My engine squeals. It started about a month ago and sounds like a bearing going dry. It only happens when the engine is sitting at idle(at a redlight or in Park) or when letting off the gas (coming down an off-ramp, etc).If you give it some gas it goes away. I've been over it with a stethoscopebut cannot pin-point the origin although it seems to be louder when lyingunder the engine. I would appeciate any ideas.

have you checked all the accessorie that are on the main belt ? (alternator, power steering et water pump and A/C compressor ? )



It's often one of them.

Thanks for the response. Yes, I did try those using the stethoscope on the on the unit (bearing housing where possible) but could not pin point the origin. I've asked around town and it was suggested that it may just be the belt so I'll try changing it out.

i would agree with Erakiel81 on this one..

I have tried to isolate the noise using a stethoscope but had no luck. I pulled the alternator and found that it sorta squeaked when I turned it by hand. So I changed it but didn't cure the squeak. Have you got any suggestions on how to checkthe accessories since obviously hand turning won't help me. It's 97 Park Ave which uses a sepintine belt. Can I run it without the belt at all? It only starts the sqeak after it hasheated up ... and long after the engine has reached stable temp.

hmm....does it only do it under load, or at idle too?

Another good Idea is to hit your belt(s) with WD, It should lube them up and make em slip a bit. so you hit one belt at a time if you have multiples. helps to pinpoint the problem. The WD dicapates after a min or so.

i thought about this too, but i didnt want to be the one to suggest it....

Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town and just retuned. It's a '97 Park Av which uses a serpentine belt so I can't isolate the squeal by slipping individual belts. The squeal occurs both in gear and in neutral or park. If you rev the engine it goes away. When driving you'll only hear it when you lei off the gas. I'm stumped, any ideas?

hmm..as serp belts get older, they get hard and brittle and can make some noise,...when was the last time it was replaced?

I replaced it about a year ago. I had to replace the intake manifold (apparently common with Park Av) and at the time I did a number of high mileage (80,000m+) maintenance items.I looked at it (anyway) since I couldn't find anything else but it looks great. I even put some belt dressing on it just in case it was slipping somewhere. I've been trying to think of a way to remove the belt and spin the accessories individually with the engine off. Maybe using an air hose some how. But so far I'm just stymied.

just put a ratchet with the proper socket on the front bolt of the accessories..and try that?

Well Yes you can.. slip belts... just for a minute or two.. at least one .. and assume its the other if the noise is still there..


Good luck.

Another good Idea is to hit your belt(s) with WD, It should lube them up and make em slip a bit. so you hit one belt at a time if you have multiples. helps to pinpoint the problem. The WD dicapates after a min or so.




no that is not a good idea. never put anything like that on ur belt. especially that belt dressing crap. keep those ideas out of newbies heads.

and ur car will run w/o the belt, but that wont help u very much. nothing would spin except the crank. thus, no squeal.

u can take the belt off, leave the eng off, and try to spin things by hand. id first suspect the tensioner pulley. u can get a new one for less than $20.

Sometimes a Stethiscope can help locate the source.. actually theres one in the Dealers Manual shown with a cone on the end that can locate difficult areas of noise confusion.. You can pick up one in a simple high blood pressure kit that is the old type.. not electronic take off thetympanic diaphram (the plastic drumskin on the probe) may help.


Kindof a kewl Idea..