Why Does My Car Squeal When I Start It? If you hear a high-pitched squealing noise when you start your car, you might have a loose or glazed belt. A serpentine or drive belt goes around several pulleys and held tight by a tensioner. The serpentine belt routes the alternator, power steering pump, and water pump. Sometimes, the belt will slip and give a chirp or squeak noise. Signs of a worn belt would be cracks in the ribs of the belt, frayed edges, or the back side may come discolored and glazed. Other common problems are the bearings inside the belt pulleys. As the bearings wear, the pulleys may wobble. The worn pulley may also cause a noise as well as cause premature belt wear. If you are hearing a squeal noise from under your hood, have one of our mechanics check out your car today.