Hi all,

I haven't posted for some time, but suddenly have a few concerns. Just posted about a transmission issue and here's the second. Lately, I've been hearing a loud screech on occasion when starting the engine. For a while, I was not able to isolate it and thought it may have been the HVAC fan bearing or something, because it sounded internal. It hasn't happened overtime, but often enough. The other day, the door was open when I hit the starter and it's loud as H3!!. It'd without a doubt external and seems to taper of rather quickly after the engine starts. At this time, I'm pretty sure it's the starter, but may be belt tensioner. Anyone have a similar experience and been able to isolate the problem?

Thanks in advance.

 

Can't an old belt slipping make this kind of noise as well?

 

could be the belt itself depending on age or like you said the tensioner or idler pulley. Not sure how old your belt is...that's what I would replace fist.

 

i heard that sound, worse some days than others, maybe temp related, always thought it was belt, changed belt, still heard it...turns out it was the tilt steering colum adjusting to preset after start up...sure sounded like it was coming from under the hood..

 

So the sound continues for a brief period of time after the engine catches?
That precludes something like the starter. I would look at the belt and tensioner.

Also - have you done the timing belt service yet?

Chip H.

 

how cold does it get overnight in AZ? up here in NJ when winter rolls around I always get the startup squeal which quickly goes away after a few seconds... its the serp belt...

 

The sound persists wether hot or cold. Belt is two years old. Was changed at the same time as timing belt. I thought it was the steering column too, until I heard it with the door open. It's definitely lower and more metallic sounding than a belt squeal. The sound seems to quit either just before the starter quits or slightly after. It's so laud, it's tough to tell. It's totally random, so unless I record every start, I'll never catch it at the right moment to record audio.