Just recently since the cold weather has crept in one of the belts screeches for a second or two on cold startup. I suspect this is due to the cold damp weather? But is that all it could be? Or should I get it checked out before I lube the belts?

 

would they not slip more if you lubed them ?
think they need tightening up to stop it

 

Just change them? They're a piece of **** to change and cheap as chips.

 

Defo don't lube them and try nipping them up a bit but don't be snapping the tensioner for the a/c thingie good luck

 

Could be the condensation causing the belts to slip were a substance as carb cleaner could be used to remove any moisture etc but no no to wd40 dude

 

Cambelt is on teeth its self tensioning and wont be slipping. It be the fan belt its probably needing adjusted or replaced, easy job

 

Just check the tension on the pas belt . . .

 

New fan belt they normally need replaceing as the car gets older anyway
Should be £12-15 and better now then when it snaps

 

Is there a guide to changing the belt?

 

I suggest you take it to a COMPETENT garage mate and save yourself aggro and money if you ain't touched these before or don't have experience it can be quiet costly by the sounds of things

 

Belts need tightened, it'll be alternator/ps belt not cam belt.
rELATIVELY EASY TO DO.
dOES IT IN COLD WEATHER AS THE LOAD ON THE ALT IS GREATER, AND THE PULEYS ARE SMALLER DUE TO CONTRACTION.
Damn capslock.

 

^^^^ this ^^^^
Don't mean to sound harsh but if you think lubricating a drive belt and you find it difficult to fit a fan belt then take it to a garage mate.

 

Mine has just started to do the same .... for me it's the alternator pulley. I discovered this by squirting a small shot of WD40 on the pulley when it was squealing (where the bolt is - not on the belt itself) and as soon as I did, the squealing stopped. Mine now comes and goes but only when the car is cold, which suggests to me the pulley is on its way out.

 

I don't think any1s listening bro

 

Checked the tension on mine and it seems ok ... will try tightening it a little more tonight to see if that helps but I assumed it was the pulley because the slight noise disappears as soon as a bit of wd40 hits the alternator pulley. Belt was replaced as part of the service in April.

For the purpose of the OP, this video shows how to change the belt:

 

Piece of cake mate I will do that no problem! F**k me looks like even a 5 year old could do that! I just like to ask the questions and seek advice so that I know exaclty what im dealing with before I do it. I will start by checking if mine needs tightening then before replacing.

And I know its not the cam belt. I wanted to know this for a sepearate matter.

 

Belt tightened and problem solved!

 

Decent.

 

proof that a video speaks a thousand words

 

When he said "lubricate" I'm assuming he meant with a belt spray such as Hycote Belt Slip? This stuff is sticky and stops the squeak as well as increasing the grip.
The answer is to tighten the belt but a quick spray of this stuff does a job in the meantime.

JohnD

 

'fan'-belt.... yeah.

you old gits!