Ok, so I had some belt squealing problems when I first replaced my alternator...and now I just get them on startup.
I don't have an A/C belt...so it's not that.
It only happens for 5 to 20 seconds when I start the car, and then goes away. Why is it only when I'm starting the car? Is this the alternator essentially "clutching on" and squealing until the belt pressure it correct?
Fixing the problem isn't as much of a concern as figuring out why its doing it.
be carefull...I had the same problem with my 95 corolla. turned out it was the belt making the noise, but no amount of belt tension (adding or removing it) would fix it. Turns out my little 1.6 ltr was too small for a true harmonic dampener on the crank. Instead the crank pulley was 3 parts:
-the hub that bolted to the crank itself
-a rubber bushing
-the outer flange that the belt actually ran on
The idea was the bushing was pushed on the hub and then the flange was pushed on over that. The bushing was just there to keep vibrations to a minimum. That was all well and good for the first decade of her life, but after 10 years, that rubber band that sat between the hub and the outer flange shrank a bit, and allowed the flange to slide laterally to its rotation...essentially allowing the belts to come off kinda like a chain coming off your kids bike. happened everyday for a week Didnt figure it out till I had the wife start the car while I looked in the engine bay and watched the thing slide all over before popping off and nearly taking some of my face with it
. New crank pulley ? yeah $250 from the dealership, or 180 from autonapazone with a leadtime of 3 weeks. Hopefully your situation isnt as bad
4CF, I had the exact same thing happen to me with a 22RE in a 92 Truck. The rubber wore out and the outer ring came off the inner. Happened to me going down a hill on the interstate. When I saw the alternator light come on I figured I lost that belt which also drives the water pump, killed the motor and managed to coast off the freeway to a mall parking lot. I got a used pulley at the junk yard for like $20, too much, but they got you. These days, 22R's are getting hard to find in the breakers. The one I found was off a Celi and was solid, no rubber bits to vanish. Worked fine.
my fix was total car swap
My 99 G20 swapped right into the garage where the 'Rolla was. Super easy install
Any other ideas that aren't Corolla related?
Is there a pig under the hood?
No sir. If so, I'd certainly have a good amount of bacon because it squeals on almost every startup. Sometimes it's just for a second, other times for a few seconds.
My suggestion wasn't Rolla Related. It was Truck Related.
Do this: Open hood, shine light as necessary, look at belts. Have helper start car while you watch carefully. Which belt didn't move when it was squeeling? Did one move faster than the others? Did any of the accessory pulleys not move with the belt? Repeat until you find the problem.
Take a tip from my ancestor, Hillwilliam Brown:
with the engine off and cold douse the belts with a small amount of Comet cleanser. rotate the engine by hand to make sure you get a proper dusting on all of the belts, and for the entire length.
Start car.
If the noise is GONE you need new belts.
I've found that if you hear the squeall try to turn the steering wheel to full right then full left, if the sound changes it means the PS belt is loose.
Another is to use belt dressing and spray on on belt and if the sound changes you'll know which one is squeeking. Belt dressing is completely worthless for anything else, it is just some sticky crap to spray in the engine compartment.
I love that on my benz they used adjustment stars instead of having to wedge a piece of wood againd the PS pump to tension the belt like on the 22re pickup. I've also found belts start to squeek when they age. Good luck.
Had that problem after a timing belt change on a miata, it was the belts not being tight enough. In the summer it sometimes comes back so I might have to crawl under the car again.
John Brown wrote:Is there a pig under the hood?
Is Ned Beatty under the hood?
spitfirebill wrote:John Brown wrote:Is there a pig under the hood?
Is Ned Beatty under the hood?
Do you hear dueling banjos when the key is turned on but the engine is off?
The same thing happens with my jeep (squealing on startup then goes away). I have a volt meter and noticed when it's squealing the volts drop back down to 12v rather than 14v. I didnt fix it yet since it went away in the warm weather, but it's probably the belt. Use a volt meter if you dont have a gauge, that way you dont have to "eyeball" a slow alternator belt.
That usually indicates a worn belt. On start up, the belt has to get everything moving from a dead stop.
you could always install an alternator that was made for your car... 
That would fix any possible off-angle/tension/bearing problems.
benzbaron wrote: I love that on my benz they used adjustment stars instead of having to wedge a piece of wood againd the PS pump to tension the belt like on the 22re pickup. I've also found belts start to squeek when they age. Good luck.
Reminds me of when I caused the same problem once, the alternator belt wasn't quite tight enough 'cuz I did it by hand, I had to get someone to wedge the alternator away from the block with a broomstick while I tightened the bolt. The funny thing is that it the bolt never moved from the "clean spot" where it originally was.
benzbaron wrote: I love that on my benz they used adjustment stars instead of having to wedge a piece of wood againd the PS pump to tension the belt like on the 22re pickup.
What, you don't have an old axe handle laying around? What do you do when the zombies attack?
