I have a '95 GCL with 4.0L six and 144K miles.

Over the winter, I heard a loud squealing coming from the engine compartment
when I started the engine, and lasted about 5 seconds then disappeared. It
only seemed to occur at cold engine startup. Now that its warmer, I noticed
it happens whenever I turn on the AC compressor. I dont normally use the AC
in the winter since I only use manual temp. controls and rarely turn it on
for defrost. Therefore, I assumed the squeal was coming from the drivebelt
rather than the compressor. I should also mention that I had to replace the
original factory drivebelt about a year ago.

I tightened the belt tension bolt per instructions, and the squeal seems to
have vanished. Hurray.

Question I have now....how tight should I make the drivebelt? I dont have
access to a fancy "belt tension gauge", and no auto parts store in town
seems to stock them or even know what they are. Right now, I can only get
about 1/2" of play in the middle of the belt (between idler pulley and power
steering pump). It seems pretty tight, but I'd like to get a scientific
measure of its tension to make sure its within spec. I've heard that
excessive belt tension will cause extra wear & tear on pulley
bearings...like the AC compressor, power steering pump, etc.

Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?

 

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:11:32 -0400, "TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote:
>
>Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
You don't need to spend $$$ on a fancy gage. Ask the NAPA guy to look
in his parts book under Tools. He should be able to find the Kricket
Belt Tension Gage. My local dealer actually stocked it. It is around
US$10 and works well enough for accessory belts. I would NOT use it
for something critical like a Porsche timing belt.

I can't recall the setting for a used serpentine belt on a 4.0, but I
think it is something like 120 pounds. I'll bet yours is still waaay
loose.

It's a trick little tool. Buy one and you will use it often.



John Davies
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

 

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:11:32 -0400, "TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote:
>
>Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
You don't need to spend $$$ on a fancy gage. Ask the NAPA guy to look
in his parts book under Tools. He should be able to find the Kricket
Belt Tension Gage. My local dealer actually stocked it. It is around
US$10 and works well enough for accessory belts. I would NOT use it
for something critical like a Porsche timing belt.

I can't recall the setting for a used serpentine belt on a 4.0, but I
think it is something like 120 pounds. I'll bet yours is still waaay
loose.

It's a trick little tool. Buy one and you will use it often.



John Davies
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

 

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:11:32 -0400, "TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote:
>
>Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
You don't need to spend $$$ on a fancy gage. Ask the NAPA guy to look
in his parts book under Tools. He should be able to find the Kricket
Belt Tension Gage. My local dealer actually stocked it. It is around
US$10 and works well enough for accessory belts. I would NOT use it
for something critical like a Porsche timing belt.

I can't recall the setting for a used serpentine belt on a 4.0, but I
think it is something like 120 pounds. I'll bet yours is still waaay
loose.

It's a trick little tool. Buy one and you will use it often.



John Davies
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

 

On Tue, 18 May 2004 17:11:32 -0400, "TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote:
>
>Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
You don't need to spend $$$ on a fancy gage. Ask the NAPA guy to look
in his parts book under Tools. He should be able to find the Kricket
Belt Tension Gage. My local dealer actually stocked it. It is around
US$10 and works well enough for accessory belts. I would NOT use it
for something critical like a Porsche timing belt.

I can't recall the setting for a used serpentine belt on a 4.0, but I
think it is something like 120 pounds. I'll bet yours is still waaay
loose.

It's a trick little tool. Buy one and you will use it often.



John Davies
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

 

A simple technique most techs use instead of a gauge, find the longest
distance between any two pulleys and with thumb and one finger, without
forcing it, twist the belt as far as it will go. Tighten until it turns 90
degrees. It takes a bit of touch but you'll quickly be able to tell if it's
too loose or too tight.
"TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote in message
news:M_adnaPK4KK24Tfd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> I have a '95 GCL with 4.0L six and 144K miles.
>
> Over the winter, I heard a loud squealing coming from the engine
compartment
> when I started the engine, and lasted about 5 seconds then disappeared.
It
> only seemed to occur at cold engine startup. Now that its warmer, I
noticed
> it happens whenever I turn on the AC compressor. I dont normally use the
AC
> in the winter since I only use manual temp. controls and rarely turn it on
> for defrost. Therefore, I assumed the squeal was coming from the
drivebelt
> rather than the compressor. I should also mention that I had to replace
the
> original factory drivebelt about a year ago.
>
> I tightened the belt tension bolt per instructions, and the squeal seems
to
> have vanished. Hurray.
>
> Question I have now....how tight should I make the drivebelt? I dont have
> access to a fancy "belt tension gauge", and no auto parts store in town
> seems to stock them or even know what they are. Right now, I can only get
> about 1/2" of play in the middle of the belt (between idler pulley and
power
> steering pump). It seems pretty tight, but I'd like to get a scientific
> measure of its tension to make sure its within spec. I've heard that
> excessive belt tension will cause extra wear & tear on pulley
> bearings...like the AC compressor, power steering pump, etc.
>
> Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
>

 

