The timing belt squeak is a nagging issue that may confuse many people when they notice unusual noises from their car.
If you are in the same boat, explore our article for further details about its underlying roots and corresponding solutions.
What Is A Timing Belt?
Before diving deeply into the issue of the timing belt squeaking, we should look at this important device’s structure and engine components.
Basically, it was created to ensure synchronized operation between the camshaft and crankshaft.
Besides, it is also responsible for controlling the valves to work in harmony with piston movement. If it is on the fritz, these two motor parts are likely to be out of sync, causing a serious collision.
Other engine parts will be affected badly, especially the combustion system that rely on timing chains or belts.
In addition, a modern belt is made of a compound combining rubber and other chemicals, which helps it become more resistant to unfavorable conditions, such as excess heat, oil, or brake fluid.
It is advisable that you need to maintain or replace your engine belt at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals.
Your automobile’s health will be put in jeopardy if you let the squeaky timing belt problem persist.
What Are The Causes Of The Timing Belt Squeak?
Why is my timing belt squeaking? Following is a list of factors contributing to this matter: defective water pump pulley, serpentine or V-belt slipping, a tightly adjusting, and pulley misalignment.
Defective Water Pump Valley
The timing belt also manages the efficient operation of a water pump, so if its bearings display some signs of debilitation and no longer work normally, strange noises will be generated.
When this situation prolongs, a water pump will seize and break apart. The heat inside your vehicle will mount gradually, damaging the timing belt.
Accordingly, you may hear a squeaky sound, informing you that your belt is faulty.
Serpentine Or V-belt Slipping
This annoying noise may also come from the transference process rooted in a slipping V-belt or serpentine.
Actually, it starts from the metal pulley of these slipping devices, but you may feel like the belt cover is where this sound originates.
Tightly Adjusting
When your rubber timing belt is stretched too tightly, the original sound will undergo some changes. Due to different levels of intensity and vibration, it seems to squeak or squeal.
Pulley Misalignment
The misplacement of your idler pulleys also renders the squeaky noise. This often arises after you repair your timing belt at home and make an improper installation of its parts.
How To Solve This Timing Belt Squeaking Issue Efficiently?
This process as follows may come in handy:
- Step 1: Park your car and ensure that the engine turns off.
- Step 2: Open the hood. Subsequently, it would help if you could use a release and rods to keep it stationary.
- Step 3: Take the serpentine belt out from the valve.
- Step 4: You ignite your car engine one more time to see whether there is an unusual noise.
- Step 5: If the squeaky sound problem still exists, a high chance is that your timing belt breaks.
- Step 6: Have it fixed by a qualified mechanic or replace it with a new one.
What Are The Warning Signs Of The Timing Belt Noise Problem?
Below are some notable symptoms denoting the sound issue caused by a bad timing belt:
Ticking Sound
The noise generated by a timing belt differs from sounds deriving from other devices, such as drive belt systems.
The reason lies in one of its crucial components, the meshing teeth, where the noise comes from.
Hence, if your timing belt is out of order, that sound is also quite strange. Some people regard it as a ticking or clicking noise, often boiled down to worn-out teeth.
More specifically, when the teeth age and wear away, the connection between the camshaft and crankshaft loosens, inducing repetitive clicking noise when they rotate.
Squealing Sound
Unlike the ticking sound, this sound is not continuous with greater intensity. You can easily hear this squealing or squeaking noise when pressing the brake pedal or accelerator with full force.
Because this sound is rooted in numerous contributors, apart from a defective timing belt, you should have a professional mechanic execute a visual inspection.
In this way, you can rest assured whether this unusual noise stems from a damaged belt or another engine malfunctioning.
Knocking Sound
The slapping noise is mainly caused by a loose or too tightly stretching timing belt tensioner since it will hit different parts within the exterior belt cover.
The most feasible remedy to this issue is to make a timing belt replacement and purchase a new one from a reliable garage store.
Flickering Check Engine Light
If your timing belt is out of order, the entire engine compartment cannot spark off due to the desynchronization between the camshaft and crankshaft, as we have mentioned earlier.
Besides, other motor parts, namely the power steering pump, belt ribs, or crank pulley, will be damaged as well.
Hence, when you turn the key on, the engine may show no sign of ignition, and your car, in turn, cannot run.
From that time, the check engine light on the dashboard will flash intermittently to indicate something abnormal inside your vehicle. It would be best to visit the local garage for maintenance and repair.
Oil Leakage From The Internal Combustion Engine
The oil leak is another warning sign. This is because numerous nuts and bolts secure the timing belt cover. Therefore, motor oil will leak from this device when they have corroded over time.
Another common culprit behind this issue lies in a deteriorated gasket that connects the cover and the engine block. When it is cracked or improperly installed, oil leakage is also induced.
Consequently, the engine overheating is likely to occur, indicative of a broken timing belt, and the squeaking problem may follow.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, you could grasp vital knowledge about how to explore the culprits behind the timing belt squeak problem and feasible solutions.
We only instruct you on how to diagnose the source of the noise. It’s best to leave the hard work for the mechanic.
Thank you, and have a good day!