Squeals like a pig

[DanMK7uk]

Result !

Mmm, thats odd conti belts have always had a rough texture in my experience.

[Salisburytree]

Well that didn't work out too well, the belt just keeps coming off the tensioner pulley and the tensioner isn't retracting much which suggest the belt is too small?
Put the old belt back and and we are back to squealing but atleast it's not falling off!

[DanMK7uk]

Quite possibly mate. Your van have air con ? The non air con belts will be shorter.

What code is the belt eg. 4PK/ 6Pk starting normally on packaging

[Salisburytree]

So the conti belt I purchased was 7pk 2710, the one i took off was micro v unique fit 7pk 2710xs.

Untill taking the old belt off I didn't see the xs bit and purchased the conti based on a reg check.

I'm not running a/c.

[Salisburytree]

The Old belt is made by gates.

I see no option for a conti with the xs added to the part number

[DanMK7uk]

So the conti belt I purchased was 7pk 2710, the one i took off was micro v unique fit 7pk 2710xs.

Untill taking the old belt off I didn't see the xs bit and purchased the conti based on a reg check.

I'm not running a/c.

Very odd, size seems same going by the code names. Just looked them up both measure 2710 mm …Should be fine, only thing that would cause it to jump off is misalignment/ which could also cause it to be to short.


I like to turn the crank a few times by hand, with a new belt, just to be sure its all seated nice.

[Salisburytree]

The new belt sat in the centre of every pulley, once running it seems to come off the alternator pulley, pulling it off the tensioner. Put the old belt back on and it's perfect... bar the fu*King squeal aha

[DanMK7uk]

Strange aint it. Compare them side by side? For size.

[Salisburytree]

Now iv got the gearbox sorted...and hopefully the oil leak! I can turn my attention back to this bloody belt, which in fact has stopped squealing as much but certainly does still make a noise now and then. I think iv pin pointed the area that its slipping which is either the steering pulley, tensioner or alt. Its definitely on that side!

Given that it's getting better, some how, I was wondering rather than take it off again would these belt grip sprays thats are on the market do the job to give much needed silence.

Has anybody tried this magical spray?

[DanMK7uk]

Give the smooth pulleys a rough up with some sandpaper

Belt dressings can help

Some say wd40 works

[Salisburytree]

Iv ordered some belt dressing more for curiosity than anything. Wd does the job for all of 5 minutes

[DanMK7uk]

Let us know on the results when you try

[Salisburytree]

I'd say better but not cured. Trying the get the spray to cover the whole belt is easier said than done. Applying while running just flicks it off so I add some every now and then when not running. I can see its adding a sticky film to the to belt.

Once engine is warm I'm hearing no squeal. Presumably the belt is hot and tighter?

[Salisburytree]

Had some real belt problems with the bugger shredding. Got to the bottom of it as an alignment problem by changing water pump. Belt stays on now.

If I stick a new belt on it seems to be too much for the tensioner (new) and falls off after a fair bit of bouncing. Stick the old belt on and it stay on okay but slips like hell.

[Lukeydookeydoo]

I'm having a nightmare with a squeal after a water pump change - what brand did you use before and to fix it? None of the vacuum pumps line up with the water pump and I've tried 3 different pattern parts!