So months and months ago, my car started squealing under the hood, but it was infrequent and only when first accelerating after first getting in the car - forward and in reverse. Now it's happening more frequent including when idling and parked. Anyone have any idea what it is. The weather has been particularly bad (cold, wet) the past couple days so maybe that's why it got worse. Anyway, wondering if I should play it safe and not go anywhere with the kids tomorrow in case I break down. I don't think the make and model matter because I've heard other cars to it, but just in case, it's a Subaru Outback.
Edit - Not sure if it happens more when raining, but it was particularly bad today, and it has been raining the past two days. Guess I'll try to get it in tomorrow morning.
Thanks everyone! I go to a very honest mechanic that is just a few blocks from my house - woohoo! Hopefully, they can get me in before the weekend because they are not open during the weekend.
It sounds like one of the belts needs changing. Please don't wait too long to change it. If it breaks it could cause other damage.
Sounds like a fan or timing belt.
could be your belt tensioner/ idler pulley. These parts work along with the belt. I would get it diagnosed. Some vehicles have more then one belt. One for the air conditioning and one thats a drive belt. If the ac belt breaks or the pulley you will still be able to drive the car. If the other one breaks or the tensioner then your broke down.
HTH
it is probably a belt. it can be pretty expensive to repair (i was quoted $500 for my pt cruiser) BUT if it goes it can wreck the engine and that's thousands SOOOO...i would have it checked out.
Is it high pitched and comes from the front of the car?
A belt is most likely loose. Play it safe and get the car in the shop to be looked at. If you lose a belt - it could get costly if it breaks while driving and gets caught around the fan...you would be in for even more money.
Most likely a power steering belt.
I suspect it is a fan belt or serpentine belt. If it was raining or cold outside and you turned on your defroster, that would have caused the a/c compressor to come on. When it first started, it would cause a loose belt to squeek.
The belt just needs to be tightened and it will do fine. If you have a serpentine belt, an unscrupulous shop will tell you it needs to be replaced because the inside is cracked. All serpentine belts crack after the first 10,000 miles If you see the belt coming apart (lots of threads sticking out) then replace the serpentine belt. If the serpentie belt has more than 50,000 miles on it, replace it. All of the serpentine belts I have had to deal with were warrantied by manufacturers for at least 50,000 miles.
I worked for GM as a service rep and have been ASE certified.
Good luck to you and yours.
Squealing? Maybe just a belt?
:)
Sounds like a belt. My car was doing it pretty regularly and then stopped. I did have it checked and the mechanic said the belt looked good and he didn't think it needed to be changed and he was right. So, I don't know if there's any way to tell if you need to change it or not without a mechanic looking at it.
Its a belt. What belt I don't know.
Happens more when it is raining?
Sounds like a belt.
My best guess is alternator belt. My parents' cars used to do it, and it always turned out to be the alternator belt. Yes, you have to replace it, regardless of the cost, because if it breaks it can cause major damage to your engine.
sounds like your fan belt if it has cracks in it that is the problem.
Definitely sounds like a belt.
And, it can get worse in rainy conditions.
My truck started doing that and the belt just needed to be tightened. My ex husband did it and showed our son how in case it does it again.
It hasn't squealed since.
Good luck!
Mine has been doing it too, and worse with this rain and cold the past 2 days. I do know it is the belt but it is not so bad that I will break down tomorrow.
