Gerald:

I lump "belt dressing" in the same category = with "Engine Rebuild In A Can" and other such snake oil that = FLAPS all seem to put on the same eye-level shelf near the tune up = parts.  If you have a properly-tensioned belt, that is in good = condition, and your alternator is sound, there is no need for such = "dressing" IMHO.  The WD-40 trick is kinda like = squirting carb cleaner at an intake manifold looking for vacuum leaks; = it helps pinpoint the problem, but does nothing to solve it.

What I would be suspicious of would be a glazed belt = caused by slipping (caused in turn by improper tension), or possibly = problems with the bearings in your alternator.  Look carefully at = the condition of the belt and see if it looks shiny, glazed, or = cracked.  If so, spend the $15 for a new one and I'll bet that = will solve the problem.

If the belt is not visibly worn, etc. then remove it = and check the alternator pulley for excess play (Ken Wilfey posted the = procedure a while back).   If it thunks back and forth or up = and down, this will cause the belt to move erratically in the guides = and possibly create the noise.

Of course, YMMV.  Let us know what you come up = with

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.C= OM]On Behalf
> Of Gerald Masar
> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 1:47 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Fan belt noise
>
>
> A while back I posed a question to the list re = a sort of
> chuffing noise from
> the engine when cold. This was on a '90 Westy = after having the heads
> rebuilt. On a recent trip to San Diego, where I = did some
> stealth camping in
> La Jolla, I also spent one night on the lot of = a Texaco station so the
> knowledgeable mechanic there could listen to = the engine when
> cold. He ID'd
> the noise quickly as coming from the belts, and = sprayed some
> WD-40 on them.
> Much better but he said they really needed = proper belt
> dressing. SO, what do
> others on the list use as a belt dressing or to = quiet the
> noisy belts. I got
> some Prestone belt dressing and sprayed that = on, which
> quieted them for a
> few seconds but then came back worse. = Recommendations??
> Jerry
>