Fan Belt noise

[BTERRY29]

I have been chasing some rattling and squeaks lately and have a new one for you. I thought either my fan blade was rubbing on the pump (greaseless), or the generator bearing was bad or needing lube as I was getting an awful scratching sound. I would take the belt off and spin them independently with no noise. I would briefly run the car without the belt, and no noise. It is worse when it is warm. For fun yesterday I picked up some belt dressing from NAPA. I started the car and shot it right where it wraps around the generator and got immediate results. Now it is quite as a church mouse. the frustrating thing is after a drive it comes back. I shoot it some more and it goes quiet. drive again, and it comes back. I assume order a new belt? but what is the fundamental issue at hand.

thank you

Brian

[1931 flamingo]

Clean all the pulleys and replace the belt.
Paul in CT

[nkaminar]

I found a 1/2 inch wide belt on my car when I bought it. It should be 5/8. Flamingo has the right response.

[WHN]

Typical problem. Not a big thing.

Once or twice a year I have to spray WD40 on my belt.

Enjoy.

[Ruth]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

You been smoking fan belts again??

[Patrick L.]

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Yep, what 1931 said.

I find a bar of soap lasts longer than dressing.

[Bob-A]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

Yep, what 1931 said.

I find a bar of soap lasts longer than dressing.

I use an old wax candle stick and 'yes' I am very careful when the engine is running.


Bob-A

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

I use an old wax candle stick and 'yes' I am very careful when the engine is running.


Bob-A

Yep, thats an old-time fix. Thanks for the reminder. As long as the fan is spinning in the right direction it'll kick your fingers out in the right direction.

[Ivan in southeast va.]

If the belt starts fraying, it will probably start singing. Time to replace the belt.

[J Franklin]

I had an engine knock that turned out to be the fan belt.

[CT Jack]

All good posting suggestions i.e. new belt, correct width, correct length, etc. But also make sure the alignment between pulleys is correct. Misalignment can cause side rubbing which over time can result in noise.

[marty in Ohio]

I remember in "the old days" there used to be a belt dressing you could buy. It looked like a big crayon and you held it against the belt as the engine was running. Probably off the market now as it was too dangerous for the average public. The stuff in the spray can works but it's really sticky and it blows all over the running engine. Are the old sticks available?
Marty

[Keith]

I have seen where a fan belt will start to delaminate or split apart parallel to the length of the belt, (Hard to see) When the engine is running the split or delamination will slap against each other creating a knocking or rattling sound.

[BTERRY29]

Originally Posted by CT Jack

All good posting suggestions i.e. new belt, correct width, correct length, etc. But also make sure the alignment between pulleys is correct. Misalignment can cause side rubbing which over time can result in noise.

If this was the case, how would one go about lining them up. Both seem to be fixed points without adjustment.

[Dick Carne]

We had a similar problem not too long ago - turned out to be that a new belt solved the problem. However, before going that route, I went through two cans of belt dressing. Good luck with this challenge.

[katy]

Originally Posted by marty in Ohio

I remember in "the old days" there used to be a belt dressing you could buy. It looked like a big crayon and you held it against the belt as the engine was running.

That stuff was for the flat belts, like they used to use to drive threshing machines.