LxsClgry

My RX300 is at 200K miles and got a new timing belt and water pump few months back. Engine starts like champ everytime, but It's making screeching sound as soon as soon as I start the car and he mentioned that it will be gone after few days, but never did. Pretty much everyday, it's doing the screeching, however it stops with in few yards of driving. I am more worried about T-belt if it snaps. Any thoughts or suggestions that I can ask the mechanic?

salimshah

My guess would be that it is your accessory belt. Take it back to the place where the timing belt was changed as accessory belt had to have been taken off (replaced or/not) and put back at the end.

The tension is set by adjusting the alternator for the accessory belt and the other by adjusting the power-steering pump.


If you search, you will find a guesstimate way to set tension, I prefer using a gauge. If the belt has been squealing for a while, you may have to replace it.

Salim

fastnoypi

my guess would also be the accessory belt. If it is inconvenient to take your car back, you can attempt to tighten the belt with minimal tools Check out posts 19 and 20 in this DIY link for locating the adjustment bolt and lock bolt. Spray a little pb blaster on the lock bolt prior to loosening.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...djustment.html
Unfortunately the original poster's pictures are no longer hosted.

matts6887

same here. imo this is one thing Ive learned over the years being a car nut and that is a screeching sound like that is most likely the accessory belt.

mfg_guy

I will weigh in on this one. Had the same problem earlier this year on our RX with 230K. The belt was fairly new, changed with the last timing belt change. Turned out the issue was a bad bearing in the alternator. Put in a new one and solved the problem. I was unconvinced it was the alternator causing the screeching until it failed to keep the battery charged. Been fine now for a few months. You never know what is going to fail on these high mileage cars, and how they are going to fail.

matts6887

True that on you never never know what may fail! anything is possible!.

cjj2533

Hi LxsClgry

New belts will stretch. That is why the service manual lists the tensions for both new and used belts. A newly installed belt should be rechecked a couple of days later for the proper tension. If you are doing it yourself I would suggest a KriKit tension tester. They work really well and are easy to use. You just place it in the middle of the longest belt run between pulleys and slowly depress it until it clicks. Then read it where the post crosses the gauge. There are youtube videos that can help with this.

The recommended tension for the Alternator and Power Steering belts is 95-135 lbs (43-61kg) for both belts.

ashorama

Two years ago I had my timing and other belts replaced. Recently one of' the belts is slipping, but it only slips until the car gets up to about 15 mph. After that, it the car is quiet until I slow down to a stop. When the mph fall below 20, the belt starts squealing again.

Do I just need to have the belts replaced again or does this sound like a pulley?

And suggestions are most appreciated.

salimshah

Sounds like your accessory belt needs adjustment. Should be 1/2 hr labor. If you let the belt slip for a while then it needs to be replaced.

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Salim