The alternator belt is a structural element of the engine that provides the transfer of mechanical energy from the crankshaft to the generator, which, in turn, converts it into electricity. The interaction between the generator and the crankshaft is provided by a belt connection mounted on pulleys.

The whistling or creaking of the belt that has appeared usually indicates the slipping of one of the pulleys, resulting from excessive friction between the elements.

Hearing an unpleasant sound from under the hood, you do not need to immediately run to the nearest service or commit rash acts. First of all, you need to independently check the engine and deal with the problem - it is quite possible that you can fix it on your own

Alternator belt whistles: what to do

The search for a suitable solution to the problem should begin with the identification of problems that cause extraneous sounds. The reasons for the whistle of the alternator belt can be different.:

• when using an old and worn belt, its tension to a normal value is almost impossible, which causes an unpleasant sound;
• a cheap belt made of poor material may initially produce a characteristic creak or whistle;
• if a technical fluid gets on the belt or pulleys, the belt slips, which is also the cause of extraneous sound;
• the alternator bearing, worn out after work in difficult conditions, is also capable of making unpleasant sounds.

Of course, there may be other causes of whistling or other sounds coming from the engine compartment, but those described above are much more common.

You need to understand that a car consists of a huge number of systems that must work in one bundle.

Violation of the operation of one mechanism can lead to a lot of negative processes, up to the complete failure of individual controls.

Alternator Belt Diagnostics

In any case, before making a final verdict, it is necessary to carefully check the system. To do this, you need to do the following:

1. First you need to find out if the belt is intact and if there are any visually noticeable damage on it. The phenomenon is quite common and occurs during long-term operation of the car without replacing the belt.

2. Next, the level of belt tension is checked (even a good, but poorly tensioned belt can cause whistling). In the presence of such a symptom, not only a whistle can be noticeable, but also a slight decrease in the efficiency of the generator.

3. The next step is to check the cleanliness of the shaft. Oil trapped on the belt or shaft can cause slippage and creaking of the structure. Belt contamination usually occurs due to the leakage of various tanks located under the hood, or due to the negligence of the car owner.

4. The last step is to check the pulleys of both shafts for displacement relative to the axis. The pulleys of the alternator and the crankshaft must be parallel, otherwise there will be a decrease in friction and a characteristic whistle.

The meaning of the generator belt is to constantly and clearly transfer energy due to the difference in tension between its two sides. A high-quality and properly installed belt can work for a long time in fairly difficult conditions, while ensuring the operation of many car mechanisms and the continuous rotation of the generator rotor when the engine is running.

Why is the alternator belt whistling?

The appearance of a whistle under the hood clearly indicates a malfunction of the belt. As a result, such a phenomenon can cause deterioration in the operation of the generator, compressors and pumps, which are provided by the gas distribution mechanism. In addition to reducing engine performance, the whistle of the alternator belt is unpleasant in itself - it can be heard from afar, and there is little pleasant in such sound accompaniment.

Inexperienced motorists, having heard a suspicious sound coming from under the hood, often make the wrong decision - they immediately change the belt, mistakenly believing that the problem is the wear of this element. But one should not rush to such conclusions, because the problem can be resolved in a less costly way.

How to eliminate the whistle of the alternator belt

First of all, it is worth noting that the whistle of the alternator belt is a fairly common phenomenon that can be eliminated without any problems.

Having dealt with the cause of the whistle, you can begin to eliminate the problem:

1. If there is mechanical damage to the belt (frayed edges, cracks and breaks) or noticeable wear, the belt should definitely be changed. Belts for different cars can have significant differences, so you need to look for a part designed for a specific make and model of a car (in extreme cases, you can pick up an interchangeable part).

2. If the belt is dirty and traces of technical fluids can be seen on it, it must be cleaned and installed in its place. There are cases when it is not possible to eliminate pollution, and the belt continues to whistle after cleaning and reinstallation - in this case, it should also be changed.

3. Visible damage is only one part of the problem. If a superficial examination did not give results, and a nasty sound is still present when starting the engine, then you need to check the degree of belt tension. To do this, just press the belt right in the middle and measure its deflection. The optimal indicator is about 7 mm (before checking, you should ask about the exact value of the belt deflection for your car). The mismatch will need to be corrected.

