Squeaky noise from engine

[Brandonflowers123]

The last few weeks in a cold start up I get a squeaky noise from the drive belt area. Last about 2-3 mins.


Last week I got the drive belt changed. However the noise is still there.

So I’m not sure what the problem is.

Usually a grinding sound indicates the tensioner is failing. So I don’t think it’s the tensioners as there is no grinding sound. Just a squeak on a cold start up.

Squeaks usually mean belts, but the belt has been changed.

Any ideas?

[ashenfie]

Lightly candidate is Serpentine belt which maybe seeing signs of wear in the cold weather. This could simply be solved by getting it tensioned

[Brandonflowers123]

ashenfie said:

Lightly candidate is Serpentine belt which maybe seeing signs of wear in the cold weather. This could simply be solved by getting it tensioned

Yes but I’ve just changed it. So it a new belt.

Or do it need to be tighter? It’s already tensioned tightly

[Clifford Chambers]

Brandonflowers123 said:

ashenfie said:

Lightly candidate is Serpentine belt which maybe seeing signs of wear in the cold weather. This could simply be solved by getting it tensioned

Yes but I’ve just changed it. So it a new belt.

Or do it need to be tighter? It’s already tensioned tightly

Try slackening it a little.

[M4cruiser]

Depends on the noise. A slipping belt is normally a "shriek". Usually the alternator under load, and if you play with the switches for the heated rear window and/or heater fan will start or stop the noise. That indicates you need either a new belt or a little tightening.

But a more intermittent squeak is often the water pump starting to fail.

[Brandonflowers123]

M4cruiser said:

Depends on the noise. A slipping belt is normally a "shriek". Usually the alternator under load, and if you play with the switches for the heated rear window and/or heater fan will start or stop the noise. That indicates you need either a new belt or a little tightening.

But a more intermittent squeak is often the water pump starting to fail.

I have tried turn heater etc on. But it still makes the sound. As I have a new belt already it might mean the water pump.

Putting a few revs seems to make the sound a little louder.

[cuprabob]

You could try some talc on the belt to see if it temporally dissappears, which will prove the belt is slipping.

Depending on the configuration of the pulleys, it could be a bearing on the idler / tensioning pulley.

It could be the battery is on it's way out and putting an extra load on the alternator, just after start up.

[Brandonflowers123]

cuprabob said:

You could try some talc on the belt to see if it temporally dissappears, which will prove the belt is slipping.

Depending on the configuration of the pulleys, it could be a bearing on the idler / tensioning pulley.

It could be the battery is on it's way out and putting an extra load on the alternator, just after start up.

I shall try that.

And maybe the battery. Never been changed. But it’s usually when it’s cold. And the sound goes after 2 mins. If I turn the engine off again and start it back up. There is no sound

[catman]

If it's really cold and your battery is low, it will probably put more strain on your alternator. Once it's warmed up, and the battery has charged more, the problem goes away.

[cuprabob]

Brandonflowers123 said:

But it’s usually when it’s cold.

Battery performance significantly reduces at lower ambient temperatures. Just look at the number of battery related threads that have been created over the last week or so.

[Krikkit]

catman said:

If it's really cold and your battery is low, it will probably put more strain on your alternator. Once it's warmed up, and the battery has charged more, the problem goes away.

And once the engine and belt warms up it's naturally stickier.

[GreenV8S]

If it's a new belt, perhaps it isn't clean. Oily hands while fitting it will leave it more prone to slip.