Screech/whine

[Rosie]

My 440 GLT Auto used to whine or screech just at start-up - been doing it about 2 years but not once at service, repair or MOT has a mechanic ever mentioned it. Just recently, the noise became louder and lasts much longer - until the engine is properly warmed up. I took it to a garage but it wouldn't make the noise then and so the mechanic couldn't hear it (typical!). He suspected from my description that it was the fan belt slipping, but having checked it he said it was ok. Today, the noise is worse than ever - a real screech that lasted for about 5 minutes driving. Any suggestions?

[PTV70R]

My 460 does the same but only screaches when the clutch pedal is fully 'IN' - if I let it up the creaching stops so I guess its the clucth !

[Peter Milnes]

More likely the clutch release bearing, or possibly power steering belt if your car has power steering.

All the best, Peter

[Rosie]

My car's an automatic, so no clutch on it. A friend who heard the noise thought it was coming from the area of the power steering. So maybe the last suggestion (power steering belt)is right. Thank you for your replies. :)

The screech is from the alternator belt - and it will get considerably worse as winter sets in! The reason why it only does it at start-up is because there is a massive load on the alternator to replace the amps taken out by starting the car - after a few minutes the battery is topped up and the load drops.
Usually replacing the belt and making sure it's tight is sufficient but, if it's been slipping too long, the pulley will be shiny. Try taking the belt off and rubbing the pulley groove with emery cloth or sandpaper.
Other cures are to fit a slotted belt which tends to wrap around the tiny pulley better, or rub talc into the belt to give it grip (but it's temporary).
Jim.

[Rosie]

Thanks for your response, Jim. But I'm no mechanic and I wouldn't know an alternator belt from my elbow. However, since my original post, the car has been looked at by two mechanics, and been thoroughly checked by a Volvo garage. All belts were fine.

The problem is that nobody is ever able to hear the noise, because the car usually only does it when cold, and by the time I drive it to a garage it has stopped making the noise. The only thing the Volvo garage could find was that it was low on oil. They changed the oil, I drove the car home and it was fine, but next day it was screeching and whining again. Nobody has a clue what is causing it. Some days it's really noisy, some days it's noy so bad, but the cause is still a mystery.

[Scott Stephen]

I KNOW WHAT IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This exact thing happened to my 480. It screached from cold and then died out. The noise was a partially seized timing belt tensioner (The top one i think)

Replace your belt and tensioners and your noise will be gone!!!

[Rosie]

Timing belt tensioner? Hmmm .... I had wondered about that, but the car had a 70,000 mile service only 2 years (20,000 miles) ago, and that service was supposed to include changing the timing belt. I queried at the time whether it had been changed, and the answer was yes (the reason I queried it was that it wasn't shown on the invoice). If it had been done then, would it need replacing again after only 20,000 miles? But I'm going to query it again and see what the response is. Thanks for your input.

[Rosie]

Just for info of everyone who took an interest and had some input in this thread - the local garage finally tracked down the problem. The cam belt was on its way out - they changed that, and did the water pump also. All is fine now, screech gone.