Lately when I have my A/C running a get a terrible belt screech during certain conditions. Usually it occurs after I have come to a stop, like at a stoplight, and then accelerate. It will go on for a few seconds unless I turn off the compressor.

The belt is new, about 8000 miles.

The pulleys are clean. I had a belt squeak for a while until I read in my maintenance manual that pilled up belt material in the pulley grooves will cause the annoying squeak. Cleaning them with a wire brush fixed that.

Anyway, I had the belt on and off quite a few times until I figured out the pulleys were dirty.

What I wonder is if I over extended the tensioner spring by having the belt on/off so many dang times. The manual has a tensioner spring check procedure, but it takes a special tool that I do not have.

How hard is it to get the tensioner off a 2000 2.4? Unless you guys have another idea, I guess I'll replace the tensioner and belt and see if that fixes it.

A few other things, I sprayed the belt with belt dressing, it did no good. Also, the A/C is correctly charged with freon. I've got 117,000 miles on the odo.

Thanks!
Brad

Could be the tensioner.Could also be another pulley causing the belt to slip.

When you remove the belt, spin the pullies freely by hand. Listen for any noise, partically bearing noise.




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new