belt noise

[biggy7213]

sometimes under a load my car's serpetine belts make a really annoying squeeling sound. I've traced it down to the belts being dirty, but what's a good way to clean them? I've heard of holding a wire brush on it while the car's running, but there's not much room to get in there.

[91accord4door]

your belts old and cracked? i held a shop rag on mine and it got a lot of grime off,but mine squeeks because there old.

[biggy7213]

I don't know how old, but they're not cracked at all

[91accord4door]

are they to tight?to loose?

[biggy7213]

seem just fine, just too dirty
when I got the car the whole engine compartment was covered in dirt, well except the intake. That was shiny as ever...hahaha

[91accord4door]

dont use wire brush,just take your fingerand wrap a shop rag around it and push on the belts whil its started until no dirt comes off thats what i did.but even if the topsare dirty that wont make them squeek its the bottoms that get dirty,in that case bring it to the car wash and with the car running sprat the pulleys and the belts until there clean,just cover electrical things.and your good to go.

[accordztech]

when the car is off just put running water on them with some car soap or something...

is it a constant squeek or a pulsy squeek...does it go faster when u drive etc?

[hondaman-iac]

why not just replace the belts ? there are belts like $10 a piece

[biggy7213]

they are for serpentine? most serpentine belts are quite a bit more expensive, but I guess I haven't priced honda ones just because I expected them to be like all the others.

[biggy7213]

oh and ya it's pulsy. It only does it sometimes and it only does it when it's under a load.

[mrhonda]

Belts are probably too loose. BTW....what kind of car?

[91accord4door]

how hard is it to replace the belts?just the ones near the alternator and timing belt cover?i would buy some and raplace them because mine are cracked and they squeek loud and they squeek faster as i go.they stop above 300 rpm.but how hard is it to replace them and have them adjusted right etc?thanks.

[biggy7213]

91 accord lx with a 5 speed. intake and a tip, but not the whole exhaust on 17's and just put in an rsk kit. I'll do the rest of the exhaust before too long and tint the windows, but I'm not going to do much else. It's goin in for an alignment friday and then I'm gettin new front tires tuesday when they come in and then I'm just gonna drive...

[mrhonda]

Well, first off, CB7's don't have a serpintine belt, they are individual. Secondly, if your drive belts are worn, chances are, the timing belt probably is in similar condition. I always do everything as a package; t-belt, countershaft belt, waterpump, oil seals, as well as the drive belts. Over and done with.

[biggy7213]

timing belt wasn't changed that long ago, or at least that's what the guy I bought it from said. The car has got like 150,000 miles on it.