Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla

There were some TSBs about bad tensioners that Toyota replaced for
free. But on the 94 you also want to check belt tension. A loose belt
slips and squeal. You also want to make sure the alternator, PS pump,
and AC compressore are not seizing on you (bad bearings).

A ~$20 simple gauge from local NAPA store helps:
http://www.gates.com/europe/brochure.cfm?brochure=2506&location_id=5173



On May 19, 10:22 am, mwalessi22 wrote:
> Hello,
> I have a 1994 Corolla with 178K miles on it and it is making a very
> loud squeaking noise. I put some Belt (Dressing) Conditioner on the
> belts and the noise actually got louder. The belts were last changed
> about 40,000 miles ago and they do not look that worn.
> However, I do not know what else to try to make the squeaking noise go
> away.
> Can anyone offer any advice on changing them? I used to have a Ford
> Escort and the repair was very simple. All you had to do was release
> the tension on a tensioner and switch the belts. I am not sure if
> there is a similar mechanism on the Corolla.
> Is it a difficult repair?
> Thanks so much.
>
> --
> Posted at author's request, using moderatedhttp://www.AutoBoardz.cominterface
> Thread archive:http://www.AutoBoardz.com/Changing-Serpentine-Belts-1994-Corolla-ftop...
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla 

On Mon, 19 May 2008 12:22:22 -0500, mwalessi22 wrote:

> Hello,
> I have a 1994 Corolla with 178K miles on it and it is making a very loud
> squeaking noise. I put some Belt (Dressing) Conditioner on the belts
> and the noise actually got louder. The belts were last changed about
> 40,000 miles ago and they do not look that worn. However, I do not know
> what else to try to make the squeaking noise go away.
> Can anyone offer any advice on changing them? I used to have a Ford
> Escort and the repair was very simple. All you had to do was release
> the tension on a tensioner and switch the belts.

While I was reading your description of the problem, what I was wondering
was, what is the condition of the tensioner? Even on Toyotas, these
things go bad over time and make a squealing noise similar to a belt
noise.

If you're lucky (or not depending on your POV...) it's the tensioner and
will be held in by a couple of bolts. ~$50 and maybe an hour or so of
your time.

Might as well replace the belt, too...
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla 

"mwalessi22" wrote in message

> Hello,
> I have a 1994 Corolla with 178K miles on it and it is making a very
> loud squeaking noise. I put some Belt (Dressing) Conditioner on the
> belts and the noise actually got louder. The belts were last changed
> about 40,000 miles ago and they do not look that worn.
> However, I do not know what else to try to make the squeaking noise go
> away.
> Can anyone offer any advice on changing them? I used to have a Ford
> Escort and the repair was very simple. All you had to do was release
> the tension on a tensioner and switch the belts. I am not sure if
> there is a similar mechanism on the Corolla.
> Is it a difficult repair?
> Thanks so much.
>

I am not a fan of belt dressing because it either masks the underlying cause
of the noise or it makes the noise worse, as you have discovered. I have a
shelf full of automotive chemicals but do not have belt dressing or any
"stop leak in a can" products because I believe that stuff can do more harm
than good.

I am pretty sure that the 1994 Corolla does not have a serpentine belt or
tensioner pulley. A belt will stretch slightly over time and slip, making
noise. You can loosen the alternator and apply a little more tension on the
belt. Do not put too much tension on the belt because it can cause
premature alternator bearing failure. Go to www.autozone.com and look at
their repair guides for your car, which is listed.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla 

On Tue, 20 May 2008 00:06:48 -0500, Ray O wrote:

> Do not put too much tension on the belt because it
> can cause premature alternator bearing failure.


Found this out the hard way, didn't I?
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla 

"Hachiroku ????" wrote in message

> On Tue, 20 May 2008 00:06:48 -0500, Ray O wrote:
>
>> Do not put too much tension on the belt because it
>> can cause premature alternator bearing failure.
>
>
> Found this out the hard way, didn't I?
>

Don't feel bad, over-tightening the belt is a common mistake. At least you
learned from your mistake, many do not.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla 

"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message

>
> "mwalessi22" wrote in message
>
>> Hello,
>> I have a 1994 Corolla with 178K miles on it and it is making a very
>> loud squeaking noise. I put some Belt (Dressing) Conditioner on the
>> belts and the noise actually got louder. The belts were last changed
>> about 40,000 miles ago and they do not look that worn.
>> However, I do not know what else to try to make the squeaking noise go
>> away.
>> Can anyone offer any advice on changing them? I used to have a Ford
>> Escort and the repair was very simple. All you had to do was release
>> the tension on a tensioner and switch the belts. I am not sure if
>> there is a similar mechanism on the Corolla.
>> Is it a difficult repair?
>> Thanks so much.
>>
>
> I am not a fan of belt dressing because it either masks the underlying
> cause of the noise or it makes the noise worse, as you have discovered. I
> have a shelf full of automotive chemicals but do not have belt dressing or
> any "stop leak in a can" products because I believe that stuff can do more
> harm than good.
>
> I am pretty sure that the 1994 Corolla does not have a serpentine belt or
> tensioner pulley. A belt will stretch slightly over time and slip,
> making noise. You can loosen the alternator and apply a little more
> tension on the belt. Do not put too much tension on the belt because it
> can cause premature alternator bearing failure. Go to www.autozone.com
> and look at their repair guides for your car, which is listed.
> --



I have to agree with Ray on the belt dressing thing, except for one very
narrow point. Belt dressing can be a reasonable troubleshooting tool. If it
cures the noise, then the belt needs replacing. If it does not cure the
noise, then odds favor a failed/failing bearing on an idler or tensioner
pulley -- or perhaps one of the auxiliary systems that the belt is driving.

No matter what, the belt dressing is not harmful unless you treat it as a
cure and not as a tool. As for head gasket in a can, I have never used it. I
did use Stop Leak in the radiator once, but I ultimately had to replace the
radiator because the leak that was plugged simply popped up in a new place.
Stop Leak products, the few times I used them, only forestalled the
inevitable.
 >> Stay informed about: Changing Serpentine Belts on 1994 Corolla