Drive belts

[spectrum581]

The drive belts on my discovery started squeeling off and on ever since I started using the exhaust brake. Will new drive belts take care of the problem, or do I need to stop using the exhaust brakes? any responses apprciated.

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by spectrum581

The drive belts on my discovery started squeeling off and on ever since I started using the exhaust brake. Will new drive belts take care of the problem, or do I need to stop using the exhaust brakes? any responses apprciated.

I am not understanding.........what do you mean by "Drive Belts" ?
The belts on your engine have nothing to do with your exhaust brake operation...........
What engine do you have? My ISC Cummins has one long serpentine belt and a belt tensioner on it, the other is a small v-belt for the air conditioner compressor, and it has to be adjusted.
How do your belt's look?

[spectrum581]

I have a 5.9 cummins Diesel. The serpentine and the small belt look ok to me.

[FleetMan]

Originally Posted by spectrum581

I have a 5.9 cummins Diesel. The serpentine and the small belt look ok to me.

At about 70,000 miles, before a trip to Gaffney where I planned to have the serpentine belt replaced, my belts looked good. I used a digital inspection camera to scan as much of the belt as I possibly could. Everything looked just fine. 800 miles short of Gaffney, the belt failed and I ended up using Coach Net and being towed to a Kenworth shop that took care of me very professionally and expeditiously. Subsequently, I learned the modern day serpentine belt wears the ribs to the point they no longer make proper contact with the pulleys. The only accurate way to inspect the belt is to use the appropriate depth gauge because a visual inspection is ineffective compared to the cracking you would see on earlier versions.

Squealing was the only warning I had before the belt failed.

[Rich-n-Linda]

There is absolutely no relationship or connection between your exhaust brake and the serpentine belt. If the noise only occurs when you use the exhaust brake, it's not the serpentine belt making the noise.

[ladagobago]

The belt could make a noise if there was a rapid change in rpm and the belt was loose. The centrifugal fan speed might try to keep the belt moving if the belt was loose.

This might happen just before failure. I have lost two belts in the past and there was a little noise.

I think you may be involved in an exhaust leak before the butterfly valve. there is a lot of pressure in the exhaust when you activate the exhaust brake.