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I have a '94 Civic DX that I bought a few months ago. I changed the head gasket, put on a timing belt kit, and all new serpentine belts. Ever since it got cold (at or below freezing) one of the belts has squeeled off and on. Seems to only do it when the car is cold...after it warms up and has been driven a while it won't do it. One night I started it up to let it warm up and melt the ice on the window and the squeel would come and go almost in a rythm. I thought it might be the A/C compressor turning on and off but it has done it when the defrost is off too. Could it be the alternator starting to go out? Any other ideas?

I've been thinking alternator but no way to test it since it still charges and only makes the noise once in a while...and only when cold. But it is embarrassing!

I've also checked and rechecked belt tension several times. I thought the tension was ok but put them a little tighter just in case...no difference. I'd consider them a touch on the tight side right now.

Thanks,

Derek

 
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I have the same problem on a 97 Civic, its exactly like you explained it but I have not started looking into the problem because im lazy lol. Let me know If you figure it out though.

 
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did u try tightening the tensioner on the serpentine belts, things do expand and shrink, belts do this frequently

 
Rep Power: 275

sounds like your belt is loose almost every time I have pulled a honda engine or change the timing belt and take the stupid serpentine belts off and put them back on it never fails that they start squealing.

Once you put on a new belt and tighten it down you have to run the car a bit and then tighten it back down cause new belts tend to stretch when you first put them on. They tend to squeal when it's cold out or you turn on the a/c or when there is just a heavier electric load on your car.

Your car has an almost rythmic cycle to it when it is sitting warming up it runs a little faster then a little slower. hence the rythmic squealing pattern.

Also with the rubber in the belts when its cold out they tend to slip more.
just give the tensioner a couple more turns and it should be fine,

But!!! make sure to check that your tensioner is not working it's way loose again on you Honda's can be notorious for the tensioner on the alternator working it's way loose locktight on the threads tends to help

Good luck with the squealing I know how annoying it can be. lol

 
Rep Power: 231

i had this EXACT problem on my 01 EX, i solved it by removing the bumper, and spraying belt lube spray on the lower wheel, (only way to access it was by removing bumper), and after that it seemed to stop, i know how much of a hassle it was, it was embarrassing as hell for me.

 
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Well...I feel stupid. I'd checked the belt tension on these belts at least four times. The last time I went out late after dark and tightened them all and the noise didn't go away. The belts are hard to reach so I tightened the tensioners a little bit by feel and then moved the belt with my pry bar to see how it looked. At the time they all looked pretty tight. It kept bugging me so I went out tonight at midnight and looked it over again. Apparently the alternator is adjusted as tight as it will go...I didn't notice that the last time in the dark.

I looked the Bando belt up on their website and it is the right part number...but I don't have enough adjustment to get it tight enough to stop squeeling. So tomorrow I'm going to try and put a slightly smaller belt on it and see how that works.

Derek