chi_tea

Thanks for any input in advance!

I am a proud owner of a 2005 Honda Civic DX. All the necessary maintenance has been done and the car is running great. However, there is one problem - it makes a high pitch squeaking noise from the belts section during cold start (i.e. starting car after parked overnight, or 3-4 hour parked during day time).

I first noticed the loud squeaking around February and have already put around 10k miles on the car. The squeaking noise only comes very noticeable in the first couple minutes of driving WITH fan/AC turned on. After the engine heats up the noise goes away. If I turn on the AC during a cold start the noise will stay for about 1-3 minutes until it goes away (in February it was only 20-30 seconds).

I took it to a couple of independent mechanics they all said everything looks fine. Even though they have re-tensioned the belt the noise still comes up. The closest Honda dealership is 50-60 miles away and they asked me to leave the car there overnight. Its just too much hassle.

Did anyone have experience with this problem? Hopefully its not a safety concern ...

guitarsnlikker

yep my 2005LX had similar noise/squeak. I changed out the alt/ac belt and the power steering belt (even though both "looked" ok) since they both had about 80K miles on them made sure the belts were tight and problem solved. If you do change them buy quality belts don't buy the cheapest thing at your local parts store. Good luck.

GusBuz

First check the tension, the belts might have gotten loose specially if they are aftermarket they tend to lose tension after break in.

Also do it soon because the longer you stay with them loose the belts will need to be replaced again.

chi_tea

I do have the parts for the two belts. Bando 4PK1010 and 6PK986. Are they good enough or do I have to get genuine OEM? Also is there any diagram that I can show to the mechanics to make sure they tension it correctly?

Thanks!

mcnoople

Bando belts are OEM belts on many hondas.

They also use gates and mitsuboshi belts on many vehicles.

guitarsnlikker

those should be fine in my opinion. I assume your mechanic already checked the tension of the existing belts? Your mechanic should know how to tension them correctly. However if you are looking for numbers.... according to my Chilton Honda civic service manual the deflection of a NEW belt will be 0.20-0.26inch for the alt/ac belt and 0.35-0.43 inch for the power steering belt. An OLD alt/ac belt will have deflection of 0.33-0.43 inch and OLD power steering belt will be between. 0.51-0.65 inch. Deflection is the measure by which you can move the belt up or down (just google search you will see what i mean). Hope it all works out for ya! .

mcnoople

Those deflection specs require the use of the proper belt tension gauge. Without the gauge there is no way to properly determine how much force is being used to move the belt.

ezone

Tighten the belt a little more. Repeat until noise is gone.

chi_tea

Thanks for all the reply!

What happens if the belts break/snap? It sounds like urgent ... I will bring them to a shop asap.

Hopefully the independent mechanics have them ..

Sound I replace them?

GusBuz

Your belts wont snap, they will just wear out quicker to where you would need to replace them sooner.


Do as Ezone says and just tighten the offending belt till the noise is gone and should be good to go.

ezone

HAHAHAHA!!!
Most dealers don't have them either.

I think I've only seen ONE in real life, at a Benz dealer more than 20 years ago.






Only if worn excessively or damaged. You inspect, you judge.

Ignoring the squealing is not good for the life and health of the belt in question.
Ignore it too long and it will be trash.



7 months??? Why didn't you return to the installer the first time it was noticed?

chi_tea

Sorry I don't know much about fixing something inside the engine bay. My level of car skills only enables me to do simple tasks i.e. change tires, bulbs and battery. =(

Oh my ... so I guess the mechanics just their instinct to tension them?

Well I guess after 7 months I got comfortable with the problem and just decided to ignore it. Until someone recently told me this needs to be dealt with.

You know ... it's like owing people a sum.

ezone

Well you were able to identify the general area where the noise came from along with explaining enough about the conditions, you gave us enough info to identify the most likely issue........I'd say you're ahead of about 50% of the other people posting on forums LOL



Maybe it's something other than a belt needing tightened?

Not really instinct, because it's learned from experience.

Trial and error, eventually (hopefully) leads to experience if one has the ability to learn and retain.

Many don't.
For many people, every day is the first day on the job. (Do I need really to explain this?)

chi_tea

Will bring the new belts to a mechanic for power steering and alternator belts replacement. If the noise still come up then I guess it's something else.

Let's hope my mechanic have enough xp.

Sounds like my job lol.

chi_tea

UPDATE: Took it to a mechanic and he replaced the two belts. However as I drove off the noise came back when (i) the car is running and (ii) AC/fan is on. I immediately took it back to the mechanic and he drove it around for a bit.

Then he told me the clutch inside the compressor is bad and as long as I don't switch the AC on everything is fine since the fix is pricy.

Any opinions and thoughts? Thanks!

Colin42

you can replace just the clutch and it shouldn't be too pricey, the mechanic probably wants to replace the whole compressor

ezone

Belt probably needs to be tighter.


Does it eventually quit squealing and work OK?

chi_tea

Will have to leave the car overnight and test it tomorrow morning. Will update.
Is it difficult to diy tighten the ac belt?

Thanks guys! You guys gave me tremendous help!

chi_tea

Just started the car in the morning.

Same squealing, same problem, same loudness.
Nothing changed =(

Which bolt is it to tighten up the ac/compressor belt?
Also (maybe its just me) I feel like the power steering belt is not very tensioned (upon finger push).

ezone

Of course it's still the same, you didn't change anything.

Does it eventually quit squealing and (does the air conditioner) work OK?
Locate the DIY timing belt replacement guide (search this forum), it should cover the accessory belt procedures.


I think that belt can run fairly loose without squealing, at least not until you try to turn the steering wheel. Remove the PS belt and recheck if the squeal is still present, that would prove it's not the issue.

chi_tea

Sorry ... my bad for not reading.

The two belts was just changed yesterday with new belts.

Yes, it eventually stop squealing after 5-10 minutes of engine running/driving. The AC works fine without a problem. The squealing only comes when the AC is on in the first couple minutes of a cold start.

I have tried tightened the accessory belt couple minutes ago (a wing nut under the alternator ...) but it still made the squealing noise.

ezone

The rest of the bolts that secure the alternator must be loosened before the alternator can move.


Return to the shop that did this. The job you paid for is not complete.

chi_tea

I asked them to replace the accessory and power steering belt. Technically, they did what I asked them to do ... I went back yesterday and they told me it's the clutch problem of the compressor that's making the squealing noise.

The noise is similar/equivalent to the one below. Except my car only make that noise when AC/fan is on and last longer (over 1 minute instead of 10 seconds)

ezone

You DID say the AC works fine after the belt quits squealing, yes?
YES??? If so, then it's not a clutch problem at all.


Installing the belts correctly is part of the job you paid them to do. That means getting it tight enough to not squeal, and tight enough to stay that way.

chi_tea

The mechanic have tightened the belts couple times and it seems not to work. It still produce the sound during cold start with A/C on.

I'm going to replace the compressor, also the alternator while at it.

Hopefully that will get rid of the squealing noise.

chi_tea

UPDATE: I just found out turning on the high-beams during cold start will also make the squealing noise, only in a lower volume.

Colin42

alternator pulley?

ezone

Find someone who can tighten the belt correctly.

chi_tea

Good news.

After replacing the compressor (w/ clutch) and alternator yesterday, the squealing went away this morning on cold start with AC, low/high beams, defroster and cd player on.

Still not sure where it came from but it is probably the compressor or alternator. I did this work with the same mechanic that replaced my power steering and alternator belt a week ago.

Thanks all!