Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior $5 Solution to Squeaky Belt Tensioner

Go to Kragen or any automobile care store, and pick up a spray can of "Belt Dresser." If you can't find it, ask one of the workers if they sell "Belt Dresser." It is a solution to kill the squeak source, kind of like a lubrication.
Follow directions on the can. The kind I purchased came with a little straw to attach to the nozzle. Use it to spray the lubrication on the pullies and belt surfaces. Spray for a good 20-30 seconds.

I actually posted on the other post the exact same thing.The dressingit works miracles. It is better than the Dealer ever did. Best advice, good job steven

i was going to do that , but i figured i'd make toyota pay for their bad tensioner prob by warrantying it lmao ... steven did you get ur tensioner replaced again??? i did for the third time and the service manager will keep fixing it for me (he says it shuldnt happen and said he'll keep fixing the ongoing prob becuz it started at 8,000 miles---even if my warranty runs out)

I only had it replaced once. I dont have the time nor can i afford to give up my car for a day.

i hear ya there man, i make em give me a loaner, i just hate gettin damn rav4's or corollas lmao

plus the dealership is very close to me so its not outta my way

[ 05-09-2003, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: Bradcelica ]

i'm curious, how long of a fix (or permanent) is the belt dressing spray??

if permanent or long lasting, i might need to invest in some lol

thx for the help

[ 05-09-2003, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: Bradcelica ]

hey guys and gals, i had something squeaky in my engine bay. I lifted up the hood (and no it was not the hamsters spinning the hamster wheel lol), i think it was a belt. Anyway, it has been raining here a lot in sw detroit lately. I was worried, but the squeak went away a day later. I hope this was my problem. Should this miracle can fix it if the squeak is to return?

The noise should come back, this is a band-aid fix. The belt will dry up again and the squeeking will return. I've used up can's of this stuff so much of it infact that on one of my cars you can see where it deflected off the belts onto the underside of my hood!
On that car I finally ended up losing the belt when I was boosting hard onto the highway. Unfortunently that belt ran all the accessories, water pump, alt. power steering. Worst of all it was at 11:30 at night. Luckily I had already purchased the replacement belt, I just hadn't put it on. It was no fun changing the belt on the side of the highway at 12 midnight!

My celica problem is weird. Even with the Belt taken off, when I cold start it, I would hear the rattling or squealing noice for 5-7 mins until the engine is warm. I have even replace the power steering, but did not help. Could it it the Idler bearing? I'm like ??? If anybody have similar problem and got it fix, please let me know!

that belt dress crap is bullshit, my belts have been squeeelin a lil bit.. and i thought spending $3.49 on that damn orange can would help. but i followed the instructions and now.. after spraying it.. my belt is sqeakin n squeeling louder than before!! sounds like the whole engine is gonna explode. that damn orange can can go to hell for all i care

Hey tough guy, use this not that orange can...

so does this "belt dresser" defect my belt in any way???

Hey Steven,

Have you come across the problem I have describe above? Have any body else come across similar problem as mine???

Actually, the can says it prolongs the life of your belt. It kind of makes sense though, if you keep your engine well oiled, it will prolong the life of it. Just like with your belt I guess. Can't let it get dried up too much...

it seems like forums ofcourse are for everyones opinions.. but some opinions arent always right.. or arent for ALL people... so my advice.. is dont alaways jump on the "quick fix" or "cheap solution" for a problem.. especially automotive problems.. i took my car to toyota.. after spraying my underside of my belt.. and making it worse.. all i had to do was go to toyota.. and have them check the belt tensioner.. and they replaced it.. because it was defective.. so yeah i wasted.. $3.49 on the stupid orange can. and they even replaced my belt as well. now its back to just the hissin sound of my intake which is kewlz!

oh today, i bit the bullet and dropped my car off to have my belt tensioner replaced and to have a JDM TRD clutch kit and throw out bearing installed.

Hey all, New user to this forum, but I'n far form being a newbie. I've been lurking for a while, just now got around to registering.

