Hello all, I'm new here and also an owner of a used 2000 Accord DX, with about 160k miles. Recently a loud squealing noise greets me when I start my car. It's worse in the chilly Chicago mornings, and gets shorter as the day and engine heats up. When its cold, it goes away when I rev my engine, but comes back when the car returns to idle. When the engine is warmer, it goes away usually within 30 seconds or so.

I'm not that good with cars, but I believe my engine has two belts, one for power steering and another for everything else. I replaced the power steering belt thinking that was the problem, as it was more dry rotted than the other one. The squeal did not stop though.

I also noticed that when I turn on my AC it comes back, even when the engine is warmed up. Could it possibly be the bearings of the AC pump?

Any help is appreciated

 

Compressor bearings are a possibility but even if it's coming from elsewhere the load change from turning the compressor on and off is going to change the noise.

First try and eliminate the belt.

An old trick to isolate belt squeaks - when the noise is happening take a spray bottle of plain water and spray the belt around each of the pulleys, if the noise lessens or quits you've got your answer.

f you can rule out the belt try to localize it a bit better by using a long wooden dowel rod as sort of a stethoscope - put one end firmly against a suspected component and gently press your ear to the other end. Try several areas to see where it's the loudest. You may not be able to pinpoint it as these type sounds travel all through the steel but you may be able to get a lot closer.

 

Try tightening the belts and do not overtighten them.