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-   -   Replaced drive belts incorrectly, seeking help to fix (https://www.hyundaiforum.com/forum/hyundai-santa-fe-20/replaced-drive-belts-incorrectly-seeking-help-fix-10238/)

medeski7 Feb 1, 2011 05:46 PM

Replaced drive belts incorrectly, seeking help to fix
 
Hi there. First, I want to thank you all for this place. I've gotten countless DIY tips from searching the information here. Apparently I've gotten a little too confident because I tried to do a job a few days ago that I'm certain I screwed up.

The vehicle: 2004 Santa Fe, 2.4l, manual transmission.

The problem: Loud squeaking that was on again off again from the drive belt area. It would happen on idle upon starting the car.

The job: Replace both the drive belts that control 1) the alternator and water pump, and 2) the power steering and AC. I think I have what each belt does correct.

What I did: First I took off the engine cover and passenger side splash guard. Once able to reach the alternator from underneath I loosened the lower bolt. From there I went back up top and loosened the side lock bolt on the alternator adjustment bracket, then loosened the back bolt that goes through the locking bolt block (make sense so far?).

Second, in the front of the car under the power steering pulley I noticed the small pulley (idler pulley, tensioner pulley, not sure what it's called) that's between the two big pulleys in a row (PS and AC). I noticed a bolt on the back of the small pulley that I presumed was for locking, unlocking or providing slack to the AC/PS belt, so I cranked that for a bit counterclockwise. Both of the belts came off at this point.

Third, I placed new belts where the old had been previously. I did not pay attention to any specific markings on the belts, other than the grooves on the belt itself, or marking on the pulleys.

Fourth, I first secured the AC/PS belt by cranking the same prior bolt clockwise. It seemed to tighten fine, so that wat that.

Fifth, I tightened the long bolt on the Alternator bracket some, then the locking block bolt on the bracket second. I don't truly understand how these bolts interact (please tell me if you know). I noticed that the long bolt was extremely hard to move, but foolishly presumed it was done being tightened (the locking block bolt that the long bolt passes through was completely tightened at this time). I then tightened the lower bolt on the alternator.

I turned on the car and the belts seemed to be moving fine, so I called it a day.

The new problem: I now hear a chirping sound when I start the car that becomes louder and more frequent as I hit the gas pedal. The chirp is in regular intervals and not sporadic. My friend who used to be an assistant in a garage said he thought the AC/PS belt looked to tight, and it looks like the edge of the belt away from the engine is starting to evenly fray. Also, he said that the alternator belt is too loose to the touch.

Please help me fix this. From my searching so far I gather it could be the loose belt, but that doesn't explain the fraying on the other belt. The fraying could be a result of pulley alignment, but I don't know how to align the pulleys correctly. Please, please, please help me figure out what I did wrong.


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