Jumpydude

Hey everyone,
Occasionally when I start up my 84 928S (auto), I will hear a squeal noise like a belt is loose. It only started doing that recently after having my accessory belts looked at and my timing belt retensioned (Timing belt and water pump replaced in September).
I am thinking it couldn't be the timing belt since I had it retensioned already after the first 1000-1500 mile or so. Also since I don't have the timing belt warning light. What I did check is the accessory belts and notice the 2nd? one from the back (AC Belt) seems a little loose when the car is on.
My question is, since the Timing belt warning doesn't come on, I am thinking the retensioning of the belt a few weeks back went well. But I guess they take off the accessory belts to reach the timing belt and could that have loosened the AC Belt? And since the AC belt isn't a drive belt, I guess it's no problem but the squealing noise at start up is annoying (but stops after a couple of seconds)
Is it easy to tighten the AC Belt or accessory belts? If so, have anyone done it or has a good write up on how?
Oh, last but not least, I seem to have this idling issue of my RPMs being around 1.5K rather than around 600-800 before I had my TB retensioned. Could the retensioning be the cause of the sudden higher idling RPMs?
Thanks in advance for any help on this.

Randy V

It sounds like a loose belt, and you have discovered that one of your belts appears to be loose.

Is this a trick question?

MikeN

Don't know too much about your year, but they should not have had to take off all the access. belts to do the retention......unless they didn't know any better. Could be as simple as a loose accessory belt, but could also be
one of the rollers for the timing belt that is starting to seize up a little when cold. Were all the rollers replaced when the TB/WP was done?

Gretch

And the high idle sounds like a vacume leak. Look for a vacume hose that got disconnected and not reinstalled. Also. to ease your concern about the TB, take your breather tubes off and look down the holes in the TB covers (does the 84 have these?) with a flashlight What you are looking for is signs that the back side of the belt is wearing prematurely. If the belt is relatively new the lettering may still be on it. if it looks scuffed or frayed then maybe you have a bad roller or water pump bearing. It is prolly not this though as the sound goes away pretty quickly. That is likely because as the AC belt warms up, it gets better traction on the pulley.

Rez

I don't think it's the T-belt. No, you shouldn't have to take all those belts off when retensioning, just the right side t-belt cover. My bet is it's one of the accessory belts. Sounds like you had someone (a shop?) work on this. Take it back and tell them new noise, which sounds like an acc. belt squel after they retensioned (1/2 hour fix).

Steve J.

To find out if it's a belt and which one, spray a little water on each belt with a squirt bottle while it's squealing and see if it stops.

Greg86andahalf

bag smog pump bearings can squeal at start-up

Jumpydude

Thanks for all the replies. Just an update on the noise. It seems to only occur for a few seconds after start up but last night when I parked outdoors overnight, I was noticing the noise lasted longer this time and was intermittently squealing every few minutes while I was driving home.
When I had my accessory belts replaced, I didn't replace the A/C belt because at the time my A/C was not working. Does the A/C belt effect the defrost also cause I had my defrost on during the drive home.
Could the extra squealing be due to the cold temperature also? Not freezing temperature though because we have the least amount of freezing temperature days in the country here
I guess the final thing is, I would have to wait till later in the week to have it looked into. Is there an easy way for me to tighten the A/C belt? I don't currently own a jack for the car that would allow me to go safely underneath it.

Garth S

Belts shouldn't be too tight, but be tightened to allow ~1/2" deflection in mid-span with moderate finger pressure. (how's that for scientific precision!).
The AC adjuster is accessable underneath - after the belly pan is dropped (8 sheet metal screws). Being safely under the car is the way!
Before cranking on the adjuster mechanism, all the AC compressor mounting bolts must be loosened so that you can feel movement (and I believe there's one hidden above & to the rear of the compressor): if not, turning on the adjuster will only bend the wimpey bracket into a hoop.
Get a jack stand to go with the jack - good luck.
.....now about this bragging about the great weather in Van: Do you know it's a near blizzard here!!!

MikeN

Yes, when you use defrost the A/C compressor will come on, so you may be getting close to the problem. Most anything that squeals a little when warm will most likely squeal more when cold and it will last longer.

Jumpydude

Update... woops, I was looking at the diagrams wrong. It was the alternator belt so was a quick fix and all is good now heh.