Another 'what's that sound' question

[snelson]

Evening fellers,
When it's cold out, every morning and evening when I start up the van I get a " chirp chirp chrip...........nothing........chirp chirp..........nothing.........chirp chirp chirp" coming from the engine.

Yesterday evening and tonight when leaving work (-15 ish), I'm getting the chirp, but then I also got a 2-3 second squeeeeeel sound. Very much like the sound I'd get when I would turn the wheel of my old TOyota all the way left/right and hold it there....

By my lame-arse description of the sounds, do you think this is belt related or bearing/pulley related? By the time I get home (a 25 min highway drive around 90-100km/hr) the chirp is always gone.

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Steve

[jessef]

check the belts for looseness or cracking

If they are loose, crack the front locking bolt 12mm on the alternator bracket and then use the 12mm adjuster on the side to tighten it. Power steering belt may be loose too. there's a vertical adjuster down there same deal. crack loose the front locking bolt and tighten via the top-down adjuster bolt.

[snelson]

Thanks Jesse,

In addition, I also noticed a couple times last week when starting, the warning lights would glow/flicker for a little bit in the morning (ie alternator issue), but only just at start up with the chirp chirp chirp - is this pretty much pointing to a belt slipping on the alternator?

[jessef]

yep. and if the belt is slipping, it will not be charging at it's peak = dimmed lights, etc...

[nxski]

I also had this problem, the steering wheel still makes scratching sound but the squeaking and the dimming of the lights was fixed by making sure all the belts were tight and the battery connections sanded and tightened as well. CVI did a great job of figuring this all out. I originally thought it was the fan belt but that wasn't it after all.

[salmostrom]

I had a similar sound going on, and it was my alternator. The pivot bolt was gone and the unit was held in place with the adjuster bolt and belts only. Made loud squealing with intermittent chirping noises, and was quiet for long periods of time as well. It did it the whole way across Canada and coulda left me stranded, but didn't. You might want to just crawl under there and make sure everything is where it is supposed to be.
Cheers,
Salmo.

[snelson]

Wow, four months for me to get my shyte together and tighten the alternator - new record.
Chirp is now dead.

Was pretty straight forward took maybe 40 mins?
Jacked up driver side, put a stand under.
Tried going at it from the side but the angle of the adjuster bolt was too tight.
Managed to just reach up and tighten the adjusting bolt a few turns from below - wasn't too bad, a small 12mm was the ticket.

Thanks again guys.
Steve