Ever since I can remember I have always had an issue with engine squeal. Why didn't I take it in to the dealer you ask? Well, it only happens under very specific circumstances. Usually after it has been sitting all day and when it has either rained quite a bit or is a really damp cold. It only happens for about 30 seconds on startup, increases in volume with applied RPMs, and then goes away rather quickly. If I then turn it off, after my commute, and start it back up the squeal is no longer present. This is why I haven't taken it to the dealer. Today however, we are currently experiencing a large downpour where I have had to traverse quite a few "small lakes". It was squealing the whole time. I am thinking that if I can get it to squeal again over my lunch hour I may take it to the dealer. But in the meantime, what do you think is causing this?

 

It could be one of the pulleys making the noise. I would not recommend spraying anything on the serpentine belts. It was a practice used on non-serpentine type belts to stop the noise in years past.
Could also be a loose belt.

 

Do you think a loose belt would be acting up in those specific circumstances though? It's not a situation where I am doing anything different with the car. It just seems to be weather specific.

I can't imagine a belt would be loose this early?

 

Id pull the belt off and clean all the pullys and put a new belt on and see if that fixes it.

 

I agree. It may not even be a belt issue. You can try to tighten the belt and go from there. If it's the belt tensioner that's causing the issue I would think the noise would happen all the time but not sure. Hard to diagnose without seeing/hearing it in person.

 

One other thing I just thought of. Is the inner fender well piece still in place between the right front wheel and the engine? (the one you have to remove to do an oil change).

 

Hmm, good question. I will check in a couple hours. What is your thinking?

 

Water getting flung onto the pulley's and belt's possibly?

 

Dealership is saying that my drive belt is "dry". He tried spraying some stuff on it but it didn't seem to alleviate the issue. They recommended to do a replacement.