Squeaky fanbelt

Quick one (hopefully).

On these cold misty moisty mornings LittleJen's fanbelt has started slipping and squealing. Lots. Once the engine's been running for a couple of minutes, any throttle load elicits a really loud, antisocial waking-the-neighbours type squeal. Sometimes it quietens down if I clutch in and lift off the throttle, sometimes not. Depending on the dampness of the morning (so it seems at least) it can take between a few seconds to nearly a minute to subside. Once it's done it's thing it shuts up for the rest of the journey until I stop and the whole thing cools down again.

So I'm thinking the fanbelt has loosened a little (stretched, presumably) and just needs tightening up a bit. A tiny bit, the heat of running the engine sorts it out after all. The relentless dampness of Brechin mornings down by the river are definitely not helping! It does the same thing when I leave work but not nearly so badly as I'm at the top of a hill there so it's not so damp (usually).

Unless anyone has any other thoughts?

First things first - I'm assuming it's the fanbelt, rather than timing, and no serious engine damage is looming due to timing issues or anything...?

I admit, at this stage, I haven't looked under the bonnet at all. Finding time in daylight is a bit of a challenge at this time of year.

On the assumption that one of the pulleys is adjustable on a cam or something somewhere in the system, is this a relatively easy job given a bit of light and the right tools? Or is something completely else required?

I've read the "workshop manual" thread with interest and now have some reading material, but just thought I'd see what thoughts would emerge from here.

Or is it just LittleJen letting me know that she doesn't appreciate being left out in the cold dank night while I'm curled up in my nice warm flat? (Sorry LittleJen, you wouldn't fit up the staircase, even as petite as you are)

Thx, @ & LittleJ

it does sound like the fanbelt is a little loose

I had a similar issue when I first got my Jimny, for the cost of a new one you may as well just replace it and adjust the tension

The timing belt has notches on it so wouldn't slip

Typically, I had a look under the bonnet yesterday (literally just a look, didn't do anything) and the squeak has stopped! Not a peep out of it since. That's fixed that then

Be careful because if you leave it too long because the belts can snap. I shredded my power steering belt and it took out the fan/alternator belt with it. If you replace the belts also make sure the pulley grooves are clean as little bits stuck in the grooves could start to cut through the belts (this has also happened before to me).

Don't be afraid to really tighten the alternator and power steering belt tensioner. Get someone to lean on them whilst you tighten up the bolts (a long bar behind the alternator will help).

The last time I had a squeaky belt , it was the tensioner pulley for the power steering that had colapsed , didn't take long at all for the belt to go .