MattEdge

Hello everybody!

Pleasure to join this forum I've had my 08 Mazda3 for a little over 4 years now. Bought her brand new at the dealership in 08. At around 59000 miles (currently at 62500) this odd squeak developed. It only ever happens after the car has been sitting off for an hour or more.

It will squeak after I first turn it on, and it increases in annoyance when I push the gas pedal. If the car is coasting, however, the squeak lessens. Eventually it does go away, but it takes a good 10 minutes

My question to everybody is what in the world would squeak only after the car has been off for a while and get louder when the gas is pressed?

It sounds like it's coming from the belt assembly general area. Both belts have been checked, the AC belt was actually replaced about 4 months ago. The timing belt was also checked (but not replaced)

The car gets oil changes every 4K miles, the tires were just replaced 2 months ago, the brake pads were replaced 5 months ago, and give or take every four to six oil changes I run seafoam/fuel system cleaner through to try to keep things pristine

Am I missing anything, or does anybody know what could be causing this issue? I would rather not take it to a dealer and pay $100 just to get the thing looked at...

djs2571

My belts started squeaking when the engine was cold during its second winter, so it could be something with just the belt.
There is also a problem on earlier models with the belt tensioner pulley, so that shouldn't be a problem, but it's something to check just in case.

It sounds like it's only squeaking with the engine running, or do you have to be moving. See if it follows the engine RPM, you have a tach to test that out.

MattEdge

The squeak occurs during the following:

When the car is first turned on in the morning (or) after being off for a long time (independent of weather)
When the accelerator pedal is pushed (the squeaking only gets faster with higher RPM, not louder)

The car does not have to be moving. I've tested the revs both stationary and while moving

I also checked the condition of the belt, it is not frayed in any way or damaged.

Ideas?

MattEdge

Also, it's not just one continuous squeak, it's a series of squeaks

djs2571

It definitely sounds like the belt. I'm pretty sure mine is cause pulleys aren't 100% aligned. One of the smooth ones on mine has a wear pattern in the paint on it, meaning it's not perfectly straight which would cause the squeak. I'd bet that's the problem on yours, just something not perfectly straight so it squeaks until the belt warms up and gets just a bit soft to stop slipping & squeaking.