winter5470

I have an 06 with 88,000 miles on the original belt. When I started my car this am (first really cold day in 8 months here in Florida - 46 degrees) for the first few seconds it made a squealing sound. The sound went quickly away. I shut the engine off and restarted it and got the same squeal. Drove to work and restarted the vehicle - no squeal. Lunch time started the vehicle - no squeal. At 88,000 miles I guess it does not hurt to replace the belt ($20 on Amazon for a Gator-back). I read up on the tension indicator but I am confused. Mine has a raised part and a cut out. I am not sure which indicates belt stretch. Any advice on my belt would be appreciated.
Thanks
Kurt

Car Analogy

This sounds like the normal cold blooded started issue. Every winter when it gets cold, especially up here in the North, we see multiple threads asking about this.

The starter sticks when its cold out. All S2k's make this noise if its cold enough.

It does kinda sound like a squealing belt, but...different. More high pitched, more mechanical.

If its this, its not an issue. It will go away once it gets warmer out.

mugen_rsx09

I had the same issue on my s2000 in the mornings. Around 22 degrees, Im just gonna be replacing with an OEM belt for $80 since it has 147,xxx miles

ado

Your belt needs to be replaced. The "cut out" is the region of allowable belt stretch as indicated by the pointer and your belt has stretched beyond that. With a new belt installed, the pointer will be moved into the allowable region (the cut out), which is a counter clockwise rotation from its current position (forward looking aft).

winter5470

Thanks!

winter5470

I think it may be the "cold weather" start issue. Weird that I have had the car since 2009 and not noticed it before. I will follow Ado's advice and replace the belt. Cheap insurance!!

Slowcrash_101

Get a new gatorback belt $24 last I checked. But that won't make it squeal, not necessarily anyway.