2.3L ('83-'97) Drive Belt Lengths

[justinae]

Hey y'all. I've got a gnarly squeal on startup then it goes away after a few seconds. Probably time to replace the belt and maybe tensioner, pulley. Current belt is Gates micro-v at k060705.

1996 2,.3L 4cyl with power steering and NO A/C

When I looked it up Gates and Autozone say it 70.57" and OReilly say 71 1/16" and both say it doesn't fit my vehicle? I've been running with it for a long time.

Correct belt with my setup is supposed to be 70". Why would the slightly too big belt have worked?

 

[scotts90ranger]

3/4" of belt isn't a whole lot, it's only 3/8" of adjuster movement so I'm not too surprised it worked, there's actually a fair amount of variance in belts anyway, it's not important unless you have the modern adjusterless setup...

If you're replacing it just get what is supposed to fit and call it good.

Squeal is either a loose belt (yours is 3/4" too long which doesn't help, makes it looser), unless the grooves are really glazed the squeal is usually just the smooth pulleys which you just have the one idler by the alternator if I remember right or is it one on each side? If it goes away after startup it sounds like a slightly glazed belt that's loose...

 

[mtnrgr]

Find a belt at 3/4" to 1" shorter. My old 94 3.0 5spd ranger i used to have, non ac truck. About 20 years ago I needed a belt and I always used motorcraft belts. The correct belt made it squeal..all pulleys were good. Took it back to ford and researched for a different belt. Found one that 1" shorter, that belt worked great..it was a belt for 2001 explorer sport trac with a non ac sohc 4.0. Thru time I only used that belt and kept a spare in the truck.

Look for a belt 3/4" to 1'" shorter that should a much better fit.

For a test to see if it could be the belt. On a cold starts when it will do it. Have the hood open. Start the truck, as the noise is going..take a bar of soap and find a open safe spot. That the soap and put it under the belt in rigged part..hold the soap firmly for a few seconds. Once the soap starts going thru the pulley system the squeal should stop. It does, its the belt.