Hi Scotty,
I bought an automatic 2015 Kia Forte5 EX GDI with around 140k miles about 6 months back from a local dealer. I started noticing a squealing noise when it got colder out over the winter. It only happens when I hit around 3.5k rpm or more. No check engine lights and it does not seem to occur when I am in neutral and revving the engine. I got some belt conditioner which didn't seem to make much of a difference. A new idler belt seemed to help a little bit but the sound still pops up. Next on my list is the idler pulley which I will try to replace. Anything else you can think of that might be causing this issue?
Thanks in advance! I love your videos on YouTube, they are so helpful for learning more about cars.
It's probably an idler or tensioner pulley.
Find out where the noise comes from before replying parts.
Check to make sure there is no grease or oil on any of the pulleys causing the belt to slip. Particularly the AC compressor pulley.
Thanks guys! Since I can only get the car to generate the noise when I am actually driving it is hard to tell exactly where the noise is coming from, but it definitely sounds like it is coming from the right side of the car (where the idler belt/pulleys are) and replacing the serpentine belt has improved the noise somewhat. I didn't see any grease or oil on the pulleys when we changed the belt but I'll look again.
Look for play in the pulleys.
Ok so update, took to a local mechanic who I generally trust and he said the sound was actually coming from a damaged flex pipe. He said the engine mounts were loose and caused damage to it...but then when he went to replace it, he found that the catalytic converter looked damaged and that with the flex pipe fixed and the cat seeing all the exhaust instead of it leaking from the flex pipe it threw a p0420 code and the engine had much less power. He put the old flex pipe back on since the car had more power that way. My engine does burn some oil but not a ton (unless you count it leaking from the oil filler cap which is fixed). I'm worried that even if I replace the cat which is gonna be really expensive (California yay!) it may just go bad again if there is an issue with the engine burning oil or there is another problem with it. Sigh... Any thoughts? I told one of my friends who does a lot of work on cars and he said what the guy who fixed my car is recommending sounds a little weird and he isn't sure if something else is going on.
Well if you’re in California, and ANYTHING throws a code conversing anything with the emissions system, I would sell it for parts, or get rid of it personally. California is a rough place to be if your emissions system is off. Especially if it’s an older vehicle don’t throw too much money into it. Kia’s generally aren’t know for lasting if not extremely well maintained. Though if you lived in Tennessee where Emission test are not there, this would be a totally different story. Maybe someone out of your state will purchase this vehicle. Though the idler and/or tensioner pulley would’ve been my first guess. Though if it still passes Californias wack emissions restriction laws. Id sell it, and buy an older Toyota. Though I wish you best of luck!
Kind regards,
Nathaniel J.