Hello,

About a week ago I bought a 2003 Lancer OZ and am having problem with it and need advice.

A few hours after buying it check engine light came on and after a diagnostic learned it needed a front catalytic converter, after a few hours at repair shop and 300 bucks that problem was fixed. Now onto next problem.

The car has almost 97,000 miles and when starting it was making some sqealing sounds that went away after running for a while. I read this forum and figured it was a belt.

I then found a mechanic on craigslist and took car to the guy. We went to parts store and bought water pump, timing belt, spark plugs, serpentine belt and alternator belt etc.

He then changed the serpentine belt and altenator belt but said the timing belt looked fine and didnt need to be replaced.

(I hope he is being honest about the timing belt as have read on internet that if it snaps there are serious consiquences)

Anyway after belts where replaced it sqealed one time on the drive home and quit. Rest of day it did fine. Then it sat overnight but when starting next day it sqealed louder and longer than ever before and then was fine the remainder of the day.

I called mechanic , he said he was busy but would call back and schedule time he could again look at car, untill now thats not happened.

Anyway, Does anyone have idea what could cause this problem with new belts squealing so badly only after first start?

Could it be belts just breaking in (?) or more likley tension issues or etc?

Justin

 

Sounds like tension issues...

 

Hello Merc,

Thanks for that, if it continues again the noise tommorow will take it someplace to see if they can properly adjust it. Just now was outside starting the car and it wasnt making any noises yet, hasnt sense this morning when it squealed like a wounded pig LOL. Hopefully though can figure it out soon as am ready to quit fixing such things so can start customizing the car a bit.

Justin

 

So is it just during the warm up or does it constantly squeal?

 

Hello Merc,

It only sqeals for few seconds during warm up and only on first crank of day, rest of day its fine, only does it after sitting for hours without running. Its not cold here in Phoenix AZ so its not cold weather related.

Really is strange as its only first start of day, just started it again after few hours of sitting still and didnt squeal.

Justin

 

It could be the break in of the belt? But I am no mechanic. It's getting hot here in Phx, so good luck! Maybe even see you around.

 

its the tension, i have the same issue it also only happens to me when i turn on the car and then its fine but it is annoying i know, o yea you should have done the timing belt... it might have looked fine but since u did the water pump u should have just gotten that out of the way since your car does have 97k

 

Hello,

UPDATE:

It did it again today but only for like 3 or 4 seconds, then no more. Took it to the mechanic and he said the tension seems good because the belts are tight, he then say if only once a day it could be a pulley needing grease or something but cant know unless he hears the sound so knows which belt or pulley its coming from. He said it cant be serpentine belt but could be alternator belt though he said it seems fine, he didn't adjust anything, just pulled on belts and talked. He also said it could be belts setting (?), never heard of that one. Who knows lolol. Maybe will have to break down and put it in dealership , trying to avoid that though.


Justin

 

Depsy:

Didnt end up changing water pump as was just going to have it changed same time as timing belt but since mechanic guy said the timing belt looked recently replaced we didnt change water pump either. I have doubts though because seems to me if previous owner had recently replaced timing belt they would have changed all the belts since right there together, kinda suspect fellow just didnt want to chance the timing belt though I do hope he was being honest as understand things can get real screwed uop should that timing belt break.

Justin

 

If it does this during every start up, remove the power steering belt and see if it squeals. Then you'll know which belt it is that needs to be tightened. I can pretty much guarantee that it's a tension issue. Stop going to that mechanic, he sounds very lazy.

 

I must pretty much agree about the mechanic as seems to think its the grease , the pulleys etc rather than just the tension on the belts he installed, no clue why he just didn't adjust the belts as doesn't take a genius to figure out if somethings gets 100 times worse after you did something then problem is probably what you did and not every other dang thing under the hood. Go figure, anyone have any idea what a dealership would charge? car still makes noise and trip to the craigslist mechanic did nothing but waste my time driving there to see the idiot pull around on the belt and not even pick up a tool. Well he advertised himself as cheap mechanic and well like with most other things seems to be a situation of getting what you pay for. The bad thing is should have paid a real shop the money I paid the street side mechanic.

 

Odd thing is only does it after sitting a while, not on every start up. Thats why mechanic doesnt think its tension as says tension would do it more consistantly. Who knows maybe the guy is right, fellow seems nice enough but the problem is just irritating.

 

Hello Everyone,

I just heard back from dealership and wanted to post here to tell everyone the outcome just incase another person has same problem.

Outcome was it needed a belt adjustment but also they will change water pump and timing belt. The price was 650 including tax.

Justin

 

im glad i stumbled upon this forum... my car seems to be doing the same thing now, only during start up and its really loud and annoying. Which belt was it that needed adjustment, because i just replaced my alternator belt that completely snapped off on me about 150 miles ago.

 

My car does the same after I did my own full timing belt and accessory belt change. I just figured it was cause it was a little cold since it only seems to do it for a couple seconds when its cold. Don't go back to that mechanic. You cant ever tell if a timing belt is brand new or not IMHO. I changed mine finally at 140K and it looked brand new and I know for a fact that it hasnt been changed for at least 70K. He just didnt want to change it, its not even hard. Lazy. Good thing your going for the Tbelt change though. I cant stand those people that dont take care of their cars. Kudos to you for being one that does.