2014 Suzuki Swift 1.2 Squealing

[ninjag]

I'm wondering if anyone has actually experienced and solved this please.

Swift started to squeal on a cold start in winter, only for a second or two. In summer it doesn't squeal until you give it some throttle and also when pulling away and especially when reversing. It's a loud squeal. Goes away fast though, usually after a couple of seconds.

Almost goes away when warmed up, you can just hear a blip of a squeal when changing down a gear and accelerating. But sometimes even when warmed up it will squeal for a second especially when reversing (presumably being the highest torque gear).

Both belts have been changed. The A/C hasn't worked for a while as I think the garage said the condenser had a hole (or holes) in it. He used some stop leak stuff and the A/C started working again for a while but now it doesn't work again. I'm wondering if it could be the A/C compressor?

I was also thinking about excessive alternator load on start up, but the battery is only a few years old. Car is very low mileage, only 26k. Used almost exclusively for short runs.

It's a bit tight to get in there to get a close listen to each component, especially as once warmed up the squeal isn't guaranteed.

[SystemOfAFrown]

First thing to check is belt tension, it's not unusual for a new belt to stretch a little after initial use and require re-tensioning. If that is ok then check the alignment of all the pulleys, especially if the car has had a replacement alternator at some point. I have seen many cars with an incorrect alternator/pulley fitted which throws off the belt alignment. The other thing is that Poly-V pulleys do wear with use, and it doesn't take much for them not to grip even a new belt very well but unless it's a high mileage car this is less likely.

[ninjag]

SystemOfAFrown said:

First thing to check is belt tension, it's not unusual for a new belt to stretch a little after initial use and require re-tensioning. If that is ok then check the alignment of all the pulleys, especially if the car has had a replacement alternator at some point. I have seen many cars with an incorrect alternator/pulley fitted which throws off the belt alignment. The other thing is that Poly-V pulleys do wear with use, and it doesn't take much for them not to grip even a new belt very well but unless it's a high mileage car this is less likely.

Thanks, we had a look earlier and revived the a/c belt (it's not working anyway) and that didn't sort it, so moved onto the other belt and it did feel a little slack despite being new.

We used the alternator adjustment bolt to tighten it up more and the squeal started to go away, so kept tightening until it disappeared. It has returned ever so slightly a few hours later but barely noticeable. At least we now know it's either the belt or the alternator but I'll give it some time to see if it develops again.

Maybe the new belt isn't the best either, I think it's a Dayton or something from Dingbro. That's for the reply, you were certainly on the right tracks!