Car squeaks/squeals REALLY LOUDLY when I hit gas

Question

I got a new belt on it about a 1 to 1.5 years ago and it's been doing it ever since. It got better where it only squeaked for the first 5 or so minutes the car was running. Yesterday I got a new alternator put on and the squeaking is back.. I tried some belt spray to eliminate the sound, when I hit the gas but it makes the noise even louder than ever. It's incredibly embarrassing!! Anyone know what it could be and how much it might cost to get it fixed? Thanks in advance!!

It's a 1998 Chevy Malibu.

Answer 1

The belt may be too loose - I had the same problem with a car I had in college.  It was really embarrassing.  It shouldn't cost more than $50 or $75 to get it fixed

Answer 2

Sounds like the belt tension is off, need to adjust the belts.  

Answer 3

check to make sure, if it's a v-type belt, that the pulleys are all straight in relation to each other.

Check to make sure the belt is the right degree pitch.  If the belt is a wide v and the pulleys are a narrow v then it will wear fast and make noise.

If serpentine belt, remove the belt with a wrench on the tensioner, then spin accesory pullies to make sure that something like your a/c compresser isn't starting to cease.

If you have a bad a/c pump, it will be really hard for the motor to turn causing the belt to slip...or make noise.  If this is the case, you can usually get a shorter belt and just bypass the pully for the a/c.

When a water pump starts to go bad they can also squeel pretty bad, but would fail soon after, since you said this has been going on for awhile, probably not the issue here.

GOOD LUCK....maybe tint your windows so you aren't so embarrassed.   JK

Answer 4

see if you can tighten the belt, make sure it was infact the correct belt for your car.  

Answer 5

Take it back to where you got the new alternator from.  It may have a defect or was not installed right.

It shouldn't cost you anything...since they are fixing something that wasn't done right in the first place.

Answer 6

belt is to loose

Answer 7

-Belt tensioner- is going bad thats what keeps the belt tight.

Heres a link with price. - - >

http://www2.partstrain.com/store/?Ntt=a/...

.

Answer 8

Belt is obviously slipping. Its probably due to the tension not being tight enough on the belt. When you check your belt, make sure it doesn't have so much slack that it is easily pushed away. Take it to a mechanic, its pretty inexpensive to get a belt tightened. You could also have fluids getting on the belt.  

Answer 9

belt is too loose. tighten it up some.

Answer 10

I don't know anything about cars...but seriously go to a mechanic...or if you have any guy friends who are good with cars...

that does not sound good...

Hope your car troubles work out....