What to Do When the Car Belt Squeaks Upon Contact with Water?
2 Answers
There may be some oil stains or dust adhering to the belt or pulley, causing increased friction resistance. You can use a toothbrush dipped in some cleaning agent to scrub it. Go to a 4S shop or repair shop to check the aging degree of the belt. If cracks appear on the belt, it should be replaced promptly. Check the tension of the belt. At this time, you can use your thumb to press forcefully on the belt between the two pulleys. The pressing force should be about 10kg. If the belt is pressed down by about 10mm, the belt tension is appropriate. If the pressing amount is too large, the tension is insufficient, and vice versa. Loosen the relevant adjustment nuts or bolts and adjust the belt tension to the optimal shape.
I often hear squeaking belts when driving in the rain, which is quite annoying. This happens because water makes the belt surface slippery, increasing slip noise. I usually find a safe place to park and wait for the moisture to evaporate naturally, or drive a few kilometers until the engine heats up and dries the belt. Then, I check if the belt is too loose or cracked; if loose, I tighten the tensioner bolt with a wrench, but not too much to avoid over-tightening and damaging the belt. If the belt is severely worn, replacing it is the easiest solution—it's inexpensive and straightforward. After rain, try to avoid driving through water to prevent splashing onto the engine belt area. Regular maintenance with soapy water can extend the belt's lifespan, but a thorough inspection of related pulley bearings is also necessary.
