When the car’s internal combustion engine operates, so does the serpentine belt. This belt drives the power steering pump, alternator, AC compressor, and various other vital peripheral devices.
This component might be in trouble if you hear the belt squeal on cold startup. Colder temps can aggravate any problem this component is experiencing.
The noises become more deafening and unpleasant as the difficulties worsen.
This article will provide you with all the necessary information about the issue. Let’s scroll down!
Why Does The Belt Squeal On Cold Startup?
A squeaky belt when cold can happen for many reasons. They include a bad tensioner, a worn-out belt, the misalignment of the belt and the idler pulley, and the slippage.
This issue can be more serious if the weather becomes colder.
Bad Tensioner
A drive belt tensioner applies the right tension amount to the serpentine belt. The tensioner is essentially a pulley coupled to a flexible pivot.
A tensioner ensures the proper tension level on the belt during its working cycle.
In addition, it helps to safeguard other parts from premature failures and undue stress, such as the car alternator and water pump.
So, why does the serpentine belt squeal on cold start?
If you have a worn-out or defective tensioner, it will influence the tension level of the belt on the system’s pulleys. When you accelerate, the belt will get loose, leaving unusual noises.
Worn Out Or Bad Belt
Serpentine drive belts in many older vehicle models used to serve drivers roughly 50,000 miles. However, the newest serpentine belts are constructed of incredibly long-lasting synthetic rubber.
This material’s scientific name is ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).
The serpentine belt’s lifespan can reach 100,000 miles if it is made of EPDM. After this driving distance, you might notice the belt’s ribs wearing out.
As a result, it will move badly over the pulleys, making various noises. Colder weather might also hasten the deterioration of the component.
Belt Misalignment
All parts need to be in the correct position to function properly. So, another reason for a squealing belt when cold is the misalignment of the belt.
The serpentine belt may still be in great condition, but it is just misaligned.
If the mechanic recently put a new serpentine belt in the car system and you still hear unpleasant noises, they most likely do not properly line the belt onto the engine’s pulleys.
Once this component is loose, a worn-out tensioner could cause the misalignment.
Idler Pulley Misalignment
The serpentine belt isn’t the only part that might fall out of alignment. In addition to the belt tensioner pulley, the idler pulley might trigger the belt to produce an annoying noise.
Another pulley that helps keep the serpentine belt moving is the idler pulley.
These belts are wrapped around numerous engine components, such as the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, etc. Its main purpose is to tighten and guide the car’s drive belt.
A broken or seized pulley issue can soon result in a ripped belt or, in less severe circumstances, the belt dropping off the engine.
Because the drive belt permits the engine accessories to function, a motor without a belt can quickly overheat and stall. The serpentine belt will create noise if the idler pulley is misplaced.
Slippage
Slippage can stem from a lack of belt tension (or a faulty automated tensioner) or a misaligned pulley. In case you don’t address the loose belt issue right away, the entire belt may stray from the car pulleys.
This situation will exacerbate the noise at large because all of your engine’s necessary accessories will quit working simultaneously.
The friction between the accessory drive pulleys and the belt causes the belt to overheat when it falls off the track. If you hear a high-pitched screeching noise, it’s usually time to replace the component.
A slipped or snapped serpentine belt prevents the alternator from charging the vehicle’s battery as intended. Even if you get the car started, the lack of battery will eventually kill it.
Should We Drive With A Car Belt Squealing When Cold?
No, experts recommend you shouldn’t do that!
Although it may be safe to drive with the serpentine belt noise when cold for a few days, the belt will eventually need to be replaced, and for safety, the earlier it’s repaired, the better.
When your car’s serpentine belt fails, the car may become inoperable, requiring an expensive tow and adding cost to the repair bill.
In addition, since the belt provides power to the power steering pump, a loss of pressure might result in heavy steering, which presents a safety risk.
That’s why experts recommend that the serpentine belt be changed as soon as possible when the squealing sounds are detected.
How To Fix The Belt Squeaks On Cold Start
You might think the squealing serpentine belt when cold suggests that your car is nearing the end of its life, but there are various things you may do to repair the component. Let’s refer to these steps:
- Find The Noise Source: First, you need to check the belt and related components to know the reason for the problem. From there, you will come up with the most suitable solution for your vehicle.
- Dress The Belt: After locating the noise source, the next step is to dress it. This step is as simple as purchasing a belt dressing and putting it on. The dressing helps to preserve and moisturize the belt.
A dry belt will make a howling sound. So you must dress it to ensure it has appropriate moisture.
- Tighten The Serpentine Belt: You can release the bolt while holding it in place once you’ve located the tensioner.
This allows you to move the bolt and increase the strain on the belt. It is critical to highlight that this process must be carried out with caution.
There will be less noise if the belt has less tension and less play. Finally, tighten the bolt again to ensure the belt no longer squeals.
- Change A New One: There are occasions when fate will irreparably destroy the belt.
Assume you tried all of the above repair procedures, and the noise persists. To this end, it indicates that the belt needs to be replaced.
Conclusion
Does your car’s belt squeal on cold startup? After this article, you can answer and find the reasons for this problem.
When you detect the issue, you should have immediate solutions to reduce the risk of more serious faults. Regular maintenance and on-time repair can also help manage the repair cost.