My wife has a 2002 Sebring V-6. I changed out the belts on it about 3000 miles ago. The car used to be quiet, but ever since the new belts have been, there is a loud, distinct whining coming from it. I've tried both NAPA and Mopar belts, belt lubricatant, loosening belts, tightening belts.... I'm lost. Has this happened to anyone else? Some looking around on the internet says that this happens a lot to this model, but no one has said how to fix it. Please help, I'd appreciate any ideas very much.

Cheers, Dave

 

Any Sebring owners?

 

My uncle had an S10 blazer last time he came to visit. During the trip here, he had the same whining noise that you described. What he said to do was take a bar of soap & wipe it across the belt (I'm not a mechanic so I just said "whatever works!"). He said that it has worked every time it starts to develop a squeek.

 

Just a wild guess, but possibly the tensioner is on it's way out. Maybe when the tension was off it while you changed the belt something shifted internally. I have very successfully used WD 40 in the past to find belt noise problems. With the engine running, use the little tube that comes with the WD 40 to help with the aim and spray anything that moves. That includes the belt.

 

Thanks, I'll give it a shot. Stupid thing is loud as *%$#.

 

If all else fails you may have to remove the belt and then by hand turn the alternator, water pump, tensioner and A/C (plus anything else the belt drives) and feel if there is any roughness, excess play or anything else out of the ordinary.
Another thing you can try, (but this is a bit dangerous with the moving parts, so be ultra careful) is to take a long screwdriver and place the tip against each item the belt drives (ie alternator) and then place your ear on the handle and listen for strange sounds. (Wipe the old grease off the handle before placing against ear )
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