Fan belt squeal. New belt
 

Hi, just asking a question for my mother :) She has had a fan belt replaced and it squeals like mad. The mechanic says he can't tighten it as it is a self adjustable belt. Is this right? The mechanic has told her to spray pledge(furniture polish) onto the belt to stop it :confused: I heard somwhere about hair spray. I also heard somwhere else not to put anything on the belt. Thanks

Merc 190e 1993
English model
2.0l
Only done 60,000 miles (genuine)
Warren

I would suspect that you did not get the properly size belt. A new belt should not squeel unless the sheaves (pulleys to some folks) are worn out. Look closely at where the top edge of the belt is in relationship to the outer edge of the sheaves and how the belt fits.

belt squeal
 

Thanks, I will take a look at that when I next see the car. Little point in asking my mum to have a look. :)

my 190e squeeked like a church mouse after a belt change, it turned out to be the idler pulley. Try a bit of 3 in 1 on the idler or you could, with the engine running, spray some water from a spray bottle over the pulleys and see if that helps, the noisy one will go quiet for a while. That pre-supposes the squeek was there before you changed the belt but mine only started after a belt change . . . good luck !