98 Ford Taurus has a squeaking sound when it starts?

Question

When I start the car it has a squeaking sound , lately it has done it randomly while I am driving. The sound comes and goes on its own. Wondering what it could be and also if anyone else has experience something similar.....98 Ford Taurus

Answer 1

All of these people answering you to tell you it's your serpentine belt that's squeaking are WRONG!!! I have seen it too many times. The easiest way to diagnose this, is to REMOVE the belt first, and run the engine for a couple of minutes. If you still hear the squeaking noise, OBVIOUSLY you've eliminated the belt, and everything that the belt drives as the noise. Listen carefully to the area where the noise originates from. If you hear it louder at the area where it bolts up to the transmission, you've found the souce. It is the CAM SENSOR & SYNCHRONIZER assembly. I know the noise is very deceptive. You should also have an intermittent or random stalling too, with this problem. I have seen and heard this story TOO MANY times, where people with Tauruses change the belt, the tensioner and the noise is still there. I've even come across one who even replaced the alternator, and still didn't fix it!!! E-mail me if you want further information.

Answer 2

A belt is slipping. It's not uncommon for them to initially squeal more on startup. Could be the belt is cold and less sticky, could be something the belt drives is stiffer when cold - like a power steering pump pumping cold fluid is harder than pumping warm fluid.

So, do you just need to tighten the belt? Or do you need a new belt? Or is something that the belt drives slowly failing? Maybe the mechanics here will help you figure it out. You could start with a little belt tightening. Often you just loosen a bolt on the alternator and move it a bit and tighten the bolt.

Answer 3

I have a 97 taurus and have had lots of problems with my belt squeally , I think you need a new belt, I have replaced my 3 times in 5 years

Answer 4

if you rev the engine and the noise goes away then it is a belt. If the noise does not stop then it is most likly a pully. here's a little info on belts; when you go to the parts store notice there are different grades of belts, choose the more expensive one and you wont have any problems with squeeling if properly installed. if your cheep tighten your belt, take a bar of soap and rub it along the inside of the belt. I do it with the engine running(be careful)!

Answer 5

Just fixed my problem. Noise has been there for a long time. New fan clutch did the job. Check your fan clutch with the engine warm and see the fan rolls freely. You might get a lot of fan roar when you are driving and you are burning more gas than usual too.

Answer 6

It's most likely your surpentine belt.When they start getting old due to extreme heat the rubber becomes harder and doesn't grip on the pulleys very well.The squealing is the belt slipping on the metal until it gets warm enough to grip.Go to your local auto parts store and buy a new one for under 20 bucks and the guy behind the counter will put it on for free.It would be courtesy to give him 5 bucks though,Good luck.

Answer 7

Belts don't last forever, and your Taurus isn't a bad car either.

Answer 8

It is prolloy a belt. It needs to be tighten or replace. Then again might be your starter.

Answer 9

The question is why did you get a ford in the first place ?

Answer 10

Its either your belt or your tentioner, that car has an auto tentioner. It will not be your starter