Yes, my car sounds like a sad old vauxhall cavalier everytime I start her up again!

 

Squeeky belt syndrome is not what I want to be recognised for!

 

I had new belts fitted in the summer and after a few weeks they were squeeling like Graham Norton at a Chippendales gig. I had the belts re-tightened and now with the recent drop in temperature (perhaps?) they're off again. 30 seconds of horrendous squeeling from start up and then they're ok till the next cold start.

 

Is this normal?????

It may not be the belts, the cam belt tensioner can also make this noise on cold start for about a minute or so.

 

If so it won't cause problems it's just annoying. Wait until you have the cam belt changed then replace it. Nissan charge about £200 for one though:eek:

 

Try tightening the drive belts etc first.;)

Maybe the battery starting to die...will cause extra load to be placed on the alternator, especially on a cold start after it's been sat draining all night. Worth checking but your alternator belt must be a bit slack anyway to slip under high alternator load.

 

I'm assuming it's the alt belt ;)

 

Cheers!

why not try spraying holts belt dressing onto the belt and pulleys, you will be amazed how much quieter it runs and if it is them, should stop the squeak as well.

Interesting....

 

I was sure it was bbelts, cause I first got the symptoms about 1 mionth after I had all the belts replaced. I went back to the same garage and they tightened it all up for me again. That was about 10 weeks ago and it's started again, but seems linked to the cold temperatures now.

 

Like you say, it only lasts a few seconds, but I hate people looking at the car and thinking that there's anything not right with it!

I get the same problem from cold, but I have found that if I turn everthing off ie aircon, heated window etc the belt dosen't squeal as there is no load on the alternator. The belt probably needs tightening but I havn't figured how to get at it yet!

Cheers

Ady

I've just started to get this on start up as well! Sometimes it only lasts a minute other times longer. But when you're in a crowded car park it seems to go on for hours! :( :( :(

 

I'm going to try Ady's suggestion first as it seems like the easiest solution... :D

 

Cheerz

 

Steve

Join the club :( Bloody embarrasing. Might go and have a look at it today - got a g/box on a 306 to change first though!

me 2 i get a little mincing squeak on start up for about 10 seconds:confused:

Easy enough job to adjust the tension but you do have to go at it from below....

Can't believed someone admitted to a mincing start up !!!!

 

And sadly I have no means to get under mi zed, cos it won't go up my ramps and I'm too fat to fit under when it's parked level!

 

So I'll have to try switching everything off everytime I start her up until I can get some lube on there. (Then go and get the belts tightened again).

 

But why do they keep getting loose, does the tightener slip, or belts expand (in cold weather???)

 

:confused:

Belts should contract in cold weather - but then I guess so should the pulleys keeping things more or less even. More relevant is the amount of drain on the battery that cold starting causes and also the lower performance of a battery in cold weather - the alternator is under increased load for a short while to top the battery up after startup.

 

Belts are bound to stretch/wear a bit over time.

 

Cheers!