Alternator/Power Steering Belt
 

Hi,


I own a 2002 Bugeye WRX Wagon and am having problems with the alternator belt squealing/chirping when cold. I have narrowed it down to this belt and not the a/c belt.


I have tried three brands of belt Dayco, Gates and Contitech. For around 2 to 3 months all is fine no noise. Then after this period they all start to squeal/chirp when cold. When the belt/engine has warmed up no noise.


Increasing the belt tension makes no difference. I have also tried smaller diameter belts which makes no difference. The most recent one is a Dayco one which just manages to fit onto the pulleys. This again has started to squeal chirp after a few months.


I have also tried using belt dressing.


Bearings all fine in power steering pump and alternator.


Have replaced the alternator. No change.


Pulleys are all aligned.


My last option I suppose is to buy a genuine Subaru Belt and to try changing the power steering pump....


Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

It might be the pulleys are worn, as its a 02 with miles on it, so the belt wears quickly trying to bed itself into the worn v pattern grooves.

Hi,
Thanks for your suggestion. Car has gone 82k. Could be the pulleys I suppose. I did look at pulley replacement but it does look like it could be a pain to do......

have you re-tensioned after the belt has bed in ?
are you also sure its the belt and not the AC belt tensioner pulley?

Hi,
Thanks for the suggestions. It's definitely the power steering belt. I've replaced the AC tensioner and belt as I initially thought that this may be the culprit. Just to confirm this I also removed the AC belt totally and the noise still continued. The belt has also been re tensioned after it has bed in.

Is it definitely the belt and not the power steering pump drawing air in through the o ring?

Hi. Thanks for the suggestion. Just put another new belt on today and no noise so don't think it is the power steering pump. I've applied minimal tension to this one. Just enough to stop the belt slipping when using the power steering when cold. I'm wondering if I've just tightened the previous belts too much and they have prematurely worn.....