4. Sometimes the whistle of the belt occurs due to deviations of the pulleys along the axis relative to each other. In the normal state, both pulleys should be strictly parallel, but there are situations when one of them shifts and an unpleasant sound occurs. To fix the problem, you will need to align the pulleys.

5. Often, the alternator belt starts to whistle for reasons beyond the control of the belt itself. Most often, this cause is a damaged bearing, which not only makes the belt whistle, but is also capable of distinctly crunching itself. If you find such a problem, you should immediately change the bearing - unpleasant sounds should disappear.

6. It is also worth noting that in winter, many car owners note an increase in belt tension. In this case, you should not immediately sound the alarm - when the engine warms up, the belt will come into working condition. To prevent this phenomenon, you can purchase special additives, the application of which to the surface of the alternator belt and pulleys will increase their resistance to external factors.

Outcome

A whistling alternator belt is far from the biggest problem that a car owner may have. If the diagnosis is carried out in a timely and competent manner, then it will be possible to fix the problem without any problems. The health of the car must be carefully monitored, and then it will be able to perform its work well for many years.

The timing belt is an essential element of any modern engine. In the previous article on the timing belt, the modern design and the main causes of breaks and malfunctions of this vehicle assembly were considered. Driving instructors tell you how to take care of it.

About the human factor

The average service life of a timing belt is 60,000 kilometers. But rarely does a belt live up to this period without replacement or any malfunctions. For example, very often the belt suffers from the "human factor".

The most common constriction, for some reason, many craftsmen believe that the timing belt will work better this way.

But the strength of cord threads is not infinite. And with a strong stretch, they will break off faster. Improper storage of the belt can also lead to a similar result.

However, an excessively loose belt will also not last very long. The oscillations that occur in such a case will lead to a redistribution of the load at the points of convergence and entry of the belt, which will again lead to breakage of the teeth.

It is quite dangerous to neglect the protective casing. If you forget, after repair, put some part of it or it completely, then any stone that gets into the belt will lead to a break.

A little about distraction

Absent-mindedness is generally dangerous always and everywhere. So, when replacing, some forget about the guide and tension rollers.

But many automakers strongly recommend changing them along with the belt, since a roller bearing wedged due to wear or lack of lubrication can cause overheating, cracking and, as a result, a break.

Quite a lot of malfunctions can be caused by deformation of the pulley flanges, which occurs during inaccurate dismantling. A damaged flange works like a knife, cutting the edge of the belt. An incorrectly installed casing can also give a similar effect. Sometimes, incorrect assembly results in the pulleys being in a different plane. The consequences of this are similar to damage to the flanges. Jamming of the camshaft due to insufficient lubrication is also rare. This leads to an increase in the force in the drive and the breakage of several teeth at once.

Sometimes there is such a case: an engine is being repaired, on which a recently updated timing belt is installed, is it possible to reuse it?

You can reuse this belt, but it must be installed in the same way as it was before dismantling.

If the direction of movement is reversed, the belt will break in a short time.

The timing belt must be properly tensioned. There are many tutorials out there that explain how to do it the right way.

For machines with an automatic tensioner, the issue of its proper operation is relevant. Often, due to its breakdowns, the belt is loosely tensioned.

But tensioner defects do not always have natural causes, its breakdowns are quite common, as a result of the low qualification of service station workers. An important condition for the correct operation of the belt is the ease of rotation of all shafts. If during the replacement of the timing belt, you notice a jamming of one of the shafts, then you should first eliminate its cause, because otherwise the new belt will not last long.

It is important to keep an eye on oil leaks. If grease gets on the belt, you need to fix the leak, rinse it, and it is better to put a new one.

Do not forget about the most elementary rule - always keep the belt clean. Or he will constantly tear.

If you are going on a road trip, be sure to bring a spare timing belt with you.

Let's watch a video about the timing belt replacement rules:

Monitor the condition of the timing belt and be careful!

