OK forget about any bad memories you've got about Deliverance--I've gotta '91 22re that likes to squeal. When I put a few drops of oil on the top belt the noise will go away for a couple days. What are the top two accessories running off of that belt is it the power steering pump and an idler pulley? It sounds like the bearings are going out on something but I'm not sure what. Is there a bad track record for squealing from any of the belt driven devices? Thanks for the help!

 

Have you tried tightening the belt?

 

Ok, I'll admit to be a slow learner on the 22re. I thought that tensioning the belt would be a simple process. I had the skid plate off a few weeks ago and I tried to tighten up the bottom belt but when I turned the bolt, it didn't really seem to tighten it up very much. Any tricks to it?

 

yes check the tension on the belt, as that is the usual reason for squealing

 

Oil does not go on the belts.
Its a good way to ruin them... You might want to get a can of belt dressing instead (makes them sticky not slick)

If its been a while since they have been changed, see if they are glazed, frayed or cracked... if any of the above replace... if not do like AH64ID said tighten em

 

not really sure on the 22re, Ive never looked, and I dont have my truck available at the moment to do so.

I'm used to the style where you undo the bolt holding the alternator and slide the alternator to make it tight, but this isnt a serp. belt so im not sure how to tension the other belts off the top of my head.

 

If you have A/C there are 3 belts. Two of them, A/C and P/S tighten this way... There is a bolt in the middle of the pulley... loosen it a couple turns... then there is the tensioner bolt, its perpinduclar to the belt.. .tighten this bolt until the belt defletion is about 1/2" with a decent amount of pressure. Then retighten the bolt in the middle of the pulley.

The alternator pulley, IME always the loose one, doesn't have a tensioner pulley. You need to loosen the top, 12mm??, bolt on the alternator and the bottom long, 14mm, bolt.. then using a prybar.. I use a 14" long slotted screwdriver, pry the alternator.. in a non damaging location, and get the belt tight.. then tighten the 12mm bolt, then the 14mm... and you should be good to go..


But like Poul D'eau said, check for those signs of age and replace as necessary.. usually replace all if 1 needs it.

Serpentine belts have a tensioner, they do not get tightened like that?????

 

The bottom alternator bolt is long and has a nut on the back, the whole hting will turn unless you put a wrench on the back. Put new belts on and tight them. The squeel is a loose belt.