Squeaky Startup

[heidifleiss]

I've been hearing a kind of screeching noise when I start up my car. However, it only lasts until the car is warmed up and then it completely stops. And the weird thing is the noise is worse when the weather is cold. When its warm out its not that bad. Be its just annoying. Could this be the fan belt? Someone tried to tell me that the bearings might need to be lubed. But I've decided I would come in here and ask the professionals. So what do you think? Lube the fan belt, replace the belt, or lube the bearings? Or something else?

[B/\/\W]

Yeah it is the serpentine belt which drives the fan, power steering, A/C etc. The squeaking noise is due to a slack belt, which is either because it needs replacing (not so likely unless it looks in a degraded condition), or the automatic chain tensioner is not doing its job and it needs replacing. Mine has this problem, but I can't be bothered to get it fixed. Using lubritation will have no effect, you should never lube the belt anyway.

[heidifleiss]

Yeah it is the serpentine belt which drives the fan, power steering, A/C etc. The squeaking noise is due to a slack belt, which is either because it needs replacing (not so likely unless it looks in a degraded condition), or the automatic chain tensioner is not doing its job and it needs replacing. Mine has this problem, but I can't be bothered to get it fixed. Using lubritation will have no effect, you should never lube the belt anyway.

Ok. That doesn't sound too bad. The serpentine belt will probably cost me around $30-60. I was thinking of getting the Goodyear Gatorback one which claims to eliminate all the noises. Have you heard anything about the Goodyear Gatorback?

And if I do need to replace the serp belt or the automatic chain tensioner do you have any idea of how much this will set me back for the labor? I'm not thinking that much. Maybe a 100 bucks? What do you think?

[Roman-O]

My car came with new belts, but they squeak :confused:..
I threw some grease on it worked perfect, until today started squeaking a barely when the car is cold only.

[Pirate_copy]

I would go with OEM belts personally

[B/\/\W]

If the problem is the chain tensioner, replacing the belt on its own will do nothing. As for the labour, the viscous fan needs to come off I believe. Everything that is a small job seems to cost an hour in labour!

Yeh, I don't see a reason for buying anything other than an OEM belt. The squeaking is from it being slack, slack is taken up by the tensioner, so another make of belt will make little difference. It shouldn't be too tight either, the tensioner alone should regulate that.