Loud squeal for 4~ seconds every cold start.

[newtoyota]

So I have this really irritating squeal whenever the car is left for more than 7 hours.
- the squeal doesn't start right away, maybe 10 seconds into starting engine it will start..
- if it rains, it will squeal much louder and for much longer, but eventually stops.


If the squeal gets worse with rain, does that indicate that it's the belt? or pulley's?

also squeals when turning all the way to right or left.

Thanks in advance

edit: car is a 1996 toyota corolla DX 1.6 Litre Auto

[TheNightWolf]

Mine squeels if its the early morning and I turn the wheel all the way to the lock.

Could be a loose belt?

[MrRJ]

I'd say it's a loose belt. I've had a squeal on occasion. Usually the belt is loose if not just need new belts and it's gone. In my case anyways

[TheNightWolf]

Originally Posted by MrRJ

I'd say it's a loose belt. I've had a squeal on occasion. Usually the belt is loose if not just need new belts and it's gone. In my case anyways

Burnt belt.
Pretty easy to see though.
Just look at it and if it looks hard and really shiny then its burnt and useless.

[speedy25]

I see this same title posted OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Is it not as simple as I think that this noise is bad/misadjusted belts???

[TheNightWolf]

Originally Posted by speedy25

I see this same title posted OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Is it not as simple as I think that this noise is bad/misadjusted belts???

I'd bet on loose or misadjusted.
Could be a bad one though, or just typical slipping when they get cold.

I know in NH all you hear in the morning is squeeling and belts slipping til they get warm.

[speedy25]

Originally Posted by TheNightWolf

I know in NH all you hear in the morning is squeeling and belts slipping til they get warm.

So the whole state doesnt know how to do maintenance???

Good thing I didnt add to the noise pollution when I was there last October!

My car made a MILD squeak on startup the week before the water pump catastrophically failed. I even went back on the highway and got the belt that was thrown off and reused it. No squeaks now. Ever.

If it squeaks, there is something wrong. Fix it.

-SP

[TheNightWolf]

Originally Posted by speedy25

So the whole state doesnt know how to do maintenance???

Good thing I didnt add to the noise pollution when I was there last October!

My car made a MILD squeak on startup the week before the water pump catastrophically failed. I even went back on the highway and got the belt that was thrown off and reused it. No squeaks now. Ever.

If it squeaks, there is something wrong. Fix it.

-SP

Dew and moisture gets on the belt, and its cold
The belts squeel a bit, for like a second, then stop when they get warm
People know that up here, in the summer if its squeeling is a problem.
Or mid day, or if the engine is warm.

Mine squeeks when its wet out and I turn the wheel all the way to the lock, my Cougar did this too.

[Suprafreek]

Its a loose belt. Happens to my Corolla all the time in colder weather but its quiet in the summer. Finally decided to tighten it and it went away. The belt was in good condition.

[sequoiasoon]

I had that same just after start up squeal intermittently and I know all my belts (that I could access) were new and correctly tightened. It lasted that way for a couple months. I even removed all my belts when cold, started car which was quiet (of course). Put each belt back on one at a time starting in between trying to find what appeared to be a bad pulley. No noise at all so I figured maybe one wasn't correctly tightened.

Not too long after my timing belt tensioner seized causing the constant squeal followed by smoking and burning rubber smell. Replaced timing belt, water pump, and tensioner and idler pulley's as a set and all was well.

[newtoyota]

update: I tightened up the alternator belt on friday.. and I have yet to hear any squealing since then! and it rained alot yesterday as well and no squeal.

Now..I am scared maybe I overtightened it? I don't have the tension meter...what are the symptoms of an overtightened belt?

[TheNightWolf]

Originally Posted by newtoyota

update: I tightened up the alternator belt on friday.. and I have yet to hear any squealing since then! and it rained alot yesterday as well and no squeal.

Now..I am scared maybe I overtightened it? I don't have the tension meter...what are the symptoms of an overtightened belt?

You should be fine.
You want a little movement, but not loads.