Why the generator belt whistles: the causes and remedies of the problem

During the operation of the vehicle, the motorist faces various troubles. So, in due course starts to play the steering wheel, knock the suspension. Sometimes the generator belt whistles . Why is this happening? Such a problem can catch a motorist at the most inopportune moment. Well, let's look at why the generator belt whistles on the Kia Rio (sedan) and other cars.

Belt characteristic

First, let's look at what this element is responsible for. As is known, a belt drive is often used in a car. Thanks to it, the correct gas distribution is carried out (if it is a case of the timing case), the operation of the hydraulic booster, air conditioner and generator. Maintaining the optimum voltage in the on-board network is the guarantee of the serviceability of any car. Therefore, it is so important to keep the generator in working order. The part itself is reliable. However, the generator belt can whistle. Why is this happening? The thing is that the element loses its grip on the crankshaft pulley. And this can already happen for various reasons. On what, we will consider below.

Natural wear

As you know, this element is affected by large loads. Therefore, it must be strong and at the same time elastic. A generator belt is made of rubber with reinforcing filler. The service life of this product is 60 thousand kilometers. Of course, the resource directly depends on the load of the generator. But if there was a whistle from the engine compartment, it's worth remembering how long you did not change this element. Remember that over time, the belt loses its qualities. By the way, judging by the reviews, the most durable and hardy is the V-belt. This element has the form of a trapezoid on a cut. This allows him to withstand heavy loads. However, the mechanism is not designed to reverse the bend. Therefore, it is not used on all cars.

Cleanliness of parts

Few people know that the engine compartment must also be washed periodically. And this is not done for aesthetic pleasure. The fact is that if the belt is heavily soiled, the belt transmission loses its grip on the pulley. A characteristic whistle begins. In addition, dust particles work inside as an abrasive. As a result, the question is brewing: "Why does the new generator belt whistle?" But not only dust can contribute to this problem. If the engine gasket passes oil, it can also be sprayed onto the crankshaft pulley. As a result, the belt loses its rigid grip to the shaft. A clang and whistle begins. Therefore, it is so important to keep the engine compartment clean. By the way, after washing it is possible to find out traces of leakage of oil. This will allow you to diagnose the breakdown of the gasket or oil seal in time and fix the problem.

Bearing

This element can also cause a whistle. Because of what this mechanism breaks down? As with all bearings, grease can be washed out, which causes the integrity of the clip to be broken. And outwardly determine the cause is impossible. The bearing will be as new. But as soon as it works (that is, it starts to spin), you will hear a characteristic noise. This element is not collapsible and can not be repaired. In case of its failure, only replacement will help.

Tension

This is perhaps one of the most frequent reasons why the generator belt whistles on the VAZ-2110 and other domestic cars. The owners of foreign cars are also immune from this problem. Whistling can occur for two reasons. This is a very weak or too tight belt tension. And the problem can disappear and appear again. So, with a tightly tightened belt, whistling will only occur during the cold season. As soon as the engine warms up, the belt regains its shape and the sound stops. But this does not mean that you can go further with such a problem. This significantly reduces the life of the belt and the bearing.

Correctness of the pulley line

This is another reason why the generator belt whistles. On "Prior" this trouble also happens. So, when whistling it is worth checking the coaxiality of the upper and lower pulley. They must be on the same level. Even with a slight slope, the contact spot decreases several times. The mechanism will produce a characteristic squeak.

How to pull up?

Checking the tension level without tools is easy enough. So, if you press your finger on the middle part of the belt, it should bend by 6-8 millimeters. If the element is tight or too tight, the situation needs to be corrected. Consider how to do this, using the example of front-wheel drive cars VAZ. So, we need the ring keys "for 17" and "for 19" (or better - with ratchet and head). The configuration process takes no more than ten minutes. So, let's get to work. First it is necessary to unscrew the fixing nut, which from above secures the generator and bracket. Next, unscrew the same nut below. It is enough to weaken it by several turns. If you need to tighten the element, you should take the generator and pull the belt away from yourself. Next, tighten the appropriate nuts and check the tension level. If the belt was too tight and it needs to be weakened, we do a similar operation. However, here we need to pull the generator. So, tighten all the bolts and proceed to check. If the tension is at the level of six to eight millimeters, we start the engine and include all the main consumers of electricity. This is optics, air conditioning, stove and so on. Music should not be included, because we need to listen to the whistling of the belt. If there are no noises, the work is considered successful.

Conclusion

So, we found out why the generator belt whistles. As you can see, this can happen for various reasons. But first of all you should check the tension level. In 80 percent of cases the generator belt whistles precisely because of this. Also remember that tightening the mechanism can lead to increased wear on the bearings and the pulley itself. Stick to the golden mean, namely the parameter of 6-8 millimeters in the deflection in the middle section. And you can adjust the tension level yourself, using two keys. Therefore, if the generator belt whistles, do not necessarily go to the SRT for finding a problem. Perhaps, the reason lies in its elementary incorrect tension.