squeaking problem

[GuJu MaN 89]

ok im pretty sure its one of the belts and i dont know which one, but in my 97 corolla CE, on the passenger side, i keep hearing a contineious sqealing/sqeaking coming from the hood. now my question is, is it replaceable my self, and if so, HOW? there is like a bnuch of stuff in the way of the belts and i can barely get to them.

[tashirosgt]

A belt squaking may not be the fault of the belt. Make sure it is not under unusal load. Low power steering fluid can cause a big load on the power steering pump. A bad battery or bad regulator on the alternator can cause such a load also. Sometimes the air conditioner compressor wears out and that pulley goes bad. And when water pumps go bad their pulley can get wobbly. Check the obvious things first. Is there enough tension in the belts? Is the belt riding in the proper plane or is one of its pulleys coming loose and moving to the end of its shaft. Look in a service manual to see how to remove the belts and check their pulleys move freely. For example the belt around the alternator is removed by losening a bolt that holds the alternator and pivoting it. This bolt is frequently loosened, so the end may be rounded and perhaps you should replace the bolt. Disconnect the battery before you fool around near the alternator. One of the connections to the alternator has +12V directly from the battery. To get to the lower part of the belts remove the passenger side front tire and the plastic spash guard that lines the wheel well. You shoul d be able to reach the upper part from the top.

[GuJu MaN 89]

ok ill check it all out, imma take it to goodyear for a free diagnostic of which belt it is if any, and once they tell me, ill just go and do it myself. thx

[KaMLuNg]

i have the same problem.. but it only happens when the AC is on.. i have the feeling it is the A/C pulley... my friend was looking and he said when the squeaking came on, the pulley stopped turning... anyone know how to change this???

[GuJu MaN 89]

it looks pretty difficult to change :/ i wish i knew how without destroying my car lol