Super loud belt squeal on cold start. Squeals loud for 30 seconds or so and then stops on idle. Starts squealing again when put in gear up until about 20mph and then stops. Once engine is at operating temperature it pretty much stops. I'm posting to here to get any pointers before I really try to diagnose over the weekend. I'm pretty sure my neighbors are getting really sick of this sound at 6:00am every day! Strangely...and I'm assuming coincidence...started right after I changed out the oil pressure switch and stopped an oil leak that had been plaguing me for a long time.

 

the belt is just too loose or too old

 

Any tips or tricks on replacing these belts? Looks like I have two of them on this '97 Accord. I've done some testing and diagnosing. Squeal goes away if I spray a little water or WD-40 on the groove side but it comes back a short time later. Both belts seem to squeal so I think I'll just change both of them.

 

You just loosen the mounting bolts and there is a bolt that manually tensions the belt by pulling it tighter when you tighten the bolt. You want the longest side, in the middle of that side, to be able to twist about 90 degrees with your fingers.