Screeching noise - please help

[crazyboy3012]

Hello All,

Firstly, I'm glad that i've always had great feedback from the members of this forum . I have had my G 35 for barely 6 months and I'm still learning about my new car.

The last few days have been very cold here in Kansas and these days when i start the car in the morning I hear a screeching noise from under the hood . Sometimes this noise would last for the entire journey. Today i heard the noise only for a few minutes. I know this has to be from one of the belts since all my older cars did the same.

My G has 56K miles on it (03 model). Typically at what milage is a belt change required? I will get the 60K maintenance done during my next oil change. Can i wait until then to fix this problem or should I take it to a Nissan dealership ASAP?

Thank you in advance for the feedback. Happy holidays!!!!

[infinititech1]

sounds like belts...we changed them at every 30k service. possibly just slightly loose

[ArizonaG35]

I'm no Infinititech, but he is totally right that it is your belts... I had this similar problem in the cold weather with my Acura Legend... My issue was with the alternator belt (the bolt holding the alternator was loose and causing the belt to squeal) I personally would try some belt dressing until your next visit to the dealer as it can be embarrising to sit at a light with a squeaky belt and everyone staring at you... try this pyroil belt dressing, but know that this is only a TEMPORARY fix... will not work for long term, but might shut the car up in the meantime...

http://www.valvoline.com/pages...ct=32

[crazyboy3012]

Thank you!!!!!

[smockers83]

Its possibly just loose, but if the belt is bad, you should try and get it in soon. If the belt breaks, you'll run into problems and you're car will stop running. If you take a look at it, try and look at the grooves in the belt and if there are quite a few cracks in it, it needs to be changed. If not, just tighten that bad boy up.

[joe603]

DONT use the "belt squeal fix" and/or belt dressing in a can!! This will prematurely wear out your belts and could cause a break. Do a physical inspection and look for fraying around the edges.

You can check for proper tension by pressing down on the belt between pulleys...if it sinks to much, tighten the idler spring. If this is greek to you, take it to a shop/dealer.

[pasha_02]

Infinitech,

I just changed my belts on Saturday. Started up the car no problems. On sunday night, I started up the car and had the screeching noise for about 5-10 sec and then it went away. Same thing this morning. Is it just the belts are cold and need to warm up and get stretched out? Is it possible I over tightened?

Thanks

Paul

[tollboothwilley]

you just need to tighten a little bit more, over tightening you wouldn't hear a sound.

I'd say about half a turn on the adjustment bolt, maybe a full turn.

When its on properly, you will get no squeals. Go in small increments so

that you don't over tighten, as this can cause serious issues.

[pasha_02]

Okay,

Tried tightening both bolts, probably at least one full turn each. Same noise same length and only happens after the car hasn't been started for over 2 hours. Otherwise, just a small chirp when the car starts. Any ideas?

Oh and i dont think i can tighten anymore with just a plain ratchet. I would need serious leverage to tighten more.

Thanks

Paul
Modified by pasha_02 at 10:32 PM 2/6/2008

[telcoman]

Okay,

Tried tightening both bolts, probably at least one full turn each. Same noise same length and only happens after the car hasn't been started for over 2 hours. Otherwise, just a small chirp when the car starts. Any ideas?

Oh and i dont think i can tighten anymore with just a plain ratchet. I would need serious leverage to tighten more.

Thanks

Paul

Modified by pasha_02 at 6:26 AM 2/5/2008

If the new belt is tight & runs against an idler pulley perhaps it needs some lubrication?

[pasha_02]

It gets even weirder.

Whenever the heater is on and i turn the car off and let it sit for a while, and come back expecting the schreeching noise, the car starts normally without it (i guess because the heater/fan is engaged when the car starts up), such as what happened this morning.

However yesterday night i started the car (the heater wasnt on) and had the schreeching noise for 10 sec.

Is it possible that the belt just needs to be worn in?

[telcoman]

It gets even weirder.

Whenever the heater is on and i turn the car off and let it sit for a while, and come back expecting the schreeching noise, the car starts normally without it (i guess because the heater/fan is engaged when the car starts up), such as what happened this morning.

However yesterday night i started the car (the heater wasnt on) and had the schreeching noise for 10 sec.

Is it possible that the belt just needs to be worn in?

If you are still under warranty, take it to the dealer

Telcoman

[tollboothwilley]

Um, no not really

You loosened up the nut holding the tensioner on before you tightened down the belt right??

You should have the ability to tighten more still, and it shouldnt be hard work.

When i changed my belts they gave me the wrong size for my A/C belt and I wasn't able to adjust properly, make sure the belt isn't too big.