Belt Squeal on Cold Start

[mcdefender]

I have a 97 Camry Auto v4 5SFE. I recently replaced the water pump which required removing the timing belt. Now on a cold start their is a squeal noise for about 3-5 seconds until the car settles to idle. I am guessing that this has something to do with the belt, but am not sure. How to I determine what is causing the noise, and how would I go about fixing it?

[ghettosled]

one of the accessory belts is loose - tighten the loose belt slightly. more than likely is the power steering belt, but it could be the alternator belt. if you press on the belts, they should be pretty taut with not much give. if i recall, the PS belt is a little difficult to tighten so that is probably the culprit belt. i typically use a pry bar to give some tension before i tighten the bolts down.

[mcdefender]

I don't think we touched the power steering belt. Could it be the alternator belt? Wasn't sure what torque the bolts that set the tension for the alternator belt need to be at, anybody know?

[Kep]

The belts go on pretty tight. They make a tension gauge but there is a rule of thumb that you should only be able to turn it 90 degrees with your forefinger and thumb (hmm, a "true" rule of thumb I guess) in the middle of the belt.

If it isn't the belt it could also be the timing belt idler pulley. Sometimes they will start squealing.

Kep

[Mike Gerber]

I agree with ghettosled. It is probably the power steering belt that is loose. To remove the timing belt and waterpump you had to remove the alternator belt and the power steering belt. Retighten the power steering belt and your noise will most likely go away.

Mike

[toyomoho]

Ditto.