belt squeal maybe...?

sakumaxp · 11-15-2012, 11:59 AM

well the weather has been getting colder these past few days and right when i start my car you immediately hear a squeal, for lets say 1.5-2 seconds, enough time for me to turn off my music and listen. ive read a few posts quick last night before my drive home from work, some were saying it could be a bad tensioner, glazed pulley, or just the belt rubber is cold and after its warm shouldnt be a problem, so i drove lets say, 2 miles down the road to fill up on gas and i turned my car on after, and it was gone. i assume the squeal has to do with the cold belt? if anyone has had this problem or knows what could be wrong please throw me some info.

najsauto · 11-15-2012, 12:02 PM

I had a squeal in the engine bay but mine was the opposite: she didnt make noise when cold - noisy only after she was warmed up. I replaced belts and tensioner and no more noise.
Who knows though... if I were to guess I'd say that it's probably the belt tensioner or one of the pulleys acting up.

sakumaxp · 11-15-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by najsauto

I had a squeal in the engine bay but mine was the opposite: she didnt make noise when cold - noisy only after she was warmed up. I replaced belts and tensioner and no more noise.
Who knows though... if I were to guess I'd say that it's probably the belt tensioner or one of the pulleys acting up.

yeah i had my belts changed not too long ago, maybe about a week ago or so. and it only started yesterday, so ill see whats up when i start her up to go out later.

illestminimike · 11-15-2012, 09:11 PM

What kind of belt did you get? It really could be a pulley. Try this to make sure it's not something else: get in car and roll down windows and turn off music, then turn to ignition 2 without cranking it over and make sure it doesn't make any funny noises.

$ilent ///M · 11-15-2012, 09:21 PM

Mine was the pulley. theres two which normally go out the one by the alternator and one by a/c. you can put a long screwdriver close to it when cold and listen thru the screwdriver. r

choxor · 11-15-2012, 09:59 PM

Did you inspect the pulleys when you changed the belt

Ballerbrian4u · 11-16-2012, 02:00 AM

Is there any negative affect to this? Or is it just the noise? How much dose it cost to fix?

sakumaxp · 11-16-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choxor

Did you inspect the pulleys when you changed the belt

i live in an apartment complex and when i moved i sold most of my tools, to work on my car since before i had a garage. so now i just take it to the shop unless im doing brakes and and an oil change.

Rockyminator · 11-16-2012, 02:49 PM

It's the idler pulley.

ECSTuning · 11-16-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballerbrian4u

Is there any negative affect to this? Or is it just the noise? How much dose it cost to fix?

If it's a pulley and it fails, yes. A belt can come loose wrecking fan blades and such, causing a lot more damage than replacing a belt and a few pulleys.

Ballerbrian4u · 11-26-2012, 01:29 AM

So when I turn on my car In the morning until it warms up there is a squeal from the belt area. What do I need to check to see what the problem is? And what I need to buy? I was told by a friend to put some armor all on the belt to see of that helps. What do you guys think. Please helpppp!

illestminimike · 11-26-2012, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballerbrian4u

So when I turn on my car In the morning until it warms up there is a squeal from the belt area. What do I need to check to see what the problem is? And what I need to buy? I was told by a friend to put some armor all on the belt to see of that helps. What do you guys think. Please helpppp!

It's the tensioner.

KrasivataSabine · 11-26-2012, 02:03 AM

Had the same symptoms on my 323ci for two weeks. Replaced the belt, tenioner pulley, and idler pulley for less than $100. Both the tensioner pulley's bearing and the idler pulley's bearing were shot to hell. I replaced the belt for good measure. All is well now

illestminimike · 11-26-2012, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrasivataSabine

Had the same symptoms on my 323ci for two weeks. Replaced the belt, tenioner pulley, and idler pulley for less than $100. Both the tensioner pulley's bearing and the idler pulley's bearing were shot to hell. I replaced the belt for good measure. All is well now

Do exactly that!

KrasivataSabine · 11-26-2012, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illestminimike

Do exactly that!

