Its pissing me off.

[Jimbo2000]

my belts squeek really loudly on cold start, (morning/havnt driven for a while) only started happening as soon as i got them replaced with a 100k service, called the mechanic and went out there and made them tighten the belts but it still does it, what do i do

[Zahos]

gee, i forgot all about this thread....

Bleach1, I am sure it is the starter......

A good way of testing is to crank it iver without the car starting in the mornings (eg: disconnect ignition module and crank it over). That way you dont get engine noise distracting you, and you can clearly tell it comes from the starter motor.....

Sumo: starters can squeel, mine is living proof. I have yet to fix the problem, but I have been assured from a few ppl that have done it, that it is a simple case of cleaning and gresing it up.

I've heared of many people (well 3 or 4, but many sounds more convincing) that have has this problem with their R33's. Also had a frind with same problem in his 5 series BMW.

If u cant be stuffed doing it, your local auto elec can.

[NIZR34GTT]

my belts squeek really loudly on cold start, (morning/havnt driven for a while) only started happening as soon as i got them replaced with a 100k service, called the mechanic and went out there and made them tighten the belts but it still does it, what do i do

Grab a cake of soap and while the engine is running let the soap rub on the sides of the belts.Will fix problem pronto.Will not damage the belts.

[Jimbo2000]

sides as in the really narrow side?

[NIZR34GTT]

sides as in the really narrow side?

Yes on the edge of the belt do both side of each belt. both sides.Let it rub along the edge for a few seconds.Make sure plenty of soap rubs off.Watch the little pinkies though on the fan .

[Sumo]

gee, i forgot all about this thread....

Sumo: starters can squeel, mine is living proof. I have yet to fix the problem, but I have been assured from a few ppl that have done it, that it is a simple case of cleaning and gresing it up.

Im an apprentice auto elec and have never seen a starter that squealed. They will make funny noises if the front bush in the starter has gone to pieces which makes them make a funny noise, but they dont squeal.

The idea is you dont want to grease the shaft that the drive (little thing with that cog that locks into your ringgear) slides back and forth on.... Why? because dirt and grime sticks to the shaft and stops it from sliding..... You only put a couple of drops of oil on the bushes, and clean the shaft.

[predator]

alternators can do that when the bearings go shoddy.. that is not so cheap to fix (few $ to get a new one).

starters generally just go "grind" and then go completely, but it hasn't happened on my 33 yet.

[Sumo]

Yes, the bearing in alts can squeal.... Thats usually I sign of a stuffed bearing, and if something isnt done about it soon it may well end in a new alt, because the bearing will usually flog out that rear housing if not fixed soon enough. It costs bugger all to get them rebuilt, if its only bearings and brushes - It costs generally around $80-$100 (thats if you pull it off and refit it).

[Zahos]

fair enough, you probably would have looked a many more starters than I have, but i can tell you from my observations what i see......

I crank it over in the morning when cold (without letting it actually start), and it cranks over making no noise. When I release the key from the start position, the engine ceases to turn over and THEN I hear the noise. It is only after I have cranked it over and released the key from the start position I ever hear it, regardless of the car actually starting or not.

So I made an intelligent guess (guesstimate) that it was the starter, then i had others confirm they had the same problem.

So you say only a couple of drops of oil on the bushes and noting else? Coz I wasn't really sure on what i had to lube up. I was going to guesstimate that too

[Jolinator]

i had this problem with our a4, i traced it down to a worn key barrel that was keeping the starter motor on for a bit once the engine had started, it was the most hardcore squeel, i found the problem when it happend and i turned the key back a slight amount it stoped

good luck

[the phantom]

I have the same problem. I'm sure its the starter motor, because if you stop it from starting, you can still hear the starter winding down and squealing while everything else has stopped turning. I'll have to pull it out and give it a lube....one day

[knore]

Its not the starter motor, if they squeel is loud enough to hear easily like 15m away its definately not.

Its the belts, sometimes when they get loose, worn and even brand new ones do it for a bit.

I got new Micro V belts put on about 1000km ago, and had the harsh screetch for about 10sec then it stops. But not its gone, havent herd it for awhile. Check how tight the belts are too, they can slip.. IE Rubber rubbing agains metal : Screetch

[Steve]

Grab a cake of soap and while the engine is running let the soap rub on the sides of the belts.Will fix problem pronto.Will not damage the belts.

I can vouch for this one - old school trick, but it works. just dont put the soap on the bottom of the belt, just the sides.

[Zahos]

Its not the starter motor, if they squeel is loud enough to hear easily like 15m away its definately not.

Its the belts, sometimes when they get loose, worn and even brand new ones do it for a bit. 

I got new Micro V belts put on about 1000km ago, and had the harsh screetch for about 10sec then it stops. But not its gone, havent herd it for awhile. Check how tight the belts are too, they can slip.. IE Rubber rubbing agains metal : Screetch

It is not the belts, I'm 100% sure.

If it were the belt, it would continue to screetch if you rev it while starting it, but this has no impact. I didn't understand it myself when i first heared it, and i was convinced it was a belt. But how can it be a belt if the engine is not turning over and you hear the sound right after the starter disengages?

[Steve]

erm, dont understand, how can the engine not be turning over after the starter disengages.

If it is only momentariy, perhaps they need just enough warmth from the friction of starting to grip? like brakes when they screech just for a moment when they are cold, but usually only at low speed?

I hope for your sake it is belts, cos otherwise it sounds expensive:)

[Sumo]

Zahos: only other thing, is it could be a slipping drive... you know when you start an old ford and the starter will spin, but will not turn the motor over. Like it will whiz away but nothing happens? the drives do wear out too, they have a rachet inside them that will wear out and not lock properly. Best bet would be to get someone to rebuilt it with, new bushes (could be bearings, I have not seen inside an R33 starter - but I doubt it), drive and a set of brushes. Your heart will be at rest then if the sqeualing doesnt stop, you'll know to spend money elsewhere.

Where I work we cannot diagnose intermittent working drives in our test bench, as we cannot load them up as much as an engine would, we have to listen to them on the car and say what the problem would most likely be.

Sumo

[Redback]

i know this is old but i though id put up the solution.

i ended up taking the car to an auto electrician... it was the starter motor... when the starter motor engages out into the flywheel it wasnt pulling back off it for a split second or so causing the dirty starter in need of a good service to squeal....... before i worked this out though i did have all the belts looked at aswell as the alternator all the pully tentions and conditions of all the belts....

[The Dan]

good advice u can also get that belt spray that makes them stick better in one way or another.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do not EVER use this spray. That shit just makes it squeal more. Plus it is bad for the belt. My opinion is that a belt should never make noises like that if installed correctly and you should never have to put any other kind of product on the belt to stop it from making the noise. If the belt is still noisy after retensioning then there is a problem with the belt or the pulley, find out which and fix the problem by replacing it.

[Psymon]

I had a simliar problem with my R32. Turns out the AC compressor was rooted! Made the same squeal when i turned on the AC. I just cut the belt off. That fixed it!