engine squeaks

[bassnailer]

Everything runs fine, but it's getting a little squeaky in there. Seem to be coming from the belts, but not the belts themselves, just the rotating parts. It sounds like they could use a little grease/oil/lube of some sort. What can I use?

[Super Exceeded]

Installing a mouse may get rid of the sqeaking.

[jessef]

you can buy belt dressing (not to be confused with salad dressing) to treat dried belts. If that does not cure the squealing, then you may have a single or multiple squeal point.

Use a long dowel, hard straw or stethoscope (cheap at CND tire) and place the tip on the water pump, alternator, power steering box individually. If any are screaming at you like a wild banshee, then the bearing inside is toast and will need to be replaced or rebuilt.

[RichD]

If you hear squeaking from the belts but you don't know what it is you are not a mechanic.

Bring it to a mechanic.

[thedjjack]

check crankshaft pulley first

[legionnair]

check crankshaft pulley first

+1

[bassnailer]

If you hear squeaking from the belts but you don't know what it is you are not a mechanic.

Bring it to a mechanic.

Huh... I thought taking the time learn about my vehicle, and asking questions about things I don't know, was a good thing. Stupid me for wanting to learn.

check crankshaft pulley first

+1

I will give it a try. Thanks for your help.

[thedjjack]

Make sure it is tight on the crankshaft and the harmonic balancer is not failing (they have a habit of coming lose on the crankshaft and destroying the crank (ie motor rebuild))..

Also I would pull the top cover and check the timing belts....(when were they serviced last?)

If you do pull the v-belts run the motor to make sure it is not a timing belt tensioner bearing squeaking..

[yojimbo]

Aside from the pulley being sound and the pulley bolt not being loose, a funny I had was the AC belt tensioner coming slightly loose, but the rear bolt, not the tensioning bolt, the result was it was still tensioned, but the pulley was at an angle and the pulley chirped as it wore a groove in the tensioner mount.

[Yokohama]

Check the A/C idler pulley; listen to it with the engine running (be careful) and see if it squeaking. If it is, then replace it with something from a manufacturer like Four Seasons (You want a replacement unit with a high-temp bearing).

If you have checked all the other areas; alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, then consider the below.

THERE IS ONE OTHER AREA: THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER! If you hear a squeak, squeak, squeak that sound like it is coming from the front of the engine, but it is not the accessory belts/accessories, then try to listen to the front of the timing cover. I have seen this happen; the tensioner bearing grease seal must have failed and the bearing ran dry until they just dropped out into the timing belt cover. At that point the timing belt losses tension and the engine stops due to the camshaft not turning like it is supposed to.