Screaming Belt Or Something When Started Cold

Sounds like they are fishing for a reason why the thing is only squealing when cold.

Maybe it's the tensioner pulley that's causing it.

Maybe you're revving the t!ts off it when you start it cold, causing belt whip and slippage?

They've already replaced the aircon belt because as you say it was noisy all the time, now it's not. Sounds like they fixed that part of it to me.

Help them to help you.......

Does the alternator run off the same belt? Something could be draining the battery when left for a while (overnight etc) and the alternator may be under a lot of load when you start it up causing the belt to slip, but it should not squeel even under a high load. You could check the battery voltage before starting it cold to confirm this theory.

Hey WDR

No the dealership is not taking the bleep out of you, as my Cruisers do it every morning during the dry season when its cool.

I'm changing all the belts today on my trucks, I guarantee I will have to adjust them more than once to get them bedded in.

To help this I run my trucks for 3 to 5 mins before they go in the morning.

I've also herd that the alternator works hard first thing to bring a tired battery up to charge, not sure about that one.

Cheers Steve.

My Power Steering belt used to do this (Paj). Tightened it up and all good for six months so far....

Peter

We had an air con belt wear oujt, replaced it and the car was screaching when started cold before the air con belt was changed. We watched the volt meter gauge on the car and noticed it screached until the needle went to 14 exactly, not just short of 14. So we had the alternator belts changed and all is well again.
No screaching when cold, or any other time for that matter but it only made the sound when the motor was cold.
Good Luck.
The Watto's.

It's a Toyota. Probably the a/c belt or the power steering belt. Mine does it also.

If it's not a bearing or something else mechanical, try some Graphite powder rubbed into the tracking surface of the belt. Not too much. Works for me.

Have you checked where the cat is?

Suggest tightening the belt (as per previous postings) and/or putting on a little of the fan belt gunk designed to give it more grip. It is avaiable in either spray on or stick application. Stuff is sticky as but works.
Caution: remember to put the cap back on if u buy the spray on - I forgot and as I was bumping and bashing through the bush one day I heard this psssssssssssssssss - thinking it was a flat I got out expecting a deflaed tire - nothing but could still hear the pssssssssssssss. Tracked it down to the tool box when I opened the box I was greeted with all my tools covered in a sticky, gooey mess :-(

A quick simple test to see if it is a belt noise is to spray water on belts, noise will disappear. The other thing with belts when cold & stiff will squeak for a short time till they warm up. I also agree with other post loose belts that we don't pay enough attention to between periodic service intervals.

Get some Belt Grip spray. Makes the surfaces a little sticky so they transfer the power better. The stuff we have comes in a green can with belts and pulleys pictured on it.

As a few others have said -- it will be a slipping belt - Toyota ( actually most other makers ) dont have an easy adjustment for belts - and in the case of alternator belts you often have to use a lever to get tension ( why they dont have a tentioning screw is beyond me)

anyway - best way to test is start your car up -- let it warm up a little ( allow oil to go to upper part of motor -- usually 30 sec or so ) then bring revs up a little 1500 - 2000 rpm -- turn headlights on high beam --- if the squeel gets noticably louder then you will know its the alternator belt ( or belt that runs through the alternator for those cars with 1 belt for all ) This is because the alternator is loading up - If you cant get it to squeel then you may have to drain the battery a little ( leave the head lights on for 5 min without motor running) also a little spray of water ( fine mist) on the pulley will also make it slip - this simulates an early morning start up where the car may be left outside

So if it is the belt thats slipping - adjust it up ( or have someone do it for you ) then also get a can of beltgrip for added insurance

hope this helps a little

Boc

Thanks everyone - greatly appreciated

I have now re-discovered it only occurs when airconditioning is left on overnight. It was cooler for a few days in Sydney and A/C was not used, hence me thinking it was a new problem.
They have already charged me enough for this new A/C belt, they can have another go at next service, I am not wasting anymore time or petrol going down to dealer in between.

Again my thanks