PT Cruiser Squealing Belt on Start-up Common Fix HOW TO

[@meladyarbuckle3185]

You been helping me maintain my car for a year now thank u

[@mitchamatrudo]

Wow, it would have taken me a long time to figure out the 13mm tightening bolt. I got to that one from under the car (Jack stands, guys). Just 1 thing to add, it seemed to me that as you tighten the 13mm to tighten the belt, this also makes the 15mm nut tighter so I had to loosen-up the 15 mm quite a bit to get the belt to tighten. Thanks so much for your time

[@khm-projectsaltyfrog9231]

Excellent video! Very well done, which not a lot of people do when they shoot videos like this.

[@WrenchSense]

Thanks! Glad to help!

[@thesaparo123]

You are awesome mechanic. Thanks I really learned some stuff from you thanks

[@randykrauch8954]

Just had my 2002 PT Cruiser timing belt replaced for the second time as I've owned it since new. Now at 235K. It has never squealed but now it does on cold, 6+ hours between last start. If I turn steering wheel, even slightly while in place, the squeal gets even louder. After things are warm, 5+ minutes of running, the squeal goes away. Sounds like they didn't tension the belt(s) enough. Thank you for this and I will go back for them to correct. Thanks!

[@bradleyrenaud9257]

Curious, was it the belt or something else? I wondered about the power steering pump

[@joshkellis6499]

Thank you. I had squealing before...... Had my timing belt done so had belts + tensioner done at the same time ....... After awhile the sqeal at start up came back. Guess the belt stretched out a bit. I thought it was the other belt, but thought there was nothing I could do due to the tensioner being self adjusting. Thank you. I wish I new this was common earlier. I'll give it a shot. Have a good one. 👍

[@Wakeupandsniffthecoffee]

Even though I've been in there before, I'm going to take another look. My 2001 non turbo squeals off and on. I thought the ac compressor was locking up, because I've been having problems with it blowing warm after a bit. I pulled the ac relay and it still squealed, so I'm looking elsewhere now. I noticed it would start to squeal as the electric radiator fan switched in, so I'm thinking maybe the fan has some dry bearings and is going out, but before I go in that direction, I'll have a go at the belt tension to be sure first.

[@Wakeupandsniffthecoffee]

Update. I went to tighten the belt and found the pivot arm lock nut gone. It either came loose and fell off, or we forgot to put it back on last time I was in there. I replaced the nut and tightened the belt and locked them down. I had a short squeal after, but continue to test now.

[@scottcates]

Deflection is the only standard that I know of. But in a space as confined as this, there really wouldn't be an accurate way to measure deflection. So your advice to feel the belt and use informed judgement is spot on.

[@jaminova_1969]

Thank You sir, you are my hero! What a stupid design! This will be the last Chrysler crap product I will ever own, and I've owned many!

[@thesaparo123]

You are awesome mechanic. Very informative, extremely understandable & also spectacular. you definitely helped me solved a couple of problems. Wow thank you Sir..and job well done. Im following you

[@scottcates]

Outstanding video, Sir. Your descriptions and the things you point out are perfect.

[@stevenhess5202]

Great video was very helpful made the fix go faster with less hassle thank you.

[@davidnaugler73]

If the A/C is not working that could add to belt squeal. Recharge the A/C. I used R12A a constant boiling mixture of pentane and isobutane, approved by Greenpeace.

[@RiceARonia]

Really? How so? My ac is not working as well.

[@zdub8438]

Just swapped out the fan in my 06 non turbo cuz the AC wasn't cooling. Got AC but now it squeaks for 2 min right in the middle of warming up. Gonna have to throw some new belts on, they can't be too expensive.

[@WrenchSense]

Belts can be expensive but not for the PT Cruiser. Thanks for the comment!

[@cicero2]

An informative video. Many thanks.

[@ThisOldMan-ya472]

Thank you.. this video saves me some time exploring. 🙂

[@WrenchSense]

You bet! Thanks for the comment

[@ThisOldMan-ya472]

@@WrenchSense It took me five minutes to set up, and five minutes to remove the alternator belt squeal. I only did about 1 1/2 revolutions on the 13mm adjusting bolt. thanks again.

[@krzysztof_tactix]

Thanks mate best regards from Poland

[@WrenchSense]

Very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@SlyDrJ]

Thanks a ton dude!!!!!!!!!!

[@sprucet9639]

Thanks for the video, very helpful.

[@WrenchSense]

You bet! Thanks for the comment!

[@kevinl.9471]

I have had this problem last winter when I would get out of work at night and get in the vehicle to leave, it would squeal, the lights would dim a bit and the engine seemed to loose a bit of power. It would happen usually when taking off from a stop. I have also noticed a problem that in the winter my car would crank very slowly and I would cross my fingers it would start. Could my problem be the alternator belt? I have to pull the front passenger wheel hub to get the bearing pressed out anyways, so I will check.. Thanks, Great video!!

[@thevaperdragonect9714]

Did you find out if that was it ?

