Help diagnosing engine noise - problem solved?

[k24low20z]

anything on this?

[striktlyaccord]

anything on this?

I'm putting the shorter Gates belt on on Tuesday when I get my oil change, so we'll see.  Crossing my fingers that it fixes the problem, and maybe even some of my accessories (a/c, ps, alt) will get a little extra juice with the smaller belt.  That'd be a nice bonus.

[timot_one]

Only reason why they'd be lacking in performance is if your belt is slipping.  Is your belt slipping too?

[striktlyaccord]

Only reason why they'd be lacking in performance is if your belt is slipping.  Is your belt slipping too?

Well when the engine is under tougher loads (a/c on, power steering engaged), the squeal turns into a clapping noise, which Thien identified as "belt clap", which I believe is a form of slipping, so I think so.

[timot_one]

Ahhh.  Well, let us know what happens on Tuesday.  Hopefully the new belt will fix your problem, but at least you have a course of action to take if it doesn't.

[striktlyaccord]

Ahhh.  Well, let us know what happens on Tuesday.  Hopefully the new belt will fix your problem, but at least you have a course of action to take if it doesn't.

Yeh, buy a new tensioner assembly.  Boo.

[striktlyaccord]

Well guys, my mechanic had my car at his shop all damn day and guess what, the Gates replacement belt that Unorthodox Racing recommends for our cars DOESN'T EVEN FUCKING FIT!!  It's too damn small!!  My mechanic tried numerous times to squeeze the belt onto the pulleys and it wouldn't even come close.  He spent so much time trying different things with the belt that he couldn't even get to half the other shit I had scheduled for my car!  I'm pissed beyond belief.  I even talked to a rep. at UR today to get some help and he said that when they tested it on an Accord with the underdrive pulley set, it fit, but "might be tough to get on".  Well, they're wrong, so now I need to call them and tell them that they're test car was a dud.  So, it's back to square one.  I still wanna try to replace the belt first before I jump to the next fix if need be, which would be the tensioner assembly.  So, here's what I know of in regards to other belt options at this point from Gates:

Stock Accord belt is 70 3/4" (Gates part # K070701)
Recommended Gates replacement belt is 68 7/8" (Gates part #K070683) - this is apparently way too small, and the size difference from the stock Accord belt is pretty drastic
The next belt size up is 69 1/8" (Gates part #K070685)
Stock TSX & CRV belt is 69 1/2" (Gates part #K070690)
Stock RSX-S belt is 68 5/8" (Gates part #K070680) - this'll be way too small as well

Hopefully those part #'s and sizes are accurate, and I'm also open to other brands of belts at this point.  So, what size do you guys recommend?  Maybe something no more than 1/2" to 1" smaller than the stock one?  Help me out so I don't ditch the modding game for good.

[timot_one]

Dave, when you're talking about belt lengths, are you quoting the outside length or the effective length?  Because if you're posting the outside length, there are Gatorback belts that have a 70.25" (7PK1765) and 69.75" (7PK1755) outside length, which would be that 0.5"-1.0" reduction in length you're looking for.  Here's the GoodYear Gatorback site for you to check the other available lengths.

[Mike]

Well guys, my mechanic had my car at his shop all damn day and guess what, the Gates replacement belt that Unorthodox Racing recommends for our cars DOESN'T EVEN FUCKING FIT!!  It's too damn small!!  My mechanic tried numerous times to squeeze the belt onto the pulleys and it wouldn't even come close.  He spent so much time trying different things with the belt that he couldn't even get to half the other shit I had scheduled for my car!  I'm pissed beyond belief.  I even talked to a rep. at UR today to get some help and he said that when they tested it on an Accord with the underdrive pulley set, it fit, but "might be tough to get on".  Well, they're wrong, so now I need to call them and tell them that they're test car was a dud.  So, it's back to square one.  I still wanna try to replace the belt first before I jump to the next fix if need be, which would be the tensioner assembly.  So, here's what I know of in regards to other belt options at this point from Gates:

Stock Accord belt is 70 3/4" (Gates part # K070701)
Recommended Gates replacement belt is 68 7/8" (Gates part #K070683) - this is apparently way too small, and the size difference from the stock Accord belt is pretty drastic
The next belt size up is 69 1/8" (Gates part #K070685)
Stock TSX & CRV belt is 69 1/2" (Gates part #K070690)
Stock RSX-S belt is 68 5/8" (Gates part #K070680) - this'll be way too small as well

Hopefully those part #'s and sizes are accurate, and I'm also open to other brands of belts at this point.  So, what size do you guys recommend?  Maybe something no more than 1/2" to 1" smaller than the stock one?  Help me out so I don't ditch the modding game for good.

There are 60 million belt options out there don't let this little issue knock you out of the game!

[striktlyaccord]

Tim, I am quoting the outside length in my post above.  Should I be focusing more on the effective length instead?  It's just a god damn shame because the belt I got is the one that Unorthodox recommends for the Accord with these pulleys, so either they're clearly wrong or my car is stubborn.  I'd rather stick to the Gates brand, but I can look into Gatorback too if necessary.

[timot_one]

You may want to check the gates website to see what lengths they offer.  I wouldn't over think this, you're liable to complicate a simple task that should be as easy as running down to Auto Zone and taking 15 minutes to swap the belt.  Just make sure that you either stick with one or the other, effective or outside length when comparing the size from what you have.

[striktlyaccord]

^ Tim, I know this.  Plus, the outside length is easier to cross-reference when looking up lengths from other companies besides Gates.  

Levi actually wrote to me on Car Domain and suggested that I look into Gates part # K070694, which is a 70" belt made for the Honda Element (ah, K-series engine).  Considering that the other belt sizes the guys over at UR are suggesting that I try next which still seem to be too small, this belt that Levi suggests seems like a good length to try out as it assumably will fit... snuggly.  Any thoughts?

[Mike]

Not seeing the belts, and how close the 68 7/8's belt was to fitting it's tough to tell. Do you think taking 3/4 of an inch off the accord belt will take up the slack?

[striktlyaccord]

Not seeing the belts, and how close the 68 7/8's belt was to fitting it's tough to tell. Do you think taking 3/4 of an inch off the accord belt will take up the slack?

Not 100% sure.  I really don't wanna go through a ton of trial and error with belt after belt only to find out that it's not going to work.  Levi suggested 70".  Thien suggested a belt only 5mm smaller than the stock Accord one.  It's a mystery.  I'm surprised no one else with these pulleys has gone out and gotten a different sized belt and chimed in.

[Mike]

I would probably go with Thien's suggestion but, that's my opinion. Any reduction in size should help the problem your having.