Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting replaced serpentine belt, hasn't stop screaming

Nope, it is almost all the way loose, but could go a little more, and the other belt was a little tighter but I'm assuming thats just because its new. Its still screaming as loud as always, except today it seemed a little quieter but I was probally just imagining things. From what I have heard then is either get a new belt or deal with it. WEll, I guess if it dosn't shut up after this road trip this weekend then a new belt is in the works. Man, thats not cheap!!! oh well. Duralast parts suck. I'm still open to any suggestions though.

You could possibly return your most recent belt if it hasn't been used much. I only drove my car 1 day b4 I installed my Ford belt. Returned the AZ belt w/ no issues.

I will try, although I bought the dang thing in Miami and I am in Orlando for the summer (yes, FL) so I will see if I can mail it to the people I stayed with and see what they can do with it. however, it will have about 1000 miles on it. But I'll see what they can do.

I put a Good-Year Gator Back on my Zetec and it's very quiet. Your tensioner is likley worn so the belt is loose.
Insure all the pulleys are clean-no slipping/belt squeal.
Also make sure the pulleys line up accross center.

Well, to put a very long story short after all I did to find out the problem, the belt is too big and I will attempt to take it back, although I seriously doubt that they will take it because I'm in Florida right now and the auto parts stores down here are totally usless. I honestly think they would function better without anybody working there then having those useless people behind the counters. anyway, I ordered one from team ford parts, anyone ever get one from them? I can't imagine that they would send me the wrong one so this had better fit. That brings the total to $70 for a stupid belt!!! Oh well, can't do nothing about it so I guess I just have to bite the cost and move on. I'll keep ya guys updated on whether this one works out or not cause if it dosn't then the tensioner is bad I would assume. thanks for the help.

EDIT: Oh yea, if it makes a difference, it wasn't screaming I guess. Although it hurt my ears if my head was under the hood, a friend of mine said hers was screaming and you couldn't even compare the 2 as hers was so much louder. So apparently its jsut a loud squeak (my old belt would occasionally squeak when it rained, but it wasn't near this loud.)

sounds familiar ish.. my car has this whine like a supercharger, which is ok... but at idle it squeaks periodically, and when at a full stop when RPM's are lower, it is more consistant, and with the AC or defroster on at astop, it is much more so. I've yet to replace the tensioner with over 200K on the clock, so... it's a poss. I also have the gatorback belt.

Similar problem with the daughters Zetec recently. Replaced tensioner = problem solved.

Well, put the OEM Motorcraft belt on yesterday when DHL came and its as happy as can be. So if it starts squeaking after 100 miles again then I know its the tensioner, although that thing is pretty darn tight!!! I had trouble moving it with the 8in handle 3/8 rachet I used and the old belt never made a sound, except occasionally when it was raining, and when I put the new one it was screaching after 50-100 miles so taht brings me to this conclustion: Duralast parts are not good. But if the new one starts again then I will go with the tensioner being bad. Oh yea, another reason I think the tensioner is good: the belt would squeal LESS when I turned the A/C on.

The tensioner has a very strong spring action, if it did it is probably OK. The pulleys can squeal too. If the tensioner rides about halfway through its travel and the belt is tight, should be OK.

If you pull up on the belt between the PS pulley and the upper idler and see the tensioner moving back and forth, replace it.
The updated part has a plastic pulley and a 15mm bolt in it. The old one uses a 13mm bolt. The 15mm wrench makes the job much easier with more leverage.