A simple technique most techs use instead of a gauge, find the longest
distance between any two pulleys and with thumb and one finger, without
forcing it, twist the belt as far as it will go. Tighten until it turns 90
degrees. It takes a bit of touch but you'll quickly be able to tell if it's
too loose or too tight.
"TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote in message
news:M_adnaPK4KK24Tfd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> I have a '95 GCL with 4.0L six and 144K miles.
>
> Over the winter, I heard a loud squealing coming from the engine
compartment
> when I started the engine, and lasted about 5 seconds then disappeared.
It
> only seemed to occur at cold engine startup. Now that its warmer, I
noticed
> it happens whenever I turn on the AC compressor. I dont normally use the
AC
> in the winter since I only use manual temp. controls and rarely turn it on
> for defrost. Therefore, I assumed the squeal was coming from the
drivebelt
> rather than the compressor. I should also mention that I had to replace
the
> original factory drivebelt about a year ago.
>
> I tightened the belt tension bolt per instructions, and the squeal seems
to
> have vanished. Hurray.
>
> Question I have now....how tight should I make the drivebelt? I dont have
> access to a fancy "belt tension gauge", and no auto parts store in town
> seems to stock them or even know what they are. Right now, I can only get
> about 1/2" of play in the middle of the belt (between idler pulley and
power
> steering pump). It seems pretty tight, but I'd like to get a scientific
> measure of its tension to make sure its within spec. I've heard that
> excessive belt tension will cause extra wear & tear on pulley
> bearings...like the AC compressor, power steering pump, etc.
>
> Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
>

 

A simple technique most techs use instead of a gauge, find the longest
distance between any two pulleys and with thumb and one finger, without
forcing it, twist the belt as far as it will go. Tighten until it turns 90
degrees. It takes a bit of touch but you'll quickly be able to tell if it's
too loose or too tight.
"TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote in message
news:M_adnaPK4KK24Tfd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> I have a '95 GCL with 4.0L six and 144K miles.
>
> Over the winter, I heard a loud squealing coming from the engine
compartment
> when I started the engine, and lasted about 5 seconds then disappeared.
It
> only seemed to occur at cold engine startup. Now that its warmer, I
noticed
> it happens whenever I turn on the AC compressor. I dont normally use the
AC
> in the winter since I only use manual temp. controls and rarely turn it on
> for defrost. Therefore, I assumed the squeal was coming from the
drivebelt
> rather than the compressor. I should also mention that I had to replace
the
> original factory drivebelt about a year ago.
>
> I tightened the belt tension bolt per instructions, and the squeal seems
to
> have vanished. Hurray.
>
> Question I have now....how tight should I make the drivebelt? I dont have
> access to a fancy "belt tension gauge", and no auto parts store in town
> seems to stock them or even know what they are. Right now, I can only get
> about 1/2" of play in the middle of the belt (between idler pulley and
power
> steering pump). It seems pretty tight, but I'd like to get a scientific
> measure of its tension to make sure its within spec. I've heard that
> excessive belt tension will cause extra wear & tear on pulley
> bearings...like the AC compressor, power steering pump, etc.
>
> Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
>

 

A simple technique most techs use instead of a gauge, find the longest
distance between any two pulleys and with thumb and one finger, without
forcing it, twist the belt as far as it will go. Tighten until it turns 90
degrees. It takes a bit of touch but you'll quickly be able to tell if it's
too loose or too tight.
"TJM" <tjm@nospam> wrote in message
news:M_adnaPK4KK24Tfd4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> I have a '95 GCL with 4.0L six and 144K miles.
>
> Over the winter, I heard a loud squealing coming from the engine
compartment
> when I started the engine, and lasted about 5 seconds then disappeared.
It
> only seemed to occur at cold engine startup. Now that its warmer, I
noticed
> it happens whenever I turn on the AC compressor. I dont normally use the
AC
> in the winter since I only use manual temp. controls and rarely turn it on
> for defrost. Therefore, I assumed the squeal was coming from the
drivebelt
> rather than the compressor. I should also mention that I had to replace
the
> original factory drivebelt about a year ago.
>
> I tightened the belt tension bolt per instructions, and the squeal seems
to
> have vanished. Hurray.
>
> Question I have now....how tight should I make the drivebelt? I dont have
> access to a fancy "belt tension gauge", and no auto parts store in town
> seems to stock them or even know what they are. Right now, I can only get
> about 1/2" of play in the middle of the belt (between idler pulley and
power
> steering pump). It seems pretty tight, but I'd like to get a scientific
> measure of its tension to make sure its within spec. I've heard that
> excessive belt tension will cause extra wear & tear on pulley
> bearings...like the AC compressor, power steering pump, etc.
>
> Thanks for any help. Where can I buy/rent a quality belt tension gauge?
>
>

 

> You don't need to spend $$$ on a fancy gage. Ask the NAPA guy to look
> in his parts book under Tools. He should be able to find the Kricket
> Belt Tension Gage. My local dealer actually stocked it. It is around
> US$10 and works well enough for accessory belts.

I just ordered the Krikit KR2 from NAPA......will let you know my results
soon.