How often to change belts on 98 Frontiers?

98Frontier4WD · Sep 13, 2015

I have a ’98 Frontier 4WD with the 4cyl KA24DE engine (same may apply to other years up to 2004), ~160k miles, and have now changed belts 3 times since 2001. I’ve always bought genuine Nissan belts, but seems like after about 3-4 years (~50k miles for me) they start squeaking. First they start squeaking in damp weather, eventually they squeak all the time. By squeack I don’t mean that loud slipping shriek that sometimes belts make, I mean more sublte but constant squeaking.I mean the belts don’t look worn out on visual inspection, no cracks etc. But they do squeak like one of those old industrial refrigerators (the ones with the belts between motor and compressor).

So I’m wondering what is the experience of other owners? Do you have to change belts that often? Do they squeak?

This time I bought belts from Autozone, but these belts have teeth and are noisier (not squeaky) even when new (or perhaps especially when new?)

I have changed belts on my other vehicles preemptively after 100k miles or so, but never because they squeaked.

jdg · Sep 13, 2015

Your pulleys might be a bit glazed over. e.g. wayyy too smooth for the belts to get a grip. Seen that a bunch of times too. A guy buys new belts every year only to have the same issue the next year.
Take some emery cloth and scuff up the surface where the belts ride a bit, evenly, all the way around.
Then again, a set of belts every 50K miles isn't out of the realm of normal-ish.

smj999smj · Sep 13, 2015

I'm assuming you adjust the belts when needed? Belts without a tensioner that applies constant tension occasionally require adjustment to compensate for stretch. I use some 120-grit sandpaper to scuff up the pulleys when replacing the belts. Also, it's hard to see wear on the newer belts made with EDPM. They can wear into the grooves of the pulley until they bottom out and that's when they start to loose traction against the side of the grooves, causing the squeal to occur.

98Frontier4WD · Sep 13, 2015

Yes, I do adjust them once in a while, though not religiously. But seems like once they start squeaking they keep squeaking no matter how much tension I apply. Its as if the squeaking comes from within the belt itself, not from slippage?

Some of the pulley's are hard to reach to scruff with sandpaper, eg. alternator and water pump. Seems like it may be easier to scruff them with a long strip of emery cloth, but that would create streaks parallel to the rotation. Aren't perpendicular streaks more desirable, or am I being too particular ?

In any case, belts every 60k is not that big of a deal. I'm just wondering because none of my other vehicles get squeaky belts. I assume the belts age just as much, they just don't seem to squeak.

How often to change belts on 98 Frontiers?

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