Serpentine belt issue

[Mark]

Hello all,

I just replaced the belt on my new-to-me 2008 base, the old one was cracking. Now when I turn on the A/C as soon as the compressor kicks in I get a loud squeal, that starts to get louder and louder. I double/triple/quintuple checked the routing and it's correct. I'm also getting a little squeal from the steering, but not the loud continuous squeal like the A/C.

What did I miss? The belt is a Gates from NAPA. I ordered a Gatorback from Amazon but I already had the old one off before I realized the Gator was the wrong belt, so I ran to NAPA so I could get one back on tonight. No idea if the compressor is the problem, or if it just adds enough tension when it's on to make the idler or tensioner complain.

Any help or suggestions very welcome.

[Salsa Guy]

Sounds like the belt is too long. Doesn't matter the type just the length (that's what she said). They should barely fit over the alternator.

[Water boy]

What type of belt did you take off?
Squealing means the belt is not tight.
Heh, I have to start somewhere....and sometimes the obvious needs to be thrown out onto the table.
Be sure the tensioner is not bottoming out.
Be sure the tensionr pulley is spinning freely as well as the other pulleys that are supposed to be free.
Triple check the routing.

[triz]

If the belt is the correct size I would check the tensioner and the idler pulleys.

[Mark]

I took the old belt with me to NAPA and verified the new one was the same size, and the tensioner seemed fine when I was taking the belt off and putting the new one on. Could still be the tensioner, but on a 2008 with 76k I wouldn't think so. I'll look at that and the idler in the morning, then I guess I'll look for a new belt.

[Mark]

Ok, figured out the problem. When I called NAPA I told them 2008 Toyota Matrix, figuring it's the exact same, right? Well it isn't, at least according to NAPA. The Vibe belt number is 25060725 and length is 73.189, while Matrix number is 25060739 and length is 74.531. Just verified this on Amazon with the Gatorback, different part numbers between the 2008 Matrix and Vibe. So, my bad for not checking first, I just assumed they were the same.

Anyone have any idea why this would be? Does the Matrix have larger pulleys or something?

[Salsa Guy]

The AC unit is different. When I changed the tensioner my belt length when to a 1/2 inch longer. It doesn't take a lot to change the belt lenght.

[Water boy]

Ok, figured out the problem. When I called NAPA I told them 2008 Toyota Matrix, figuring it's the exact same, right? Well it isn't, at least according to NAPA. The Vibe belt number is 25060725 and length is 73.189, while Matrix number is 25060739 and length is 74.531. Just verified this on Amazon with the Gatorback, different part numbers between the 2008 Matrix and Vibe. So, my bad for not checking first, I just assumed they were the same.

Anyone have any idea why this would be? Does the Matrix have larger pulleys or something?

How many of us go to Toyota for stuff because it is less expensive than at the GM Dealer?

This different length info needs a sticky somewhere.

[Mark]

Got the right one on and it works much better now. The Matrix belt went over the alternator pulley almost too easy, while this one wouldn't even go on at first. I found that the grooves weren't seated on the power steering pulley, once I reseated it the belt slipped right on.

That was an eye opener for me. I picked up a set of NGK plugs and a PCV valve at the same time, of course those fit just fine. Any thing else besides the serpentine belt that isn't interchangeable?