Started my car today, Its been sleeping for the winter and I figured it was about time to take her for a ride. It needed a boost but once I got it started it was fine the only thing was a very loud squeak coming from the belts at the front of the engine. I assume that they need some type of lubrication. Even after running and driving it for 30 minutes it was still there maybe even a little louder.
I am just going to wait till Spring when I get it on the road again and take it to the dealer for its service. It was weird to hear that kind of noise coming from a normally silent engine bay.

 

Is the cat missing?

 

Mine squeaks too. I haven't bothered to take it in yet as it only seems to do it at idle and I can't hear it when driving, but the squeak is there!

GW

 

You mention that it needed a jump start and had been sitting all winter...this makes me wonder if there wasn't some rust on the pullies...combine that with a BIG load on the alternator from recharging the battery, and you've got the makings for a squeak. It may go away....but....

If it persists, carefully, with the engine running, take a bar of soap and place it against the backside (ribbed side) of the belt for about 5 seconds.....this will silence it. Be careful, don't lose any fingers! Or...if you think soap is ghetto, my grandfather uses some grease type stuff in a tube called Door Ease....it is solid at room temp. You could also use some paraffin.

 

I like the soap idea, and that would probably work for him.

However, I thought that the energy needed to turn the alternator was constant, and that if the battery is fully charged, electronics kicked in to prevent overcharging. This is just the opposite of an AC compressor, which has a clutch which disengages most of the load when it is not needed, because the load is so great as to be noticible on all but larger engines.

But I'm no mechanic, and I might be wrong.

But the soap is a good idea. There should be a bar in your tool box all the time to coat wood screws, which go in much easier that way.

Or it may be the cat.

 

The battery, if dead will need more than the altnernator to recharge it. Look into a battery tender or letting Lexus recharge it. You dont want to go driving for that 30 minutes and get out and not be able to start the car. I did this with my old car and it was just a pain in the ***.

As for the soap, dont use liquid soap, it just doesnt work.....lol

Bring the car to Lexus let them look at it, they belts have dried up, but they may comform once again. Like I said though I would have an appointment, nothing more embarrassing than that.

 

mine does too.. i'm glad i'm not the only one with this problem.. I haven't taken mine to the dealership either yet