I have been hearing screeching coming from my engine compartment (i think its the belts???) while i speed up from 0-30, then after it seems to subside, but happens again when i speed up from between 0-30... also while i turn hard there is a higher pitched screech.. I checked the power steering fluid and its full and looks of the right consistency..

Anyone know what may be the cause or how to make it go away?

740 GL 1989

 

You can do a visual inspection of your belts. With the engine off, you can push in on the belts...if there is much slack at all they are loose. The manual can tell you how much belt deflection is acceptable but essentially, I just tighten the crap out of them. With the engine running, look at the belts travel. They should pretty much just go round in circles; if there is visual flopping, they're loose.
Screeching when turning a tight circle is usually indicative of poor front end alignment.

 

I looked at them and they seemed taut to me, alittle older looking (i have no idea when they were last changed, since i am the recent owner) but they seemed like they were tight. How would i tighten them more? or could it be they are to tight??

 

I understand if they are too tight, you will do more damage to the corresponding part i.e, water pump/ac//etc...; but like the earlier post said, i tightened mine when i replaced them to where they were really tight.

Get a bentley/haynes/chilton...to help you see where to tighten. It is fairly straightforward when you look to see where the belts run which brackets/bolts you tighten. Also, I have learned that Google and YouTube are your friends when it comes to doing stuff on your car.

 

It takes a healthy man to overtighten the belts to the point where pump and alternator bearings suffer. As long as there's a half inch of deflection you're fine. Old properly tightened belts can squeal to if they are shiny on the sides...glazed is the term. Makes them slick and they can slip.