When I turn my car on in the mornings, the belts have started squeaking really loud. Usually for about 10-20 seconds until it goes away. It seems to have started since it started getting cold. Is this anything to worry about? What can I do to make it stop?

 

Usually this means your belts a little loose. Nothing to really worry about and easy to fix. Its either your power steerinig or alternator belt, i would guess the later is causing your squeak / chirp.

Depending on whether or not your car has the belly pan on it still, you can probably retension them without even jacking the front of the car up. Otherwise jack up the front, remove the belly pan (a few 10mm bolts) and you will see two rods / adjustment struts which tension the PS and alt. belt. You need to loosen the lock nuts on either end and rotate the strut in the correct direction. Its pretty simple to do really, poke your head under and you will see what i am talking about.

I forget the exact tension, but for the alternator belt you should have 4mm of deflection. Meaning if you push in on the belt at the longest span, it should push in about 4mm with a moderate push from your finger.

 

thanks, i'll take a look at it when i get home from school.