I just replaced the belt and tensioner.
I bought them from some regular old parts store.
The new belt doesn't have deep V grooves, they are more like shallow w grooves.

I sprayed a squirt of water to confirm it was belt, not tensioner.
It is belt.
I sprayed belt dressing on it. Stopped for a few minutes then just became a constant squeal.



Do I need to buy the continental belt?
Or does it matter?

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You play nice and so will I.
Chris NJ
96 E300D, 71 Baja Beetle, 77 Convertible Beetle, 2003 Subaru Forester.

Out of curiosity, what was the brand and part number of belt?

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Being a serp belt, it shouldn't matter who made it, they are supposed to be standardized. I have whatever the Duralast part is in my SDL and it's been fine.

How is the belt tension? Is it actually tight? Pulleys properly aligned and nothing stiff to turn? Water on the belt only tells you that the belt is the source of the noise. It doesn't tell you why.

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'11 Honda Accord EX - "The Daily" 73K
'91 560SEL - "Delta 88" 193K
'91 350SD - "Jest-D" 176K (Sold 12/20/20)
'94 BMW 525i - "The Red Car" 181k

Chris, I always buy the Contitech serpentine belts and have never had a problem. It's odd that a brand new belt would squeal. Recommend removing the belt and confirming that all pulleys turn freely ... except for the crankshaft pulley, obviously.

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Fred Hoelzle

Are you sure its the correct length? Compare it to the old belt.

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