engine/belt squeal

[Time Lord]

Hi everybody,

Got an intermittent squeal from the engine, usually on low revs, could it be a belt, tensioner, water pump ? Have you had a similar problem, any ideas where to look first would be happy to receive. Cheers.

[winchman]

With the engine running very carefully squirt wd40 on to each belt one at a time and see if the tome changes or disappears if it does check the tension and belt wear, if no difference keep looking

[Time Lord]

Hi Winchman, Thanks for your info. Haven't got back because the squeel/screech hasn't come back at the moment. Been waiting to try your ideas but it hasn't happened. Maybe I will look into the possible belt wear and change as a precaution. Will look at the problem over the next few days. Cheers and thanks for your input

[aquatix]

I would certainly not recommend WD-40 on belts.....

I use drive belt dressing on the Bongo and various other motors - it works really well.

Look for BD-90 or something like this : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251434046482?

[mikeonb4c]

If you change belts, make sure to use correct (mazda) ones as there's a suspicion the wrong v-profile can split the crank pulley and may cause squealing!

[Simon Jones]

I wouldn't recommend WD40 either. Get a trigger spray bottle filled with water and (carefully) squirt it over the 3 belts while the engine is running. If the noise changes or goes away then it's a noisy / loose / tight belt.

You can buy an aerosol of belt lubricant to stop it squeaking but that is a very short term solution as it will soften the rubber to the point where it starts to come apart. I ended up changing all 3 belts & then cleaning all the resulting goo off the pulleys so I would not use it again.

[Time Lord]

Thanks for all your info, the Bongo is in at the moment having the belts checked and probably changed, at my local garage. Seems the easy option to start with,, will let you know the outcome. Cheers.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for all your info, the Bongo is in at the moment having the belts checked and probably changed, at my local garage. Seems the easy option to start with,, will let you know the outcome. Cheers.

Pay extra for pukka Bongo belts if poss

[Time Lord]

Hi again,
belts have been checked and changed. They were quite "shiny" and a bit ragged on the edges. That was three weeks ago and limited mileage since, and all seems ok. The problem may come back because it was only intermittant, but so far so good. Cost £40 to do the job ( 3 x belts ). If it does manifest itself again will look at No 1 manifold, this seems another common Squeal problem from the forums.Thanks everyone
Adios amigos.