Squealing sound? Alternator??? Help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 843
Likes: 1
From: Carlisle PA
Squealing sound? Alternator??? Help
Lately there's been a kind of squealing sound coming from the engine compartment. It usually happens when I first start and drive the car. Then it disappears.
I opened the hood and it seems like it's related to the belt in front of the engine. I also noticed that there's a small pile of pieces of metal laying below the alternator. Could it be that the alternator is going on me? Could that also be the cause of the noise since the belt's attached to it?
I am not a mechanic by any means so any help/advice would be appreciated.
I opened the hood and it seems like it's related to the belt in front of the engine. I also noticed that there's a small pile of pieces of metal laying below the alternator. Could it be that the alternator is going on me? Could that also be the cause of the noise since the belt's attached to it?
I am not a mechanic by any means so any help/advice would be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
More than likely it's the idler pulley for the accessory belt. Autozone has replacements. Relieve the tension, pull the belt off and out of the way, start the car. If the noise is gone, replace the idler pulley. Should take care of it for you. 
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FL
St. Jude Donor '10
Also check the tensioner. I replaced my pulleys and the sound didn't do away. When I removed the tensioner it was totally trashed, You're lucky it's not the A/C belt. It's much harder to get too.
