Belt Slipping Symptoms

• One of the first signs that a belt slips on a Frigidaire washer is noise. If a belt comes loose and slips from its position around the tub, the belt will often squeak and squeal. The sounds usually continue while the tub's spinning grows erratic. Finally, the tub's spinning weakens and stops.
  
  

Belt Damage: Excessive Wear

• A belt can slip because it's either worn or the pump pulley that keeps tension on the belt fails. A Frigidaire belt is made of thick rubber. It goes around the center of the tub on a single-belt washer, and encircles opposite ends of a tub on a dual-belt washer. Over time, the belt can stretch as it wears until the belt eventually shifts from its location. When this happens, the belt is no longer able to maintain control of the tub, and the tub's movement is hampered. You can't repair a worn belt; replacing a belt that has lost its elasticity is your only choice to restore your washer's ability to spin.
  
  

Pump Pulley Breaks

• Each belt on a Frigidaire washer has its own pump pulley. The belt loops over the pump pulley, under the motor and around the drum. A pump pulley is what permits a belt to maintain tension on the tub; without it, the belt would turn in a haphazard manner. If a pump pulley fails, it causes the belt that it controls to loosen its grasp of the belt. As a result, the washer might squeak and squeal and eventually stop spinning. Unfortunately, if a pump pulley breaks, it often means that the belt will also need to be changed out.
  
  

Considerations

• Although many washers have belts, belts aren't interchangeable between washing machine brands. Frigidaire belts have unique characteristics that other washer manufacturers' belts don't necessarily have, and using a belt that lacks them can reduce your washer's spinning performance. Order a new belt from Frigidaire or an appliance parts retailer that sells Frigidaire belts if you need one. Contact a washer repair specialist who's familiar with Frigidaire washers to replace the belt and repair your washer if you are uncomfortable doing it yourself.