wombat7

When I start my car when its cold, I get a squealing sound from the engine bay. It sounds like a belt, but doesn't seem like it is. I've checked the belt tension and they are fine. When the car runs for a little bit the squealing stops and it seems like a belt wouldn't stop squealing. I've run out of ideas. Does anyone know what this squealing could be??

Epic2112

I say belt. As the car warms up the engine expands, putting more tension on the belt.

JustinL

As the belt warms up it will get stickier too and stop squeeling. If your tension is good on the belts then it may be time to replace.

HTH

Justin

Scootin159

An easy way to check the belts (and figure out which one it is):

Next time it squeals...look at your volt meter on the dash...if it reads 12v during the squeal and then jumps quickly to ~13-14v after the squeal....it's the altenator belt.

If it only happens while turning the wheel...power steering belt.

You want 5mm of deflection on either belt between the crank & either the A/C pulley or the power steering pulley (depending on the belt). Use a straight edge & push up on the belt as hard as you can to measure the deflection. If you do that & it still squeels....time for new belts.

hosrom_951

You may have a pig hiding behind the alternator

Seriously, double check your belt(both p/s and a/c-alt)

wombat7

I thought it could be a pig... maybe that's why my car is so slow, I've got pigs hiding in my engine... or it could be because I don't have one of those whiney things you 951 guys have...

I'll have to check my belts again I guess...

Thanks guys...

Peckster

Could be a bad alternator bearing or something like that, but probably a cold loose belt. Try tightening them a little to see if it stops.

Rock

Mine squealed when cold, it also squealed a lot when cold and i turned on the heat.

I ran it for about a month like this, and lost the alternator belt at the side of the road.

Luckily I lost it right in front of an auto parts store. Luckily they had an alternator belt for me. I changed it, no more sqeualing and the voltage stays nice and high.

chitown928s4

Ok...mine does this only when its wet outside and only when i trun on the defrost or heater. If i turn on the defrost or heater when its wet out side it starts sqealing right away. But only when it rains. Not when its dry. Like today subzero weather and it didnt sqeal. Is that normally. Also my fvolyage metter drops to like 10 if i have both items on. Usually at idle im at 14 then 12 with the heat and 10 with heat and defrost. Is this all normal. Thanks in advance.

Scootin159

With a proerly working altenator (which requires a properly operating belt) you should see 14v (actually 13.7v I think..) whenever the engine is running. If you turn on the heat/ac/whatever, it should still say 14v. If you get enough things running, obviously it will draw more electricty, and thus possibly lower the voltage a noticeable amount....but unless you have a 1000w stereo in your car, you shouldn't be able to tell the difference.

My course of action would be (stopping once the problem dissapeared):

1) check the Altenator belt tightness
2) replace the altenator belt
3) check the altenator itself (voltage regulator, etc.)