My new to me 95 Legacy OBW began acting up recently. It's getting a pretty loud squeel from under the hood when I first fire it up. It's getting worst. At first the squeel went away in a few seconds. Now, it stays on for half a block. If I have the headlights on, turning them off makes the noise go away immediately. Then, I can start the noise again by hitting the fan and the rear defroster. If I let it squeel for another 100' or so of driving, it will suddenly just stop squeeling, and the engine suddenly feels like it has more power available. It's as if the parking brake was suddenly released. My uneducated GUESS is that there is an alternator problem, making it very hard to spin the alternator, and thus putting a large load on the engine. Under some conditions, such as when it is cold out (below 40 F), and just after starting when the battery has been drawn down, the extra load makes it hard to turn the alternator, which is resulting in belt squeel. No idiot lightls are coming on, and the car does start right away. Headlights are not dimming. So, I think there's enough power being generated most of the time. THOUGHTS anyone?

Have you changed the belt? If the alternator is cranking out some major amps, it takes a lot of power to turn it, and a faulty belt may begin to slip and make noise.

go for the simple thing first. Change the belt. Next have an eletrical load test done, because if its the alt you would have changed the belt anyway.

 

 

i think its just the belt.

 

 

nipper

This is usually just a belt tension issue, overnight, moisture forms on the metal parts and has to be rubbed off. This makes the belts more able to slip and you get the squealing sound. Most engines have a spring loaded belt tensioner any more, but the Subaru belts require manual adjustment, usually only once or twice in their life and about a week after initial new installation.

At first I thought this was someone from a Ford forum asking us a trick question...

 

But Nomad, Nipper and Snowman are correct. 99.9% surity of a belt problem. Go buy a new one and install it. If you don't know how, find a friend who can do it for you.

Thanks all for the advice. I was going to try tightening it, but it broke w/in a few blocks of home last night. Installed a new belt, which took me about 30 minutes, and all is well. I'm keeping some tools in the car, in case it needs another adjustment. Thanks all for your help.

well thats one way to get rid of the noise

You will have to re check the belt after a few 100 miles, then your good to go.

 

 

nipper

Good deal, and thanks for writing back!