Fwd: Re: 5kTQ squeal

[enzeder@ix.netcom.com]

On 09/24/97 22:13:34 you wrote:
>
>>Alright, here is the question.  When I am in 3rd, sometimes it happens in
>>4th too,  and I am reaching 3000 rpm at any acceleration, it begins to
>>squeal a really high pitched squeal at about 2800 rpm until I shift or I
>>slow down to below 3000.  It doesn't do it all the time though, but
>>sometimes is enough.  The only thing I can think is maybe the rear
>>crankshaft seal.  I know there was some talk about this on the list before,
>>but I don't think the scenario was the same.  Any help would be
>>appreciated.  Thanks.
>
>My '89 200q had exactly the same symptoms ... they went away after I
>tightened the alternator and a/c belts.  Apparently, they loosened up
>slightly during one of our occasional rainstorms...
>______________________________________________________________________
>    _                _
>   / |      _| o    | \       _| o   Jeffrey Goggin
>  /__| | | / | | __ |  | | | / | |   audidudi@delphi.com
> /   | |_| \_| |    |_/  |_| \_| |   http://people.delphi.com/audidudi
>______________________________________________________________________
>
>
>

You may want to be careful about this.  I've had the problem before.  When water is involved (heavy rain, or driving through puddles-as I like to do) 
water gets on the belts and pulleys, and the friction between the belt and the pully is reduced allowing the belt to slip.  You won't hear the belt 
slipping when it's wet because the water is acting as a lubricant.  This slipping smooths the belt and pulley which then allows the the now smoothed belt 
to slip even when it's dry (especially as RPM's increase).

There are two fixes:

1) As above you can tighten the belts, but you have to be careful not to over tighten them as you will then shorten the life of whatever that belt spins 
because you will be increasing the pressure on the bearings of things like alternators, A/C pumps, etc.  That said, you should check the tension of the 
belts.  I use the diameter of my finger as a measure of allowable deflection.  Any more = too loose, any less = too tight.

2) If the belt and pulleys appear smooth, find a way of scuffing the V'd surface of the belt and the pulley, just don't overdo it.  Maybe 200 grit paper.

Arryn.