The article used an image from the site www.drive2.ru

Keilriemen-Spray contains a complex of substances that penetrate the belt surface and increase the coefficient of friction. Thus, slippage, wear of the belt and pulleys are eliminated, and the noise of the drive is eliminated. The belt is capable of transmitting more power. The composition prevents drying and cracking of the belt, which significantly increases its service life. Suitable for belts made of any materials: rubber, leather, Kevlar, fabric, etc. - Cares and protects - Provides elasticity - Prevents slippage of the belt - Protects against aging - Increases efficiency and traction - Multifunctional application - Prevents belt squeaking Reduces the cost of replacing belts, improves overall reliability. Allows the drive to deliver more power.

Application

Apply to the sides of the V-belts from a distance of approx. 20 cm. Repeat if a thicker layer is required. In 10 minutes. can be put into operation. Attention: do not use for processing toothed belts of the timing drive (timing).

Alternator belt beeps: what to do if there is no experience in repair work. This article will help you deal with this problem, as it understands the causes of the squeak and gives recommendations on how to fix the problem.

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Possible causes of malfunction

If the alternator belt creaks, then this sound cuts the ear not only to the driver and passengers, but even to passers-by. When such sounds occur, the thought arises that the reason is in the strap and it must be urgently replaced, but this is not always the case. Therefore, before rushing to replace, you should deal with the cause of the squeak.

The generator is present in any car, its purpose is to provide electricity to all car systems. The continuity of rotation of the rotor of the device is ensured by a belt drive between the crankshaft and the generator. Whistling occurs due to friction with the pulley or slippage of the rubber product. Pulleys and belts may differ for different devices of the car, but the principle of their interaction is the same. The reason for the squeak is the friction of parts from each other. Therefore, whistling often occurs when the belt is loose and it slips along the pulley.

The cause of the generator strap squeak may be:

• insufficient tension;
• poor quality product;
• traces of oil, coolant and various contaminants;
• deflection of the tensioner.

In the cold season, creaking may occur when starting a cold machine. The belt is a rubber product, in the cold it hardens and loses its elasticity. As soon as the material warms up, the whistle disappears. The cause of the whistling may be high humidity. In this case, nothing needs to be done, since the whistle disappears as the surface dries.

Ways to fix

What to do if you hear the squeak of the generator strap? You don't have to change it right away. Sometimes there is a whistle, but the resource of the consumable has not yet been exhausted and it can be further exploited. Therefore, if extraneous sounds occur, you should inspect the belt drive and find out where the squeak comes from. To diagnose, open the hood and inspect the strap for:

• the integrity of the part;
• degree of wear;
• the presence of traces of working fluids on the surface;
• displacement of the line of location of the pulleys, they must be strictly on the same line;
• product tension.

Replacement should be done if the surface is worn, there are cracks, assemblies, frayed edges. If traces of oil, coolant or other contaminants are found, you can try to clean the surface. Pollution prevents the product from stretching and moving evenly. If they cannot be removed, then the consumable must be replaced.

The cause of the generator transmission may be bearing wear in the tension roller or generator. To diagnose the health of the tension roller, you need to dismantle it and check for defects and play. If faults are found, parts must be replaced.

You should buy only original products, this can guarantee that they will last the allotted time.

The following factors affect the life of components:

• terms of Use;
• driving style of the driver;
• degree of load;
• product quality;
• correct installation.

The most common cause of whistling is poor belt tension. To check it, you need to click on the product between the pulleys of the generator and the crankshaft somewhere around the middle.

The deflection should be between 6 and 8 mm. If the tension does not match, it must be adjusted. If the tension is poor, the unit does not produce a full charge. For tension, do the following:

After the tension adjustment procedure, you need to check the operation of the unit. Before starting the engine, you need to turn on several devices powered by the generator, for example, a stove, air conditioning, high beams. If everything is in order, then there is no whistling and the charge level is at the proper level.

To improve the performance of the belt drive, you can lubricate both surfaces of the rubber product with special fluids, such as Hi-Gear and VeryLube conditioners. With their help, you can also get rid of the squeak, but they give a temporary result. Regular use of air conditioners extends the life of the belts by 1.5-2 times.