Matrix Serpentine Belt Squeal

I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about 23,000 miles on
her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing noise coming
from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this noise during the
coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise comes and
goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.

But Virginia is different than all the other Toyotas I have owned.
Instead of the belt tension being applied via an adjustment bolt (e.g.:
on the alternator), her serpentine belt is tensioned by a spring device
that I am not familiar with. How can this tensioner be adjusted to
eliminate the squeal? Or, does the squealing indicate there could be a
problem with the belt or tensioning device?

This is the only problem Virginia has. I change her oil and filter
myself every 3-5000 miles. I took her once to the dealer I bought her
from for a scheduled maintenance inspection to protect her warranty.
Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very untrustworthy
and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part proves
defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without going through a
terrible dealer?

Thanks,

Elmer

Elmer wrote:[color=blue]
> I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about 23,000 miles on
> her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing noise coming
> from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this noise during
> the coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise comes and
> goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.[/color]
snip[color=blue]
> Elmer[/color]

With a flashlight, examine CLOSELY the inside belt grooves. You are looking
for lots of sand grains imbedded in the belt grooves. It is likely such is
the case. Tightening the belt when the belt is impacted with sand will not
fix the squealing and will accelerate alternator and water pump bearing
failure so .... replace the belt.

"Elmer" <ElmerCat@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about 23,000 miles on
>her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing noise coming
>from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this noise during the
>coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise comes and
>goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.
>
>But Virginia is different than all the other Toyotas I have owned.
>Instead of the belt tension being applied via an adjustment bolt (e.g.:
>on the alternator), her serpentine belt is tensioned by a spring device
>that I am not familiar with. How can this tensioner be adjusted to
>eliminate the squeal? Or, does the squealing indicate there could be a
>problem with the belt or tensioning device?
>
>This is the only problem Virginia has. I change her oil and filter
>myself every 3-5000 miles. I took her once to the dealer I bought her
>from for a scheduled maintenance inspection to protect her warranty.
>Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very untrustworthy
>and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part proves
>defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without going through a
>terrible dealer?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Elmer[/color]

About the only thing that sounds reasonable to me is to first
ensure that the car's a female then try some belt dressing, and
perhaps let her sleep indoors in cold weather...

Don't for God's sake put dressing on a male car...

--


-Gord.

"I'm trying to get as old as I can,
and it must be working 'cause I'm
the oldest now that I've ever been"

On 24 May 2005 07:37:15 -0700, "Elmer" <ElmerCat@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about 23,000 miles on
>her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing noise coming
>from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this noise during the
>coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise comes and
>goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.
>
>But Virginia is different than all the other Toyotas I have owned.
>Instead of the belt tension being applied via an adjustment bolt (e.g.:
>on the alternator), her serpentine belt is tensioned by a spring device
>that I am not familiar with. How can this tensioner be adjusted to
>eliminate the squeal? Or, does the squealing indicate there could be a
>problem with the belt or tensioning device?
>
>This is the only problem Virginia has. I change her oil and filter
>myself every 3-5000 miles. I took her once to the dealer I bought her
>from for a scheduled maintenance inspection to protect her warranty.
>Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very untrustworthy
>and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part proves
>defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without going through a
>terrible dealer?[/color]

Move to Florida...

We have an excellent dealer here...

[color=blue]
>
>Thanks,
>
>Elmer[/color]

--

Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" wrote[color=blue]
> "Elmer" wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about
>>23,000 miles on
>>her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing
>>noise coming
>>from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this
>>noise during the
>>coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise
>>comes and
>>goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.
>>
>>But Virginia is different than all the other Toyotas I
>>have owned.
>>Instead of the belt tension being applied via an
>>adjustment bolt (e.g.:
>>on the alternator), her serpentine belt is tensioned by a
>>spring device
>>that I am not familiar with. How can this tensioner be
>>adjusted to
>>eliminate the squeal? Or, does the squealing indicate
>>there could be a
>>problem with the belt or tensioning device?
>>
>>This is the only problem Virginia has. I change her oil
>>and filter
>>myself every 3-5000 miles. I took her once to the dealer I
>>bought her
>>from for a scheduled maintenance inspection to protect her
>>warranty.
>>Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very
>>untrustworthy
>>and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part
>>proves
>>defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without
>>going through a
>>terrible dealer?[/color]
>
> Move to Florida...
>[/color]

Elmer, if I loved here as much as you obviously do, I
wouldn't let any one else mess with her serpentine belt. I
would learn how to change her myself in the privacy of our
own bedroom (oops garage).

--
winGNut

On Tue, 24 May 2005 07:37:15 -0700, Elmer wrote:
[color=blue]
> I have an '04 Matrix named Virginia. She's got about 23,000 miles on
> her odometer and has developed an embarrasing squealing noise coming
> from her serpentine belt. Virginia started making this noise during the
> coldest part of the past Massachusetts winter. The noise comes and
> goes, but it's generally annoying and I want to fix it.
>
> But Virginia is different than all the other Toyotas I have owned.
> Instead of the belt tension being applied via an adjustment bolt (e.g.:
> on the alternator), her serpentine belt is tensioned by a spring device
> that I am not familiar with. How can this tensioner be adjusted to
> eliminate the squeal? Or, does the squealing indicate there could be a
> problem with the belt or tensioning device?
>
> This is the only problem Virginia has. I change her oil and filter
> myself every 3-5000 miles. I took her once to the dealer I bought her
> from for a scheduled maintenance inspection to protect her warranty.
> Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very untrustworthy
> and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part proves
> defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without going through a
> terrible dealer?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Elmer[/color]

Find a better dealer? What part of MA are you in? In Western Mass, Toyota
of Greenfield is Most Excellent, as is Northampton Toyota.

--
The Relentless Pursuit Of Conception...

[color=blue][color=green]
>>Unfortunately, the dealer proved themselves to be very untrustworthy
>>and I will never take her there again. If a warranted part proves
>>defective, how can I get Toyota to replace it without going through a
>>terrible dealer?[/color][/color]

IMO, it would depend on how easy it is to change.
Mine requires a wrench on the tensioner to move it out of
the way(no turning, just leverage) and the whole thing
pops off. Drop in a replacement and put the tensioner
assembly back in place.(I suspect a Camry is very simmilar)

MAtrix, I don't know, though - it looks tight in there.