I have a '95 Protege Lx and in the last three months I have put in two alternators and 4 alternator belts. The awful squealing begins when I put a load on the alternator, like the lights, heater, defrost, etc. The squealing is most prevalent when the engine is cold. This is driving me crazy and broke!@#%@ Can anyone help??????????

Sounds like the belt tension isn't correct, but give us the whole story from the beginning. Don't leave out anything.

When I bought the car, I had it in the shop for a once over, and the mechanic mentioned that the belts were in need of replacing, which I did. For the next two months or so, the squealing began but the belt remained unbroken. Then, while going down the highway, it broke. I took it to the same mechanic and he said I needed a new alternator. I had the work done, and a week later the alternator broke. The mechanic then said I got a bum alternator and I got a new alternator and belt. The mechanic put a different type of belt on and this lasted two months before it broke. The belts squeal when the car is cold, I live in Wisconsin, and when I turn on the lights and defrost etc. I replaced the latest broken belt with a Mazda belt the other day and the squealing, while not as bad, is still their. The dealer said all the brackets, etc. were okay and the tension was set according to Mazda specs. I just have the feeling that this belt is going to break as well. Could it be a bad water pump? All the mechanics mentioned belt tension, but you would think they would get it right after four cracks at it?! Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks

Any belt that squeals a lot is doomed to fail, it's just a matter of when, and driving around with it squealing will guarantee that it'll be sooner rather than later.

First, install a new belt of the correct type for the car and adjust the tension to Mazda specs.

There should be no squealing at startup. If there is, then it's almost certainly caused by something that was overlooked previously or checked but declared OK.

Test to determine what it is and fix it.

That may be easier said than done, but the consolation is that there aren't many possibilities. A good tech should know what testing procedures to employ. Take the car to somebody else if he gives you a blank look.

DO NOT simply tighten the belt to quieten things.

DO check the belt tension after a couple of weeks and readjust as necessary to bring it back into specs.

All belts require periodic adjustment because they stretch in use. To compensate, many folks overtighten them when they're installed. This is a bad idea, because it puts a strain on both the belt and all the pulley bearings and can cause premature failure of something -- typically the belt. Not aligning the belt correctly on the pulleys is a possible cause of premature belt failure, as is not properly tightening the alternator to its mounting bracket.

Post back and let us know how things turn out.

I'm not familiar with the Protege, but do you have any belt tensioner(s)? These are idlers that can be adjusted to increase/descrease tension. Squealing can come from a bad bearing in one of these, and it sounds like a belt. Oh, and I'd change mechanics too.

This problem is very rare. I did see one last year (April 2003). The car had after market belt, after market alternator and over tighten belt tension. The alternator belt had to be replaced every month. The fix was a water pump replacement (with new OEM belt and OEM alternator). I am not sure when did the problem start but He said it starts when He replaces the alternator belt bought from PepBoy.
Recheck the belt tension, water pump, alternator and
crank shaft pulleys freeplay. Use only OEM belt (or Gate belt) on Mazda vehicle with VIN starts with JM1.

Did you ever find out what was wrong. I have now changed the alternator and 4 belts.

I had this problem, once.
The a/c compressor locked up and the clutch was dragging. It overheated the pully and cooked the belt.
It may not be your problem, but its worth looking into.

Problem: cheap belts made in Mexico. Source: Auto zone, Discount Auto parts. Stay away from them. They are junk! go to NAPA or your Mazda dealer for decent quality belts.

I've always used Gates belts and hoses, from Carquest, and have put my faith in them. Years ago, I did have a cheapie-belt break on a VW after only 2 months, convinced me.

Mazda OEM belts, including timing belts are made by Gates. NAPA sells them too. These are good belts. On the other hands,c heap belts stretch constantly, squeal, and cause all kinds of problems.