioner" belt.

When I looked at the drivebelt tensioner, the only bolt I could see on the tyre side was the one holding the pulley itself to the engine. There was a bolt behind it angled slightly towards the firewall which I assume is the actual adjuster bolt.

Do ya mind taking a picture? Cause if you can do that, then I'll circle it in paint and you can go from there. I'd do it myself, cept it's damn cold, and my car is outside in the "Breezeway".

Likewise, but I'll get onto it in the morning and post it up...thanks.

Sorry for the delay...life got in the way for a bit. :-)

Anyway, here are some pics. Thanks!

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Ok. That's just a little bit confusing. And I'm glad you took the pic, cause I have a 4-cyl, and it is sooo........ooo much easier to see things. That looks like the pulley alright, but I have no idea where the bolt is sorry. I can see the runner (I think), and I've circled it in red.

http://users.on.net/~keiths04/pulley.JPG

I also took a night shot of my tension pulley just so you can see the diff, maybe spot something similar in your engine bay.

http://users.on.net/~keiths04/100_0384.JPG

P.S. Is that the standard way the engine mounts? Cause it looks reversed in comparison with mine.

P.S. Is that the standard way the engine mounts? Cause it looks reversed in comparison with mine.

thats cos his pic was taken from the opposite way to yours.

okay, so I'm looking in the right spot after all...so the next question is: given the aforementioned characteristics of the squeal, about how many turns would I be looking at in order to gain the right tension? Or how/where should I be measuring to ensure that I do have the correct tension? I'm rather reluctant to tighten it too much less I go too far, but also want to make sure I do actually tighten it enough so it is correct! I don't really have the money to ****-it up, so any advice that helps get it done right the first time would be most appreciated. Thanks for all assistance thus far. :)

as many turns as it take's to get the right deflection (movement). to check push the belt in the middle of the longest stretch with one finger. it should move between 1-1 1\2 cms if not tighten or losen till it is at the right deflection.

It's all looking very good now, thanks for the help guys. I did have it right after all, but I always feel more comfortable in checking with others who have better knowledge first - better to ask a silly question than look even sillier after screwing it up, lol.

Anyway, it looks like it probably was never actually adjusted properly when fitted in the first place. It required quite a few turns to get the right tension, but in the process there was quite a 'slack' section to turn the bolt through first before it actually started to tension the belt properly. I can't see how that would have been possible with a properly tensioned belt. But all's well that ends well, and it certainly tensioned properly now.

Glad to hear you got it sorted without much drama.