Anyways, I have a more permanent fix for the squeaky belt issue. My other car, which is a 94 ford Escort LX with a LOT of mods, had a squeaky serpentine belt for the longest time. I replaced the belt, and that one stretched out pretty fast (it was a crappy belt).

Anyways, I needed a new belt, so I ended up getting a Goodyear Gatorback belt. If you've never heard of these, you should check your local parts store. The belts grooved surface have counter grooves cut in yo make the belt grip better (much like a tire tread). A happy side effect to having this configuration is that the belt will NEVER squeak. I kid you not. I have put over 40,000 miles on one of those belts, and it runs silent to this day.

Another bonus to one of those belts is they last longer, and if you have underdrive pulleys, the belt's improved grip may add HP to your setup (not much, mind you, maybe an extra 2-5 HP max)

Gatorback belts cost a bit more, but are worth the extra bread.

Hope this helps,

Rave669

I wish the Gator belt could help me out! Even with no belt attach, I would would hear a squealing noice for 5-7 mins on every cold start. I'm still Scratching my Head, since I have already replace the belt and belt tensioner.

I had the same problem. It's actually a fuck-up on Toyota part. Something with a badly designed tensioner. I took mine to the dealership and they had an updated version of the belt tensioner but I was under warranty. Check with a Toyota dealership they will have a solution for sure, if not, they have their heads up their asses so check with another one. Good Luck

thx mine is starting to do it again.

Same exact for mine. Cold start squeaks for about 7 minutes thenn stops. My warranty is about up so i better jump on this!! Do i just take it to the dealer, Is it still covered (free)?

Yeah i spray the thing. it goes off for like 2 min. then comes back. now you can even hear the car like a quarter mile away. i fix the damn thing like twice already and now my warrenty is over. it is squealing like a dying pig. To make things worst, i found out my lift bolt is broken. Man i hate my celica. it just keeps on giving me problems. In 1999 if i knew all this, would of never bought it.my opinon.

i have the same problom as Turtle GTS
i took it to the toyota dealer and they said they coulnd hear it and had to keep it over night and they wouldnt even give me a loaner becuase im not 25 what kinda crap its that

same thing happened to me, you should have ate all their complementary and drank all their complimentary coffee then asked for a complemetary shuttle ride to work/school/home.

Holly S%^&t, People actually believe you can by a "fix" in a F%^&king Can.

Guys, easy fix, did mine after 30K. Remove the tensioner, take out the bearing/pulley (it;s a molded pulley on a bearing assembly), remove both pop-seal off the bearing Then clean it out. You'll find the bearing grease as gone dry and hard ...duh that may be the cause for the squeaky noisy thingy!!!

Re-pack the bearing with a QUALITY grease (I used Mobil1) pop the seals back in and re-install the tensioner.

DONE, 1:15 minutes. Hardest part was removing the engine mount to access the tensioner. Hint: use a carjack with a piece of soft wood under the oil pan.

Go back to the store and get your money back on that "fix in a can" S$%^t


DO I SOUND BITTER?

Sounds good, take some pictures so we know exactly what to do. You'll be a hero.

I wish I had,

Mabey now that I had a joint I can clam down and right it up with more details.

Tell you what if any one can supply me with the following pitures. I''ll write up the procedure.

Close up of a new tensioner

Close up of the passenger side engine mount

Picture of a engine jack with a block of wood under the oil pan

The rest is me.

yes, please write up a guide on how to do this!

If the squeek on someones celica is infact the belt tensioner, do not procrastinate this problem because I and a friend removed mine when terrible squeeks began and there was a cracked bearing piece which probably would not have done anything but damage in the near future.

i hate any rattling, squeaking, pretty much any noise coming from my car that is not supposed to be there.

well now my 2003 is squeaking when i start it. it started after it rained over the christmas holiday. it has to be a belt or a pulley. the sound coincides with the rpm of the engine. but after a few minutes of driving the squeak goes away. but when the squeaking is there, IT IS LOUD.

i still need my fuel tank check valve fixed, so now toyota can fix something else while i am there for the check valve problem.

wd-40 works also. someone should make a magic belt or something to fix this problem!