squeek when engine starts? what's this?

[madmoomoo]

Hey there folks,

I'm just wondering if i can get some advice on what might be going on with my car (R33). About every third time that I start the car, there is a bit of a sqealing noise when the engine starts. Is this a normal thing? It is happening a bit more regularly than it used to. My first thoughts were perhaps a belt, or just the fact that the engine wasn't yet lubricated... Would one of these be correct? If not, what else should I try?

(93 R33 gtst, old girl done about 190,000, belts everything done when I bought it about 30k ago)

Cheers

[benl1981]

alternator belt may not be tight enough. Check all the belt tension - i found the alternator one had to be quite tight before it stopped squelling.

Check all belts - failing that could be timing belt

[totoro]

yeah i agree and probably you will find that the condensation from cold weather is also contributing to the squeeking and slipping the belts so it is normal to have this sound in cold weather... but doesnt hurt to check the tension i guess...

[madmoomoo]

Thanks guys. Any idea how much one of those tension tester things is? I'm presuming I can pick one up at autobarn or supercheap or somewhere like that??

Thanks for the advice, and yes it does happen more in this miserable melbourne winter. dumbass rain...

cheers.

[Robbo]

Send me $15, and I'll express post you a tension tester

But really, as a rough guide you should have trouble twisting a belt 90 degrees, if you can twist the belt then its probably too loose. Using common sense and a general grasp of physics, you should be able to figure out if your belts are too loose. While your at it, inspect the belts for cracks, splits and frays.