Finally got time to work on my belts today. Took off the idler/PS belt and started the car and there was no squeak. So we know the problem is going to be either the idler or the PS pulleys. Took a rag and just cleaned the belt off as well as put some WD40 on the bolt/behind the pulley, put the belt back on, started the car up and so far the squeaking is gone. We will see if it comes back.

I seriously cannot fix the squeaking.

I rarely drive the car because it sucks so bad.

I hate this shit.

i ended up figuring out mine had a misaligned pulley. I made a shim out of a washer that helped line everything up and bam, no more squeaking.

if its that bad, and you can't figure it out, ever consider throwing in the towel and paying a shop? Just cuz they don't know rotaries doesn't mean they can't figure out the squeak from a belt

YES I have - but the shop I asked would not guarantee it would stay fixed. *I* can fix it for a day or two at a time or so with a new belt.

Ive considered throwing in the towel and selling the whole car. :) No one wants it - maybe cause it squeals so much.

1. Ive changed the belt several times with different brands. Works for a day maybe.
2. Tried disassembling and greasing the old idler pulley. No good.
3. Replaced the idler pulley with a brand new one. Worked for a day.
4. Replaced aluminum power steering pulley with a good clean stock one. No good.
5. Cleaned the AC pulley with a wire brush. No Bueno.
6. Belt dressing. Worked THE WORST! Screamed 100X louder.
7. Tried shimming the pulley with a washer or two. No good.
8. Tried flipping the pulley over like some have suggested BUT I cannot see how this is even possible. If I flip my pulley over so the lip faces inwards, the pulley lip rests against the idler pulley bracket and cannot spin. How is this done? I have seen cars with them flipped over but mine does not work this way at all.
9. The squeaking is the worst when I start the car and will squeal for 10-20 minutes. After a while it quiets down but still is louder than my loud ass exhaust.

something else is going on then and its not just the idler pulley.

7dust.... can you post some detailed pics of the pulley setup maybe one of us can spot something that is not right.

Also, I know you have been changing the belt and the problem goes away for a day or two. Just to make sure the squeak is coming from the p/s a/c belt if you remove it completely, and start the car does it still squeak?

How have you been setting your belt tension? If you tighten the belt or loosen the belt does the squeel change?


John

HAH - spent the extra cash and ordered a Goodyear Gatorback Belt.

Silence. Sweet Silence. Been that way for weeks now.

Dayco and Gates can Suck IT!!!

Glad to hear you got the problem taken care of :lol:

+1

My pulley just start chirping at me.... LOL

I recently ordered a new idler pulley from Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda. Still using the belt I got from him too. One stop shopping for great parts w/ Ray. :)

Alberto, we'd better all pray that Ray never retires or we're SCREWED :lol:

Ya know I think about that quite a bit. The new guy should be thoroughly briefed!! :D

Gatorback Accessory Belt Part Number (for stock pulleys):

4060410
6PK1040
(both numbers are on the same package)

It really is a well constructed belt. I bought the belt because I actually hung my head low and took my car to a mechanic (and I NEVER do that) and he showed me a Gatorback belt side by side to one of those Gates or Dayco (FUCK YOOOOOU GATES AND DAYCO) jobs.

I am going to measure alt/waterpump belt next - I have the pineapple idler pulley so will have to get the length for that.

As a matter of fact, I think a Gatorback belt is the only belt I'll ever buy from now on.

Just kind of curious if anyone know the belt size that I need. I'm finding it a bit difficult to navigate though it all on the Summit website. I need both belts for OEM configuration (including airpump, ps, and ac). Thanks in advance.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc

I started to get the squeak too. But like stated in the first page, if any oil or antifreeze gets on the belts they'll squeak.

I'm still figuring out if that was my problem because I did spill about a tablespoon of coolant out of the filler cap but I don't know if it went on the belt. During the drive it will squeak like crazy. During driving and when stopped. It actually sounds like a really loud SC whine. I thought maybe the coolant dried off from the 45 min drive in this 60 degree weather. No when i got home it was squeaking away. Pretty embarassing since my neighborhood is quiet. Waited 2 hours for the car to cool off. Then started it again and same noise, just not as loud.

Maybe it is the belt? Maybe its from the coolant I spilled. I really hate when there are many factors when I'm trying to source a problem..why can't the squeak just happened? Why does the little incidents just tack on the "its probably the cause" list?

I hate when that happens.

I'm now on my 3rd idler pulley that was squeaking. Turned out the problem all along was the bolt 15966 #N3A115966 and the pulley shaft 15932 #N3A115932 that both had strip threads and not the idler pulley 15940 N3A11594Y. Also replaced the belt with a new Gatorback #4060400 6PK1015 as I have the pettit power pulley but for reference the stock configuration belt is #4060410 6PK1040, both these #'s are with A/C and P/S stock pulleys. Another thing torque the nut at the front of the idler pulley to no more than 30 lb. as over torquing also causes squeaking. After two years I think I finally resolve this, I hope!


http://www.jimellismazdaparts.com/im...ze/EF09311.jpg

^By the way, in the pic above it shows the idler pulley with the lip out in the FSM it shows the lip in. Tried the lip out and smoked a belt. And by smoked the belt I literally smoked and locked up the idler pulley.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...8&d=1340542715

^ I had the same problem and flipped the pulley cause this tread said it was cool. Straight locked up and smoked the belt too. Replaced my idler pulley wasn't it either. I'm going to try those two bolts you mentioned next I'm almost sure thats the problem.

Bumping an old thread. It looks like Goodyear Gatorback brand got changed to Continental Elite a few years ago, but same part number 4060410 applies.


https://www.autoserviceprofessional....aces-gatorback






According to this Continental parts finder website, it looks like they are phasing out the gatorback-style belt and replacing it with an OEM-style belt with simple grooves. Continental Elite The site doesn't exactly claim that the OEM-style belts are as good, it mentions that they are easily recognizable for technicians... presumably some people thought the design of the gatorback looks like a cracked belt?





I haven't visited my local auto parts place to check, but FYI it might be hard to get the elite / gatorback style belts soon if not already.