Squeaky belts noise when cold

[BlackBeast]

Right, only recently (last 4 days) realised that my car is making a squeaky noise when started up for the first time in the day and will persist until the engine is relatively warm, to what i can assume throughout the rev range. Its audiable when driving with the window open. If its left for a couple of hours and started back up there is noise what so ever. The car is coming up to its 110k service in 500miles time. It had a cambelt change at 85 odd K from Volvo.

Is there anything in the 110k service to check the belts and belt area? Im thinking that I need to re-grease some pulleys or adjust the tension of the serpentine belt?

Any help appreciated :)

[britten_mark]

Bloody hell we must be living parallel lives, mine's at the same mileage and same condition, belts last changed at 70k.

It started squeeking a bit when I changed the thermostat and coolant in the summer, but I put that down to spilling some antifreeze over the belts whilst working. I thought it might wash/wear off after time but this cold weather is making it quite loud from a cold startup.

All the scary stories about water pumps lately have made me paranoid, and an inch away from booking it in for a belt service/water pump/tensioner 6 months early just to be safe.

[Mrsmopp]

Is the noise coming from the drivers side of the engine?

x

[MattB]

I have had the same problem - or atleast I did until a week ago. Exact same symptoms - however, I had the alternator changed before Christmas and put the squeaks down to the guys getting grease or other substance on the belt, which has since worn off. The belt no longer makes a noise from cold or otherwise. Touch wood, all appears ok now. :B_blite:

[swordy21]

Mines doing the same at the mo. I'm not driving it much at the moment so I put it down to cold moist air making things a bit stiffer (!) and creaky, bit like my old bones. My belts were changed 25K ago at 120K. (Last march)

[BlackBeast]

Is the noise coming from the drivers side of the engine?

x

Is indeed mopps, just checked when the cambelt was done last, 80k in 2003. Just started it up from cold, and the noise was there but not as loud, i dont drive the car every day and as such there is condensation in the oil, it isnt loosing any coolant so im not worried about that at all.

I put my head near the cambelt cover and it sounded as if the noise was coming from there. Ive checked the tension of the auxilary belt and it seems fine. I shall get some wd40 and strategicaly spray it to check if its defo coming from that area and not the powersteering/ac pump/alternator.

I amm leaning towards the cambelt tensioner needing to be replaced. Other thoughts?

[Mrsmopp]

WD40 and ignore it like I did LOL! Winnie did this both winters that I had her - its the auxillery belt (memory is crap - at least I think thats what it was....)

x

[Straker]

If the squeeking is persistant (i.e. the oil/grease/antifreeze hasn't worn off) then the tensioner is the next culprit. Worth getting it checked as automatic FEAD belt systems shouldn't squeek!

[Babybadger]

WD40 and ignore it like I did LOL! Winnie did this both winters that I had her - its the auxillery belt (memory is crap - at least I think thats what it was....)

x

I think the Mopp Madam is right. Mine has just started doing this and it is the spring that tensions the serpentine belt. This is an alloy housing and is only £38 + Vat for the whole thing from VT. It would cost you more to strip out the spring and replace it. May as well buy another one.
I think the road salt buggers the spring and although you could greade/wd40 it, how long until you loose steering? After all, the seropentine belt drives the Power Steering pump........

Belt is to be changed every 60k under normal driving conditions........that's not me then @ 52k (85k Kms)

[BlackBeast]

If the squeeking is persistant (i.e. the oil/grease/antifreeze hasn't worn off) then the tensioner is the next culprit. Worth getting it checked as automatic FEAD belt systems shouldn't squeek!

Squeaking isnt persistant, as said already once its warm there's no noise lol.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease guys, if it gets any worse i think i shall go up to the Bridgend Volvo Specialists for them to check it over.

Thanks again guys!!!!!