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Squealing sound

H

hollilynn

New member
Noob question, I know.
When I start my car in below freezing temps, it squeals for about 30 seconds. I am sure it is a belt. Duh. But which one is the likely culprit?
 


I can't help you with that but in really cold temps cars tend to make some new noises. I wouldn't worry about it too much; just let it warm up for a few minutes. Someone else will probably give some more specific advice.

In MN we've been in the -10F to 0F range lately so I'm glad I don't have to hear what noises my car makes as I use the auto start from my kitchen :)
 
Right on Scotty! I am sure it wakes up the neighbors in the morning and only lasts a few seconds, but is awful! It's not normal in Indiana to have this severe of temperatures this early in the winter season. This is my spare car while the GTP is getting repaired, so I can't have another car out of commission. The last part was going on the GTP tomorrow, but of course we are getting six inches of snow tonight.
 
once the belt is off, start the engine for a minute, if the squeal is gone, its a pulley for sure.

if let go, they sooner or later explode and take the belt with it. its a 20 dollar fix most of the time.
 
Scottydoggs said:
once the belt is off, start the engine for a minute, if the squeal is gone, its a pulley for sure.

if let go, they sooner or later explode and take the belt with it. its a 20 dollar fix most of the time.
Click to expand...
If the pulley does bust, there would be the possibility of damaging an unrelated component from the backlash, correct? I can rent the tool to remove the belt at AutoZone right? But there are several belts, would it be the serpentine or the A/C? I am going to have to look in my book to do it. The hubby just had back surgery.
 


Yes, it could take other things with it. Since I don't know what kind of car you are working on I can only say "yes" you can rent a tensioner tool from Autozone. But if this is a 3800 non-supercharged then you only have 1 belt that runs everything. If S/C'd, then 2. You just need a wrench to change the belt on a 3800.
 
More than likely it is the alternator belt......simply tightening it first may just solve the problem. If the belt is all cracked, then yes time to replace.
 
if a pulley is seizing the squealing is the belt slipping on the pulley and not the pulley itself. For the cost of buying pulleys and the relative ease to change them, its worth replacing any plastic idler and tensioner pulleys with new metal ones.

If the SC tensioner or idler pulley fails the worst that will happen is that it will throw the belt.
If any of the main serpentine pullies fail, the belt will come off and you will lose charging, power steering, and cooling (since it runs the water pump).

One tip is that if you have to replace the pulley on the main belt tensioner (not SC) it's a left hand thread (lefty tighty righty loosey). Not knowing that cost me a tow one time.You can use a long 15mm box end wrench to move the tensioner.
 
Thank you all! Since the storm is coming tonight, I probably won't be able to do anything until Sunday. I appreciate it!
 
What kind of car is it? If it quits squealing not long after it's started it could just be a worn belt.
 


if its a north star it looks to only have one belt. see the silver thing in the middle kinda its got that square hole in it, you put a socket wrench in there ( with no socket) and turn it to get the belt off.

2000-cadillac-deville-sedan-image-e07-8001.jpeg


http://cadillachub.com/2012/01/02/2000-2005-cadillac-deville-illustrations-by-david-kimble/
 
99% of the time its the tensioner pulley, the one your gonna move to get the belt off and the one to its right, the idler.

when the belts off check it by bending it over your finger grooves up so it will show any cracks, if cracked and worn the belt could be the problem.

another way but its far from safe really, it to reach in and touch the bolt that holds the idler and tensioner when its at idle, it will feel like its vibrating if its bad, or grinding vs the other that should be smooth feeling.

and a bouncing tensioner is another one that can squeal, start it up watch it for movement, they move, but it should not be bouncing a lot. some times if the tensioner pulley is bad your stuck buying the whole tensioner with a new pulley. depends on the car tho.
 


Thanks for joining and welcome to Grand Prix Forums. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself and your ride(s).
 
I have a 99 Eldorado that squeals whenever it wants to. Most Northstar engine have a squealing issue when it gets cold out. Depending on the day mine will squeal once it warms up and continues to squeal until I'm finished with my drive, sometimes it squeals until it warms up then stops, and sometimes it just chirps a little at an idle. Most likely a pulley, but I don't worry about it on my car.
 
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