Technical Screeching noise on startup

[ScottishDanny]

Hey,

It's my first time on here and it's my first car so I'm sorry but I don't know much!

Whenever I start the car from cold, there's a long high pitched screeching sound, it can last for a few seconds and seems to get longer everyday, when the engine is warm it seems to either not do it or do it for a short length of time.

It's a Fiat Grande Punto 1.2

Any help Is greatly appreciated!

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Danny and welcome on board !

Sounds like your accessories belt is lose / worn. If so the screaming should be worse if you switch ON the lights and rear window de-icer and start the (cold) engine with those ON.
Why ? when doing so the power consumption increases so the alternator has a harder time; more effort is asked to the belt and its slipping will get worse, so the noise will get worse ...
When car is warm, the battery has got time to get (re)charged so the alternator has less to do, which means less effort on the belt and reduced or no noise at all.
Open the bonnet and have someone starting the (cold) engine, the screaming should come from the driver side (for UK), near the partition wall, that's where the alternator is; as he gets the smalest pulley that's where the belt will slip and make noise...

Of course the noise could come from many other origins, the accessories belt is the most likely ...

BRs, Bernie

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[Eklipze3k]

Agreed the aux/alternator belt is the likely culprit here. If you're looking to get into doing your own maintenance, this is a nice easy job to cut your teeth on.

I expected that there would be a guide for it but apparently not (unless I missed it)!

 

[digger58]

I had this last year and it wasn't the belt, it was the belt tensioner had seized, not the bearing but the spring loaded part that forces the bearing against the belt. Had to fit a new one as I tried to free it out but broke the alloy housing. In any case check the belt first.

 

[DGPunto]

There's also a known issue with the scuttle drain which puts water onto Alternators on some models. That rots the alternators and alternator bearings:

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/337783-modified-scuttle-drain.html?337783=#post3360376

 

[Bernievarian]

Different reasons, same effect: belt slipping and screaming ...

BRs, Bernie

 

[ScottishDanny]

So the belt is tight, could it need replaced?

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Danny (I guess),

remove the belt and check if the alternator and the tensionner are free running, do you have AC on the car ? If so check also the compressor's pulley run freely. If none of those is seized, then the belt has probably reached its full extension and need replacement...

BRs, Bernie

 

[ScottishDanny]

I'm not sure if this is related but the AC has 1-4 but only works when it is on 4?

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Danny,

not related. When I say AC I mean Air Conditioning, while you probably mean Air Control, in other words Air Ventilation I guess... Right ?
If so, you have a problem with your passenger fan resistor pack (very common on GPs). Search for that particular issue on the forum and you'll find a lot of posts and replies.

I was first asking if you had AC because that would be another thing driven by the accessories belt..

BRs, Bernie

 

[digger58]

Search this forum for heater blower problems!!! There must be dozens of posts at this stage, Here's a simple fix which applies to the blown thermal fuse on the resistor which can cause this symptom.
https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/335452-heater-fan-resistor.html?335452=#post3337821
This is for a Ducato but it's the same precedure.

 

[Deadin]

So I've got similar problem to be precise it is exactly like on this video however, my car starts after the screeching sound and doesn't reappear when I turn off engine and turn it back on.



Also I've noticed something leaking near the front wheel on the driver side.
Any suggestions?