I have a 1997 Ford Probe, and when I start my car after it sits a little bit, it squeals when i start it?

Question

I had just changed the belt that connects to my water pump, b/c it broke and about the next day when I started my car , it squealed very high pitched. What could be the problem?

Answer 1

The belt is either too tight or too loose. Or it may be another belt going to crap on you. I'm not familiar with Probes, but are there other belts in the car? It may also be the flywheel squealing.

Answer 2

Sounds like belt slippage. Did you have to manually adjust tightness or was it self adjusting(Pulley mount on spring). One you have to loosen/ tighten using set bolts the other you use wrench as lever to compress/expand spring to provide slack.

If not slippage the culprit was a dirty hand. That is oil or grease on a a pulley or on the belt will cause the slippage(shrieking).

DO NOT use belt dressing as it's a mess and will cause you problems. Wipe it clean. Use a clean rag, once clean(if adjusted
properly) the sounds will be gone. Usually simply driving it will cause the debris to wear off/ be absorbed(not good but too late now)

If squeeling continues OR gets worse its possible the idler pulley(no drive function) might need lubrication OR worse your Water pump/alternator is failing... both have been known to eat belts So what was the condition of the broken belt?

Rubber rusts(okay degrades) so belts and hoses need replacement every three years to prevent your having to do it unexpectedly on side of road.

Next belt replacement the pulleys can be checked(1 or2) highest and biggest/lowest you won't be able to move by hand(cam and crank)... the idler/water pump/alternator should spin freely without wobble.

If it wobbles or you feel a grating sound/ rough to turn by hand then that's your noise source(and it is starting to fail). And lubricating a water pump is bad idea, lubricating alternator worse idea(oil is conductive). It's also a sealed bearing thingy.

Water pumps will usually be leaking by this time so -CHECK fluids- always a good habit.

And obviously if you are sarting car with mechanics hand in pulley system that could be source as well...

Answer 3

Are you sure it's the water pump? 2.2 had the water pump with the timing belt. Either way, you have a bearing going out. Either (if it's designed the way you say it is) the water pump is getting ready to lock up, your smog pump (if equipped) is locking up, or maybe your a/c compressor shooting craps. Remove the belt and turn all of the pulleys one at a time. You will know which one you need to replace because it will scrape and wobble. Turn the a/c compressor, not the pully. The shaft is in the middle of the pully. Good luck.

Answer 4

don't use dressing
did you replace the belt yourself
there are 2 qualities of belts the cheep ones and the premium ones
the cheap ones stretch a little so tighten it a little more
or replace it with the premium one
if you put on the good one you still need to tighten it a little more

if it has an auto tensioner it may be bad
you may also have a weak battery as the belt that squeaks is the alternator going to full charge

Answer 5

The belt was the cheapest to replace, if you are still having problems, it is probably mechanical, since the vehicle is 9 years old.Maybe you could call with the dealer service dept. and check with them .Sometimes they know what other people are replacing on the same model and age of the vehicle as you.

Answer 6

Check the tension on your belt, than apply some belt dressing available at your local autoparts store.

Answer 7

could be that it is another belt that is about to break. Have all of your belts checked as they are all prob. the same age and if 1 broke, the others may be ready to break.

Answer 8

It your fan belt buddy

Answer 9

I'd recheck that belt....it may not be properly installed.

Answer 10

Are you sure that you tensioned it according to specifications.