high pitched, squeal like noise.

[Kate234]

Hi,
I recently have heard a high pitched noise coming from my car when the ignition is turned on.
A few days ago the car would not start at all, so i recharged my battery and it therefore started, great! Then the morning after it would not start.
I therefore purchased a new battery from halfords (not the best place i know) and now seems to be running fine (touch wood).
However there is still this high pitched sound when the ignition is switched on. (It is like the same sound when water is used when the wind screen wipers are active)

Does anyone know what this could be?

Thanks

[stevo67]

Your battery going flat & the sqeal could be related,by a either a worn out alternator drivebelt or the drivebelt itself needs retensioning.The belt only costs around £5-£6 & is an easy job.

[Kate234]

Thank you for that.

I have just tried to start my car and it will not start again. I'm thinking maybe it could be to do with my ignition key as this flashed up on my dashboard. It has been the first time i have seen it

[Kate234]

Also no lights appear when my ignition is on and my digital clock is not visible :(

[stevo67]

Underneath your steering wheel should be a thumbwheel,it adjusts the brightness of the instruments try moving it.

[Kate234]

is this on the right hand side, i think it has numbers 1-3 on it, should i put it on the lowest?

[Kate234]

Oo sorry i meant on my dashboard, there seems to be no life in the car what so ever

[Karlb1]

I'd say replace the belt for the sake of the little it costs, a garage would only charge the basic rate of labour usually unless you know someone who can do it for you if you can't do it.

If this still doesn't solve the issue, I had a similar problem where if i left the car overnight then the battery would be dead the next morning, had a squeal or 'chirping' sound too which sounds like a slipping belt. Turns out the bearing inside the alternator was gone, so the alternator was changed and it solved the problem.

[Kate234]

Thanks for all your replies. I am taking it to my local garage tomorrow morning to see what the problem is. It has me baffled. I'm just hoping it is a cheap job :)

Kate

[Steve_M]

Was the noise present when the ignition was on but the engine wasn't running?

[jeffchiz]

it sounds a bit like the starter motor thats shagegd if when you go to turn the car on it just makes the noise like the washer motor, if it is shagged then the motor is spinning (the nosie you can hear) but it isnt engaging the flywheel ie not starting the car ...could be a possibility

[Kate234]

Steve_M: Yes the noise just seemed to be when the ignition was on.

Jeffchiz: Ok thanks, i will bear this in mind when they take a look at it tomorrow :)

[jm-darcy]

If the squeal is happening when you turn the key to the ignition position, but do not actually start turning the engine over, it could the fuel pump? I have never heard one squeal, but if the noise is happening before you try and turn the engine over, it could be worth checking. If you get a friend to listen in the area underneath the rear seats on the drivers side when you turn the key (but not start the car), this is where the fuel pump is. This would not explain the flattening battery though. If the squeal is when the engine is started, then I would suggest, as per the other posts, that the auxiliary belt is to blame.

[stevo67]

Never heard a fuel pump sqeal mate.

[Kate234]

Thanks for the help! It was the alternator, set me back £140 but all is good now :y:

Kate