Why thank you

OP, its also an easy job to DIY so don't hesitate and just get to it!

screamer-beemer531 · 11-29-2012, 09:00 AM

Yh I've had that. I had a small VC gasket leak and it ruined the pulleys and the belt. Replaced them all and it went away. It used to be there only when cold just like yours. It's not an expensive job if you do it yourself.

11-15-2012, 11:59 AM	#1
sakumaxp Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Diamond Bar Posts: 944 My Ride: 02 M3 convertible View My Garage	belt squeal maybe...? well the weather has been getting colder these past few days and right when i start my car you immediately hear a squeal, for lets say 1.5-2 seconds, enough time for me to turn off my music and listen. ive read a few posts quick last night before my drive home from work, some were saying it could be a bad tensioner, glazed pulley, or just the belt rubber is cold and after its warm shouldnt be a problem, so i drove lets say, 2 miles down the road to fill up on gas and i turned my car on after, and it was gone. i assume the squeal has to do with the cold belt? if anyone has had this problem or knows what could be wrong please throw me some info. __________________ Carbon Black Metallic SMG II Verttttt VCSL Front Bumper VCSL 1 Piece Splitter VIS GTR Hood 6K Angel Eyes VMR VB3 19's KW V2 coilovers

11-15-2012, 12:02 PM	#2
najsauto Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 27 My Ride: 2000 BMW 323CI View My Garage	I had a squeal in the engine bay but mine was the opposite: she didnt make noise when cold - noisy only after she was warmed up. I replaced belts and tensioner and no more noise. Who knows though... if I were to guess I'd say that it's probably the belt tensioner or one of the pulleys acting up. __________________

11-15-2012, 09:11 PM	#4
illestminimike Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: West Covina CA Posts: 3,919 My Ride: 2003 SMG Vert M3 View My Garage	What kind of belt did you get? It really could be a pulley. Try this to make sure it's not something else: get in car and roll down windows and turn off music, then turn to ignition 2 without cranking it over and make sure it doesn't make any funny noises. __________________ -2003 M3 Vert -1967 Mini Cooper

11-15-2012, 09:59 PM	#6
choxor Fully Deeked Out Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,785 My Ride: An Automobile View My Garage	Did you inspect the pulleys when you changed the belt __________________

11-16-2012, 02:49 PM	#9
Rockyminator Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 474 My Ride: HPF Stage 2.5 M3 View My Garage	It's the idler pulley. __________________ HPF Stage 2.5 BMW M3

11-15-2012, 09:21 PM	#5
$ilent ///M Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: So.Cal Posts: 208 My Ride: 03.5 M3 smg lsb View My Garage	Mine was the pulley. theres two which normally go out the one by the alternator and one by a/c. you can put a long screwdriver close to it when cold and listen thru the screwdriver. r

11-16-2012, 02:00 AM	#7
Ballerbrian4u Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 182 My Ride: 2004 BMW m3 View My Garage	Is there any negative affect to this? Or is it just the noise? How much dose it cost to fix?

11-26-2012, 01:29 AM	#11
Ballerbrian4u Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 182 My Ride: 2004 BMW m3 View My Garage	So when I turn on my car In the morning until it warms up there is a squeal from the belt area. What do I need to check to see what the problem is? And what I need to buy? I was told by a friend to put some armor all on the belt to see of that helps. What do you guys think. Please helpppp!

11-26-2012, 02:03 AM	#13
KrasivataSabine Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Del Puerto Canyon Drive, CA Posts: 589 My Ride: 323Ci View My Garage	Had the same symptoms on my 323ci for two weeks. Replaced the belt, tenioner pulley, and idler pulley for less than $100. Both the tensioner pulley's bearing and the idler pulley's bearing were shot to hell. I replaced the belt for good measure. All is well now __________________ Last edited by KrasivataSabine; 11-26-2012 at 02:04 AM.

11-29-2012, 09:00 AM	#16
screamer-beemer531 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 277 My Ride: BMW M3 E46 6spd PY View My Garage	Yh I've had that. I had a small VC gasket leak and it ruined the pulleys and the belt. Replaced them all and it went away. It used to be there only when cold just like yours. It's not an expensive job if you do it yourself. __________________ "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." Henry Ford

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