"hamster wheel"? :-)

[BerniniCaCO3]

Starting yesterday, at very low speeds, there's a slightly obnoxious squeaking from the engine compartment. Doesn't specifically sound like a belt, at least, not like the last time I had my tension maladjusted, but it easily could be.

Before I go fiddling with the tension just for fun --cause it's friggin cold and I'm not eager to spend very much time on car repairs this winter-- would it be a common thing for belt tension to need to be readjusted slightly once it gets frigid outside?

[Lonnie]

Just a couple of thoughts/questions
How old is the fan clutch?
If you have a spray bottle give the belt a couple light sprays of clean water, does the noise go away?
It's possible that due to very low temps an older belt that is "glazed" and perhaps starting to dry rot will make a bit of noise until the belt warms up enough to start gripping again.

[1990LTD]

I had to tighten up the remaining belt on my car after it started dipping into the negative temperatures overnight. I blame the nut/bolt I'm using on the top of my alternator, they were just whatever I had nearby when I installed it. I should get nice grade 8 stuff just because.

[Lincolnmania]

you need to tighten these belts after they have been on a while........stupid idea using serpentine belts without an automatic belt tensioner.......belt quality is not getting any better either.......seems like i'm always changing panther belts with all the boxes i work on

[1987cp]

I had to tighten up the remaining belt on my car after it started dipping into the negative temperatures overnight. I blame the nut/bolt I'm using on the top of my alternator, they were just whatever I had nearby when I installed it. I should get nice grade 8 stuff just because.

Not a lot of load on alternator bolts. Even Grade 2 ought to be fine there. If in doubt regarding tensioner slippage, use correction fluid or paint marker to mark where the altnernator is on the bracket - I really doubt it's actually slipping, though.

[BerniniCaCO3]

it's a brand new belt (as of June): lincolnmania, have you had them stretch on you, perhaps especially when they're new (going from 0 tension on the store rack, to however many lbs is exerted)?

[1987cp]

/begin{materVoice} That's what thuh man done did SAID! /end{materVoice}

Me, when I notice squealage, no matter what the circumstances, I just check for approximately proper tension and adjust accordingly.

[gadget73]

There are actually mentions in the factory shop manual about re-tensioning the belt after installing a new one, and different levels of tension to use when installing a new vs used belt. A little stretch is normal, snug it up and see what happens. If its not that, sometimes the AC tensioner pulley gets noisy and needs replacing. Be aware there are 2 different kinds, one that you can unbolt the pulley and just replace it, and one that has a giant rivet like thing holding the pulley on. That kind you need to replace the entire tensioner assembly.