I have a '94 Civic DX that I bought a few months ago. I changed the head gasket, put on a timing belt kit, and all new serpentine belts. Ever since it got cold (at or below freezing) one of the belts has squeeled off and on. Seems to only do it when the car is cold...after it warms up and has been driven a while it won't do it. One night I started it up to let it warm up and melt the ice on the window and the squeel would come and go almost in a rythm. I thought it might be the A/C compressor turning on and off but it has done it when the defrost is off too. Could it be the alternator starting to go out? Any other ideas?

I've been thinking alternator but no way to test it since it still charges and only makes the noise once in a while...and only when cold. But it is embarrassing!

Thanks,

Derek

 

Maybe one of the new belts is a bit loose. Try to tighten them.

 

That was the first thing I checked. I figured since they were new maybe they stretched a little bit so I checked them and they seemed fine. Tightened them up a little bit anyway and it didn't seem to make a difference. They are Dayco belts so they should be decent quality.

Derek

 

My civic did this after I changed my timing beltand all the other belts also. I never got around to fixing it and it stopped on its own after a while.

I agree with RonJ though, it's probably loose.



EDIT: nevermind, you posted that you already checked it, while I was typing my original message.

 

You would be able to identify the squeaking component by removing belts one at a time. First, the Power Steering Belt and, if the squeaking persists, then the A/C belt. If the squeaking still continues, then it is either the alternator belt or the alternator.

 

So far I've only had 2 or 3 times where it would consistently do it long enough for me to open the hood and see if I could see anything with a flashlight. I have noticed that it will often squeel after a downshift or when I'm accelerating. And then sometimes it'll just start doing it and will keep it up for a couple of blocks of driving. I need to find a day with nothing else to do and keep messing with it I guess.

Derek

 

My car was making a squeak thought one of the belts needed to be adjusted, brought it in to my mechanic and figured out it's my idler pulley. I'm actually getting it fixed today. 'sovietXietday' told me it just needs a little grease aplied to it, but I'm going to get it replaced. He's gonna charge me $113 for part and labor.

 

Mine has had teh same squeal since it turned cold here as well...I dont have A/C so finding the belt is pretty easy...and I tried tightening it...and it made no difference whatsoever.

 

there is this stuff called stop squeek or something similar thats just for this purpose, for mis behaving belts that are properly tightened but still squeek, just squirt them, and da dah..... now they dont squeek... should be able to get it in most car parts shops

 

Went out last night and checked it again...guess I missed the obvious.

Last time I looked it over it was dark so I just tightened all of the belts a little while holding a flashlight. I didn't notice that the alt is at the end of the tension slot...so I didn't actually make it any tighter. I looked up the part number on the Bando website and I have the right belts on it...not sure why it is too big. I'm going to pick up a shorter belt tonight and try that out.

Derek