First off, I saw the stickies and I did a search but still feel this is the most appropriate way to ask this:

When my car starts cold (first thing in the morning, or not driven for several hours) I hear a high pitch chirping noise coming from my engine compartment when I switch into drive or reverse (auto tranny, and it stops when i switch back to neutral). This noise goes away around 1.3-1.8K rpm and returns when the rpm's drop (usually around 500-900) when im at a red light or just coasting. Not sure if this is related but the first few turns I make greet me with a lovely chirping/squeaking sound through the entire turn and stop when I straighten out. AND there's more! i'll hear a squeaking when i'm just about to shift gears, a lower pitched chirping sound. It usually goes away after i've driven some highway miles so i'm wondering if it's my fan belt or possibly my power steering... i'm not much of a mechanic (just learned to change my own oil!) so hopefully these are typical symptoms of something... no flames for not posting in the stickies please, I'd really appreciate some insight from you guys. Thanks in advance!

 

i had the same problem with my car, but mine is a manual. if your car has a continuous squeaking, almost a squealing noise, then that would be your serpentine belt, if you replace this, it should stop. hope this helps.

 

You could also try the bar of soap fix. Take a bar of bath soap like Irish Spring (or whatever happens to be in your shower) and run in on the belt while its on (the sides, and top). Obviously you want to be VERY VERY careful not to get caught by the belt. The dry soap should help to eliminate any squealing. I did this on my wife's annoyingly loud 94 Ford Escort belt and fixed the squeals. Give it a try and see if it solves the problem.

 

Nice advise, i tried on my 1989 corolla and it worked !!!

 

soap eh... sounds like a very cheap way to see if it's the belt! thanks for the responses guys. When I get home I'm going to have to try that. Now i just need to decide If i want to go for extra moisturizing or spring time fresh...

 

ive never heard of the soap trick nor any other way to stop the squealing, let us know if it works, then i could save myself time and money next time by doing that.