drraulduke

86 944 NA, I just started getting a screech or squeal that lasts for 1-2 seconds at startup. It doesn't seem to be the alternator or coming from the belts. I seem to have localized the noise to somewhere behind the belts, more towards the engine itself. Could it be the starter? Thanks for any advice.

Yarf

Just some thoughts
You could remove the alternator and (if you have one) the power steering belt. See if the eliminates the squeal. If the squeal persist I would pull the belt covers and check the water pump and cam timing belt
where the back of the cam timing belt drives the water pump pulley. If the water pump was starting to seize may be the timing belt would squeal

RC713

I had had some luck pinning down the exact source of a noise by using a piece of vacuum or fuel hose like a one eared stethescope.

krystar

doubt it's starter...since that's under the car. and it won't make squeeling, it's make grinding.

water pump bearing going would be good guess.

drraulduke

Thanks for all the ideas. Sounds like most think its the water pump. I doubt it's the power steering belt because that is new.

carlege

its a belt of some sort.

luftpirate

New belts sqweak too, most likely needs to be retensioned since it has worn in a little. Trying tightening it a little and see if the pitch of the sqeak changes. If it gets higher but doesn' go away tighten it a little more.

johnnykrand

i reckon it is the belts... just before you start up put a splash of water on them if there is no screech its the belts. Bout all i could suggest for testing it.

drraulduke

Thanks for the advice. Gonna give these a check and post an update

peanut

if the alternator belt is squealing you should be able to see the result on the inside face of the belt . It will be shiny where it has slipped on the pulley. It could be your alternator bearing is starting to seize which would cause your belts to occasionally slip on the alternator pulley .

My car has been doing this for months especially when its wet and I'm too lazy to deal with it because I'm going to have to remove the other belt first and you can bet I'll need to buy a new alternator too £xxxxxxxxx

drraulduke

Based on the location of the sound it's not the alternator or the alternator belt. I don't see any wear on the inside of the belt either. It must be one of the other belts, i think.

peanut

have you tried spraying some WD40 onto any of the bearings/belts to identify the location ?

drraulduke

No, I haven't tried to spray some WD40 yet. I'll be doing a more in depth analysis this weekend when I have a little more time. I want to say it's the idler pulley, but I can't be at all positive about that until I take off the belt cover.

Funn944

If it's "one of the other belts" I think you have a big problem. My bet would be the alternator/steering belt. Mine needed to be really tight to stop squeeling.