Why does my car squeal when I crank it up?

Why does my car squeal when I crank it up?

Although there are a few causes of a squealing engine, one of the most common is a bad or failing serpentine belt. The serpentine belt – or drive belt, as its also known – plays a vital role in the engine. Belt squeaking is also especially pronounced when accelerating, on startup, and when making a U-turn.

What are symptoms of a bad tensioner?

Grinding or squeaking noise from the belts or tensioner The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.

How much does it cost to replace a pulley bearing?

The total price to replace the idler pulley typically ranges between $80 and $200, with the parts ranging between $40 and $90, and the total labor cost averaged between $40 and $110.

Can you drive with a bad pulley bearing?

A damaged pulley can cause the drive or serpentine belt to dislodge. So, how long can you drive with a bad idler pulley? The safety recommendation is not to drive the car at all and take it to a mechanic immediately. You should be concerned if the vehicle makes squeaking or rattling noises.

Why is my pulley making noise?

The noises are most often caused by poor belt tension. If the belt slips on its pulley, it heats up, glazes and slips even more. Slipping belts don’t provide enough power to turn the accessories such as the power steering pump, water pump, alternator or air-conditioning compressor to which they are connected.

How often should you replace your belt tensioner?

It should be noted that the drive belt itself will most likely need replacing before the tensioner does. Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles. There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one.