Annoying Squeal
Super Moderator


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 5
From: Pflugerville, TX
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
Removing the belt from any of the belt-driven accessories will not affect running of the car for the few seconds it takes to diagnose which belt is squealing.
You said something about the alternator so start with that one and while it's off make sure the alt. spins relatively freely. Then repeat for all the other accessories one at a time.
If you don't get the engine up to temperature, you don't need the water pump
Your battery has enough reserve to run for several miles without the alternator
The a/c and power steering are just plain optional to have hooked up
(Don't worry about hurting something to leave a belt off when the engine is running)
You said something about the alternator so start with that one and while it's off make sure the alt. spins relatively freely. Then repeat for all the other accessories one at a time.
If you don't get the engine up to temperature, you don't need the water pump
Your battery has enough reserve to run for several miles without the alternator
The a/c and power steering are just plain optional to have hooked up
(Don't worry about hurting something to leave a belt off when the engine is running)
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 3
From: Columbus, Ohio
Vehicle: 2010 Hyundai Accent
Well I think I have fixed the problem. I tried taking the power steering belt off and then turned the car on with it off... no squeal. So I put on the new belt that I got at Advanced today, (took O'reilly's back) and started the car with everything hooked up. And now there is no squeal. So, it apparently was just a bad belt and then I replaced it with a wrong belt. Likeyoumeanit, if this is ur same problem. I would check the p/s belt and that may remedy ur problem. So hopefully that is the problem, I blasted all of my accesories with the car on and still no squeal. So I may be in the clear with this... and now I have an extra p/s pump... Woot!


