Car making slight squeal when accelerating

[Delgirl]

I posted the other day to say I was thinking of selling my Audi A3 DSG, my mind may have been made up for me!

My husband took it today and gave it a good run which it hasn't had for a while. This evening he noticed when he set off on a journey it was making a slight squealing sound when accelerating, it's not very loud but you can get it when in car or stood nearby. I just took it out and it seems to come on when first accelerating so only for a couple of seconds at a time. Could this be the fan belt and if so is it an expensive fix?
On top of that he noticed a couple of drops of oil on the drive when I took it out, this is new too.
Please advise on potential problems and cost implications... the car has had no problems whatsoever but is 11.5 years old and I've had it from new.
Thank you in advance

[PositronicRay]

Drive belt, may get away with tightening but good chance of replacement req. Don't worry about a couple of spots of oil, but keep an eye on fluids.

[Oscar011]

Delgirl said:

I posted the other day to say I was thinking of selling my Audi A3 DSG, my mind may have been made up for me!

My husband took it today and gave it a good run which it hasn't had for a while. This evening he noticed when he set off on a journey it was making a slight squealing sound when accelerating, it's not very loud but you can get it when in car or stood nearby. I just took it out and it seems to come on when first accelerating so only for a couple of seconds at a time. Could this be the fan belt and if so is it an expensive fix?
On top of that he noticed a couple of drops of oil on the drive when I took it out, this is new too.
Please advise on potential problems and cost implications... the car has had no problems whatsoever but is 11.5 years old and I've had it from new.
Thank you in advance

Hi Delgirl,

The squeal could be a number of things. It could be the fan belt that is worn with time (check the condition. Smooth polished look about it usually causes them to slip or even when topping up your oil and spilling it on the belt usually causes a squeal)
Could also be your tensioner for your fan belt becoming slacker over time or even the bearings on the idler pulley worn over time. Could also be the water pump.
From how you have described it though it’s probably just the fan belt. Pretty simple to change and the belt it’s self costs around the £10 - 20 area.
As for the little oil Spots, I wouldn’t worry too much. Could look under the car and check the sump area to see if there’s a leak?

[Delgirl]

Thanks guys much appreciated. I took it to my mechanic and he found no problems.
With me selling it and a friend being interested, I didn't want to sell it with problems so he came to have a look and listened and he agreed it was the belt and is happy to go ahead with the sale.
Phew!