Squeeling when car starts?

[adrush]

OK, this is starting to concern me. I just bought a used '99 626 in January. It had about 95,000 miles, and after I took it to ProCare, all they said I really needed to do was get new tires, and the dealer said change the timing belt.

Well, everything was fine until the past month. When I start the car, it's a very loud squeeling noise. I've heard from some people it's probably the timing belt, but I've also been told it could be my water pump or my breaks.

Two things I've noticed is, it seems to stop as the car warms up and I drive it for maybe... 2 minutes at the most. And I also started the car with the paking break down (manual transmission) and it seemed to start up fine. Where leaving it up, it squeeled.

If anyone knows what this might be, I need to get this handled ASAP before this becomes an emergency. Thanks.

 

[xelderx]

It's one of the auxillary belts, not the timing belt. It may just be loose. Check for the proper tension on the belts. My older Mazda does the same thing...espescially when it's cold outside.

 

[tiwing]

yup. power steering belt or alternator belt. Prob the alternator is my guess, since it stops after a little while. If it was PS, it would more likely squeal when there was load on the PS pump as well as when cold. But if one's squealing, chances are that both are due for replacement (or simply tightening as xelderx said). It's not the timing belt - if it was squealing ( which = slipping), your car wouldn't run. and if it was your brakes, you might notice the additional drag when you are driving. plus, how could it be your brakes when you just start the car and you're not in motion.

 

[adrush]

Yeah, they said the alternator had been changed before, but they went ahead and gave me a new one. They said the power steering was the one that was the real problem child. It's riding much better now. When I try to accelerate, it still sorta starts slow, and when the car is warming up, it still sorta... I dunno, makes a little noise when I stop the first two times. But it's riding like a dream in comparison to when I first posted this.

Help is greatly appreciated.