On cold days, my car chirps very loud when I start it. The last few days (very cold, about 25 deg f) the "chirp" evolves into a low squeal for about two seconds then goes away. It sounds like its coming from my pullies or belts. The belts are only a few months old, so I'm wondering if one of my pullies is going? Any ideas? Thanks.

-Matt

 

I'd say just cold belts, they can slip a bit until they are warmed up. Check the tension (don't just tighten unnecessarily) and if they are OK just give them a shot of Belt dressing which you can pick up at any autozone.

 

that's what I figured, but no other car I've driven has ever done that. Also, the first thing I checked was the tension and it seemed fine. Just wondering if a bad pully could cause the chirp.

 

Belts is a good thing to check and if dressing cures it great. However, it also may be your water pump or your alternator bearing sounding off. I would check your coolant level to be sure the coolant level is not leaving the water pump dry after it sits and cools down (you should get a brief alarm though if it is that low even temporarily). But your water pump and alternator have bearings that go bad eventually. Hence, you may be looking at a new water pump or alternator soon.

 

Just tighten the belts a little bit and they'll stop chirping, no to tight though the water pump bearng will wear faster and leak.

 

Get a beater and get that thing in the garage!!!

 

what's up man. beaters are for pussies ... and it's well protected!