My belt is squealing when it first starts up in the cold. The engine has 117000 miles on it and the guy said that the timing belt has been replaced already when i bought the car with 110000 miles. But this guy could be full of crap or maybe i need to tighten my belt? I dont know much about belts but is it something i could replace on my own with the right tools? Its an H23a btw.

 

Pull the valve cover and take a look at the timing belt and look at it's condition. If any of the teeth are worn then the guy probably didn't replace it. Since you have an H23 you have a manual tensioner, take off the cover and tighten up the tensioner.

 

if a belt squeels for a sec when you start the car, I would guess that it is NOT your timing belt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if a belt squeels for a sec when you start the car, I would guess that it is NOT your timing belt.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

hey man you may want to check your power steering belt and the alternator belt. the belts should only move an inch if you wiggle them up and down. to do so you have to loosen the mount, which is mounted to the head and then adjust the tensioner, i believe for the H23 the tensioner has a square top and is a brass looking color. if you are looking at the PS belt the tensioner is located a lil' to the left if i remember correctly. anyone correct me if i am wrong, but generaly it's around that area, it' visible from under the hood.

 

i see, so it wouldnt have anything to do with my timing belt if its squealing right? It only happens on cold starts.