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serpentine belt is getting old and hard and the cold weather was causing it to slip
check belt condition ( small cracks across the grooves = scrap and get a new one) and check tension
Yes you should definitely replace it. (However bear in mind that the belt noise may return at some stage once the new belt gets a bit of use and wear).
This is a very common problem with serpentine belts. When the belts have a bit of wear and they are cold and damp they can tend to squeak and squeal on some vehicles. Sometimes the noise will disappear or reduce once the belt is warmed up but this is not always the case.
It is very unwise to apply any type of lubricant to the belt like soap, silicone spray or other materials because this can cause belt slippage. If the belt is slipping it is not performing it's designed function.
I have found from experience that the only way to properly overcome noisy belts is to fit a new one. They are not expensive and are easy to fit on most vehicles. I replaced an noisy belt on one of my own vehicles 6 months ago and it is now silent. (Other than the noise, the condition of the "old" belt was good).
If you are going to fit it yourself make sure you draw up a belt routing diagram BEFORE you remove the old belt so you know how to refit the new item. (Many people remove belts and then cannot work out how to refit them around the various pulleys). Give the belt pulleys a good clean before you fit the new belt.
Keep your old belt in the car as a spare in case you ever have a breakage.
1
Check to ensure the Sienna's engine is cold, then make sure
the Sienna is in park, the ignition is in the off position and the key
is removed from the ignition to prevent any possibility of the engine
engaging during the serpentine belt replacement.
2
Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt routing diagram
sticker on the side of the engine casing. Study it for a moment before
removing the existing belt. It is essential the new belt be installed
exactly as the diagram indicates.
3
Find the tensioner pulley, the main pulley that controls the
serpentine belt, and fit a 1/2-inch socket wrench over the
self-tensioner on the outside of the pulley.
4
Pull the wrench to the left to move the pulley forward, which loosens the belt, then remove the belt.
5
Compare the old serpentine belt with the new, replacement
belt for length, width and number of grooves on the belt's underside. Be
certain the replacement belt is the right part.
6
Fit the new belt on to each pulley according to the
serpentine belt routing diagram on the manufacturer's sticker, or
according to the drawing made prior to removing the old belt. Fit the
new belt on to the tensioner pulley last, again applying pressure on the
pulley's self-tensioner with the half-inch socket wrench to loosen the
pulley.
7
Release the pressure on the self tensioner and allow the
tensioner pulley to ease back into place, thereby tightening the new
serpentine belt with the appropriate tension.
Typically serpentine belts are tightened automatically by a tensioner, if the belt is slipping, or squealing, try installing a new belt, careful of the routing tho, be sure to install it correctly, or more problems may occur.
You could have the wrong size or the serpentine belt was routed wrong. Double check the routing and the length of the belt, the other thing to that is know to happen is the belt tension pulley has gone bad and needs to be replaced. Recap, check the routing of the belt, belt length, tension pulley for any damage. Good luck and hope this helps.
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