High Pitched Squeal

[moe247]

Hello.

I have a 2003 plate Corolla. As I was getting out of the car today I noticed an intermittent high pitched squealing coming from the engine as it was idle. I opened the bonnet to have a look (not that I know anything about cars!) but couldn’t hear it any more or less. I was sure I could hear it more when I was kneeling down by the tyres.

Anyway, didn’t think anything of it and having got back into the car after work, it seemed to have gone.

However, after driving home, I decided to have another listen while the car was idle and sure enough I could here it again.

The revs weren’t jumping about (steady at about 0.8) and if I pressed the accelerator, the squeal would go away.

Any idea on what this could be?

Any help appreciated. Cheers.

[slarti54]

Belt slipping?

[ae102]

Hello.

I have a 2003 plate Corolla. As I was getting out of the car today I noticed an intermittent high pitched squealing coming from the engine as it was idle. I opened the bonnet to have a look (not that I know anything about cars!) but couldn’t hear it any more or less. I was sure I could hear it more when I was kneeling down by the tyres.

Anyway, didn’t think anything of it and having got back into the car after work, it seemed to have gone.

However, after driving home, I decided to have another listen while the car was idle and sure enough I could here it again.

The revs weren’t jumping about (steady at about 0.8) and if I pressed the accelerator, the squeal would go away.

Any idea on what this could be?

Any help appreciated. Cheers.

sounds like a worn or poorly adjusted drive belt - alternator.a/c or p/s pump. its normally the alternator belt - you can adjust to tighten but it will just come back. only a couple of quid for a new belt and fairly simple job to do. if its not the belt could be the bearings in the alternator or i have heard on here that the belt pre tensioners can make a noise. you will need to identify exactly where the noise is coming from - but there's a few pointers for you

[Hogie]

What the lads said,prob the aux/drive belt. When my tensioner/idler was replaced it was making more of a rumble thou,we could have diff engines. Prob just the belt slipping,if it is nothing major. Prob just get worse till u fix it,but it shouldn't cost to much.

[moe247]

Thanks guys! I took it in to my local garage today but the chap said he couldn't hear it... I swear it stopped doing it as he turned up... aint that always the case?

Anyway, he had a good listen and a bit of a look round and said he doesn't think it is anything but to take it in if I want them to have a better look.

I'm gonna give it a while and see what happens. The car on the whole is perfect, and it could've been doing this for a long time for all I know, so I'll just have to wait and see I guess.

[TheSpannerMonkey]

ah intermitant fault syndrome, generally with cars, the severity and audibility of the annoying noises is inversely proportional to the proximity of the automotive repair facility

your better of trying to find it yourself, firstly theres the old faith, wiggle the belt, a properly tensioned belt should be able to move about 5mm (2.5mm in either direction), and should be able to twist 90 degrees, next if you hear the noise while its idling try and locate in the engine bay where its coming from, which from your description probably will be the belts, in which case wiggle the steering, turn the a/c on and off, and turn on as many accessories aspossible, to see if any of these affect the noise, if they do then it will tell you what belt is slipping, next get yourself a can of wd40 with a straw, and squirt the nearest pulley if the noise stops/changes its that belt if, if not try the next one, if this doesnt work then its probably a pulley or tesioner so you would be better of getting someone with a stethascope to have a look

hope that helps, sorry if i waffled abit,

also if you cant hear the noise try giving your car a good wash, with loads of hosing down, the more water the better, then you should be able to hear it

[moe247]

Thanks for all the comments again.

So, having spoke to a few of my more informed friends, it seems this might actually be a fan belt problem after all.

It seems to fluctuate with bits and bobs being turned on and off (ie. lights, heater, wipers) when the car is idling after a drive. It still doesn't happen the first time the car is turned on, it only happens after a bit of a driver, so I'm thinking the belt is slipping... ?

Any other thoughts appreciated.

[cmia]

just replace the belts :P

that will fix it