I have been hearing what I thought was belt squeal at start up. For a while I thought is was belts slipping but I am starting to suspect the power steering pump. All summer the squeal was only for a half second or so. I have tried belt dressing and adjusting the belts. Lately I have had it last for several seconds but usually its only a half second or so. Sometimes a I also hear a "pumping" sound from the powersteering pump/alternator area.

Is this an indication of power steering pump wera/failure? The belts look OK and are tight.

 

Most likely the "pumping" sound is the ABS self checking itself. As for the squeak, did you put new belts on the car? Belt dressing only seems to make things even worse. Could be that one of the components bearings are going bad? Take off the belts and turn everything by hand.

 

OH and remember too tight is bad as well, causes premature bearing failure.

 

brig4 is right its probly a belt..try changin them and c what happens

 

Belts are pretty new. I put them on when I put on the pulleys summer 01. Just over a year.

They may be too tight. Will that hose the power steering pump? The "pumping" noise sounds like its coming right from the power steering pum or the alternator. They are close together so it is hard to tell.

And $hit !! I hit a major pothole last night and really cracked a rim. Have to change wheels out. $hit $hit $hit. Stupid town does not take care of roads.

 

To see which component might be making the offending noise, just use a large screw driver, and hold it on the component in question. Put your ear on the end of the screw driver (plastic part) and you'll be able to hear if it's from that component.