My parents own a 2002 Chrysler Sebring sedan with the 2.7L V6. Last fall, they took the car to a dealer and had the serpentine belt replaced.

Several months ago, the serpentine belt started to squeal when you drove to a stop and the interior/dash lights would dim.

My dad took the car to an independent shop and was told the squealing was due to snow and water getting on the belt. We had a heavy snowfall and there was a foot & a half of snow on the ground. The car is low to the ground so some snow probably got into the engine compartment and got the serpentine belt wet. After a day or two, the belt stopped squealing.

Several days ago, the belt started to squeal and hasn't done it since. I don't know what's causing it. Can you adjust the serpentine belt on this car? I know there is a tensioner for the serpentine belt - maybe the tensioner needs to be replaced?

no adjustment its either a tensiner going bad or a junk belt

Thanks kissmyaspen. The belt only squeals when it is moist out - once the car has been driven for a while, the squealing stops.

He stopped by the independent shop this morning and they took a quick look at the serpentine belt. The belt appeared to be okay but they said the power steering belt may need to be tightened a little. I didn't think of the power steering belt - maybe it's the one that is making the noise???

UPDATE - My dad took the car to the dealership who replaced the serpentine belt. The dealer checked the belt, pulleys, etc... and said everything was fine (fortunately, they did not charge him any labour for taking a look at the car).

Yesterday, the serpentine belt started squealing again. I checked out the car - it looks like the problem may be more serious than a loose belt.

I discovered the serpentine belt squeals when the heater is on Defrost mode or A/C mode. The a/c compressor kicks in and the belt starts to screech or squeal. When you turn the Defrost or A/C off (or switch to vent mode), the squealing stops.

It doesn't do it all the time, but I noticed the belt will always squeal when the a/c compressor and electric fan are both on. I also noticed the serpentine belt will start to wiggle or shimmy side to side when the a/c compressor kicks in.

I'm guessing:
- Belt is loose (needs new belt tensioner or the belt is too big)
- One of the pulleys is bad
- A/C compressor is starting to go south and will need to be replaced.

Any ideas?

R U sure that the belt-face has not glazed-over ?

Those are symptoms of a bad belt. Go ahead and replace it. It's not that hard and it's a cheap fix.

Doc & stumpy - thanks for your help.

The belt was replaced last August at a Chrysler dealership. My dad took the car to the dealer last week and and had the belt checked out. They told him it was fine, but the belt wasn't squealing at the time.

I'm hoping it's a belt problem and not an A/C compressor problem. . The belt is fairly new, but it could be a bad one. If it's a loose belt, I'm guessing the belt tensioner needs to be replaced (to my knowledge, you can't adjust the serpentine belt on the 2.7L V6).

Doc - I don't know if the belt face has glazed over, but that's something I will keep in mind. I couldn't see the belt real well from under the hood. It was replaced last year and the dealership said it was fine, but who knows...

W-guy .... it is probably BESTer to change the belt as stumpy suggests ... but for right now try some spray-on belt dressing.

You don't really need to SEE the belt-face ...you can feel-it. If it feels hard and is not "rubbery" ... it probably needs to be changed.

It doesn't take a lot of slipping before a belt gets glazed like Doc said.

Thanks again Doc & stumpy - we will check the belt again and see if it glazed. Hopefully it's just a bad belt that needs to be replaced.

if it only does it when a/c turns on the tensioner is weak or the compressor is failing.. spin the a/c comp by hand see if its dragging hard.. good luck dan