Squealing noise when car starts

What do you mean no cambelt? Every car has a cambelt or chain.

Anyway on topic if it's not the fanbelt it can be one other thing which sounds exactly like it which is the PCV breather valve on the tappet cover.

I don't know if other cars even have such a thing but I had mine fail on my VW GTI and it sounds exactly like a fanbelt grinding/screeching noise but turned Out to be an air noise.

Quickest way to test it is to pull the oil check level out while the car is idling.

If idle becomes erratic, problem found, if not something else...or was it the other way round now...can't remember.
 
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b_crazy said:
I'll get a mech to look at the belts.

Are there chances it could snap if I don't fix it ASAP?
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b_crazy said:
OK got it. At least the problem won't run me a few grand.
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If it is the fan belt it is unlikely to destroy your car. It will just make that annoying noise. The only real chance of it damaging anything is if it is so loose that it slips off the pulleys and gets tangled. Then it might cause some damage. The chances are remote but considering how cheap it is to get the belt replaced it seems silly to leave it if it is dangerously loose unless you are seriously strapped for cash.

Last time I had to replace a fan belt it cost something like R100.
 
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fanbelt. The squeeling is from teh drag caused by the alternator to charge the battery. This goes away when the battery doesnt need much current as is nearly charged up. The startup is heavy on the battery and alternator as many electronics run - fuel pump, etc..

so the alternator is "excited" for few seconds, in this time the already weak battery is being used solely. thus when alternator kids in, it causes major drag.
 
It's the belt pensioner not the belt itself.
Well it could be either.

Fan belt can snap and damage your fan belt cover.
 
SauRoNZA said:
What do you mean no cambelt? Every car has a cambelt or chain.

Anyway on topic if it's not the fanbelt it can be one other thing which sounds exactly like it which is the PCV breather valve on the tappet cover.

I don't know if other cars even have such a thing but I had mine fail on my VW GTI and it sounds exactly like a fanbelt grinding/screeching noise but turned Out to be an air noise.

Quickest way to test it is to pull the oil check level out while the car is idling.

If it goes quiet, problem found, it not something else...or was it the other way round now...can't remember.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I meant it has no cambelt, but a chain.

Sounds interesting but I hope it it's not that. I'll test it for good measure. It's an easy enough test. Thanks
porchrat said:
If it is the fan belt it is unlikely to destroy your car in the short term. It will just make that annoying noise. The only real chance of it damaging anything is if it is so loose that it slips off the pulleys and gets tangled. Then it might cause some damage. The chances are remote but considering how cheap it is to get the belt replaced it seems silly to leave it if it is dangerously loose unless you are seriously strapped for cash.

Last time I had to replace a fan belt it cost something like R100.
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Good to know.
I'll certainly sort it out ASAP. The problem started yesterday afternoon after I hadn't started the car for about 8 hours.
 
berrypi said:
fanbelt. The squeeling is from teh drag caused by the alternator to charge the battery. This goes away when the battery doesnt need much current as is nearly charged up. The startup is heavy on the battery and alternator as many electronics run - fuel pump, etc..

so the alternator is "excited" for few seconds, in this time the already weak battery is being used solely. thus when alternator kids in, it causes major drag.
Click to expand...
So this could also damage the battery by putting too much load on it. Great :/. It won't get to that stage. Getting sorted out ASAP.
Electric said:
It's the belt pensioner not the belt itself.
Well it could be either.

Fan belt can snap and damage your fan belt cover.
Click to expand...
That could get expensive :(. But I reckon I'll get it sorted out before that.
 
b_crazy said:
Good to know.
I'll certainly sort it out ASAP. The problem started yesterday afternoon after I hadn't started the car for about 8 hours.
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If the noise started that recently then I doubt the belt is loose enough to cause any problems but it is probably still worth getting it looked at so bravo to you for being so dedicated to the maintenance of your vehicle.

Also note that belt I had replaced was done earlier this year so I'm talking R100 in terms of today's toilet paper rand as opposed to years ago when the Rand was worth something :p.
 
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