[@scottscoville1118]

This video, and as far as I can see, the comments, do not mention the common cause of the alternator belt squeal other than loose belt: bad alternator bearings. This will cause tremendous load on the engine, making it iffy to start and loss of power when starting out, and sometimes, the bearings will suddenly freeze up while driving down the road, stall the motor and put the car into a skid if not an auto trans. You can tell whether the squeal is from one cause or the other by looking at the alternator pulley from underneath (in the passenger wheel well), and see whether it has been rubbing rubber off the belt. If so, you will also see or smell smoke or hot rubber, and if you also are experiencing indications that the motor has extraordinary load on it, you need a new alternator. If everything is clean and sweet, and the motor isn't having trouble turning over, or loss of power, you just need to tighten the belt. I'm really surprised no one mentioned this. It happens to me a lot (I fix a lot of cars that have gone >100k mi, not just mine).

[@mzimasimaqanda8998]

I need help guys 😢😢 😢 The belt is loose and noise is too much when I put down my feet on acceleration

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

I’m on drive belt #3 on my 03 model. They last about 3-6 months then it start squealing like mad. It’s just the main belt, not the alternator belt on mine.

[@Livingmydreammm]

Thank you❤❤❤

[@WrenchSense]

No problem! Thanks for the comment!

[@rudysison9010]

Alot of information, unfortunate my pt cruiser is missing the tensioner bolt..im a bit handicapped and my last mechanic must have broke or lost it..he change the belt and no squeeking for 2 days and now squeeking noise is back...

[@donaldfinkler2490]

My 06 pt cruiser makes a whinny noise first thing in the morning

[@WrenchSense]

Power steering pump?

[@OGXX-bs5bc]

Do you know why my belt won't stay tight? I've replaced the belt twice. Replaced the altanator and it stays tight for a day, then starts squealing again. Then I tighten it and it will stay tight for a day and loosen again. That altanator was a PAIN to change and really don't want to have to do it again.

[@jonnyblazeschannel]

I think you just helped me out a good one bud thanks

[@WrenchSense]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching!

[@thesauce807]

How did you take off the shields behind the front Tire??

[@WrenchSense]

These cars use retainer clips that can be removed by popping out the center with a flat blade screw driver. They can be a pain.

[@michaelcowan6254]

There are also three 10mm screws to remove to get the plastic shield off. They are located at the top inside the wheel well.. They are hidden.

[@johnhilton2509]

Kevin I. exact same thing was hapening to me with the lights flickering in brightness when it was idling i have a squeaky belt as well. it seems to have gotten better as the weather has warmed up but i'll see if this fixes it.

[@tonegrew1312]

How did it do with the power steering

[@alanhoggard4554]

Any idea why my serpentine belt keeps popping off? 2006 PT Cruiser. Brand new belt and tensioner.

[@WrenchSense]

I would say that one of the pulleys that the belt rides on, the crank shaft pulley, or the tensioner are bad or loose.

[@hoodboss4267]

Did you solve the problem ? I do have the same problem I already remplace the tensiones but keeps popping of . Thank you

[@alanhoggard4554]

@@hoodboss4267 Yes, it ended up that the tensioner had a crack in the support and it was flexing,

[@johnhilton2509]

Thank You! just woulda been great to see you do it cuz on my first attempt there is no space at all when going through the top. did you use a bar to extend the leverage on the wrench? and i am using ratchet wrenches but there is almost no room to ratchet! lol

[@cicero2]

To give more leverage, I taped another wrench to the ratchet wrench and it worked a treat! It's an awkward car to work on to say the least!

[@ShaReezyX]

can anyone tell me if that’s why it makes a chirping sound under my hood???

[@KrillMister57]

Super great! Thank you so much! Peace!

[@WrenchSense]

You bet! Thanks for the comment.

[@jonathanbruch]

Thank you for this video. It was extremely helpful.

[@krzysztof_tactix]

show the Replacing the tensioner roller 2.0 dohc

[@genuEngine]

Do you have the part.numbers for these belts

[@WrenchSense]

I do! There are links in the video description. Thanks for watching!

[@waytostoned]

I've found alot of the time it isnt the tensioners but the crank pully is misaligned, causing massive squeel...

[@JnJShiffler]

I find my belt tracks off often and can see it on the edge of the front most pulley? Would love if the tensioner pulley had the lips / wall / edge on the sides so the belt could not track off. How do you correct this misalignment you say you find a lot?

[@labrocca]

How long did the job take?

[@josecalderon1088]

my pully sparks wen i gass it can somone tell me y

[@dannyjoereagor5383]

Thank you

[@willardsargent3958]

Thanks

[@WrenchSense]

You bet! Glad to help!

[@vo4313]

Thanks bub 🤙

[@yeahman1975]

Excellent

[@dsilkiiereneeharris6166]

Might be why air conditioning isn't cold...

[@jodyljohnson8515]

Squeal? Mine is a screaming Mimi!!!😣