Topic: Squeaking (belt?) after going through any puddle

[curls]

My wife called me to complain that her car (2002 Mazda Protege5) was making a squealing noise after she went through a puddle.  She said this happened numerous times on the way to work (30km), each time occurring almost immediately after going through a puddle.

Would this likely be a belt slipping due to the moisture splashing up into the area?  The two accessory belts were changed with OEM belts when i did the timing belt back in March of this year.

Is there anything specific to fix this? I'm thinking that tightening the belts would help since they likely stretched since March anyhow... but is this adviseable?  AFAIK, "belt dressing" products are just a band-aid and not meant to solve anything long term, which is why I didn't pick up a can of that on the way home today.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[rrocket]

I use the belt dressing because it displaces moisture so when you DO hit puddles, you don't get the squeaking.  I suppose it could be the bearings from either the alternator or PS pump that squeaks once hit with water.....

[barrie1]

Curls its a natural occurence that belts will squeel when wet expecially if there is not too much of a splash sheild on the bottom of the engine area. Belt dressing is good to a point but use it sparingly as it can dry out a belt too much and it will break when its getting older. Let it dry out and just drive it most of the time but replace at the normal time directions for that engine. All engines suffer from this same problem if wet enough. 

[curls]

Thanks guys.  I'll look more into the belt dressing as a potential solution.

[tortoise]

I had my alternator belt changed a little while ago.  It was fine for the week after then I drove to Burlington for the weekend through a torrential rainstorm.  When I went fired it up to go home it began squealing....  I brought it back to the shop, they tightened the belt and it's been quiet since. 

[safristi]

My Ranger belt was squealing this fall............and a neighbour gave me his can of "belt dressing" anti squeal stuff.............it would work for a day or so and back it would come...the NOISE.............finally had the belt replaced ...the mechanics said the dressing stuff is SHYTE and had to spend 15minutes washing the gunk off the grooves with brake fluid remover or some such to get the new belt properly seated.............it's like a sticky messy  bandaid on a problem.no real FIX................tell wifey to quit driving THRU THE BLOODY PUDDLES..if'n the belts are OKAY

[jamie1]

Thanks guys.  I'll look more into the belt dressing as a potential solution.

DO NOT use belt dressing. As safristi mechanic said. "it is shyte". With a "V" belt you can get away with it for awhile,but ribbed and serpentine belts are toast almost right away. Make sure the splash shields are in place. You can also check with the dealer,as there may be a TSB releted to this.

[rrocket]

Thanks guys.  I'll look more into the belt dressing as a potential solution.

DO NOT use belt dressing. As safristi mechanic said. "it is shyte". With a "V" belt you can get away with it for awhile,but ribbed and serpentine belts are toast almost right away. Make sure the splash shields are in place. You can also check with the dealer,as there may be a TSB releted to this.

Really?  I've used the stuff in all of my cars for years, and have never had a belt go.......ever.  I suppose if you use some POS spray it may hurt it...as I know some sprays contain solvents and even kerosene.  But no surprise there.  Use a POS product, get POS results.

[curls]

Well the noise only occurred that one day (an aberration of weather as it was +8*C in Ottawa in mid-december).  If it occurs again, I'll look into tightening the belts, but until then there is no noise and the wife isn't complaining. 

There are no splash shields near these belts and there never were from the factory.  The belts are located pretty high in the engine bay though, so my guess is that only VERY wet roads will cause enough spray to get up that high and dampen the belt enough to squeak.

[tortoise]

I love problems that just go away.  Too had it happens so infrequently in life.

[barrie1]

Usually the noise can go away when the belt is dry again but if useing Belt Dressing only use a very small amount of it as it actually dries the belts out and I have seen from overuse of the whole v-belt system cracked and broke about 2 weeks later. Of course it only happens when the engine is running and you are away from home or your repair garage which makes it even more pricey then it needed to be. 

[shawcross]

use a bar of soap since the heat of the belt will make the soap spread thew

[maritime_storm]

Curls you mentioned the belts were replaced recently, they more than likely have stretched and need to re-adjusted. Belt dressing tends to do more harm than good, we hate seeing the stuff in shop.

[tortoise]

Seeing as it was a year ago, I presume he's sorted it out!