Hi I've been lurking for a while while maintaining my wife's 2009 Silver Fit Sport with about 70k miles on it. Our only issues to date have been a rock in the brake shield that caused a horrible screech, and 3 bulbs burning out that weren't too hard to replace. Also had the windshield washer nozzles freeze up this winter and fixed by heating the nozzles with a hair dryer. No problem since and had -17F temps.

So on to our problem;

My wife reported this evening that here fit was making a strange squealing noise. I went out in the garage and at idle there was a click and the engine went to a higher idle and there was a muted squeak sound and the fan came on. After about 5-10 seconds the idle dropped back down and stayed for about 5-10 seconds at normal idle with the fan off. Then the cycle repeats. She said she had and oil change yesterday and it started yesterday. So, the oil level is fine, but it appears that something coinciding with the oil change may have caused this issue.

Any ideas? I checked over the connections, especially the ones near the oil fill . The sound is almost like a PVC valve and then a muted air squeak. I'm going to look again tomorrow but looking for any suggestions.

Click, idle up, muted sqeal, fan on, click idle down, repeat.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

Reb

 

Sounds like the ac coming on and off....is the defrost on
?

 

Yeah, it's like AC coming on & off. Defrost/heat is on so that's possible but...... The problem is that is is coming on and off for very short 5-10 second duration continuously and is not stopping the cycle even after 1/2 hour driving today. Along with the on and off is a muted squeal kind of like a trumpet squeak every time some solenoid clicks and the fan starts. It's like something got knocked off during the oil change shop. If I get a chance Saturday I'll post a video. No lights or codes so far. Saturday I'm going to have to go over it thoroughly and see if I can find something knocked loose like a sensor wire or???? Just thought I'd see if anyone else had this issue.

 

As long as defrost is on the ac will cycle. There isn't a time limit. Turn off the defrost and make sure none of your belts are loose or have any oily residue on them.

 

and switch to fresh air so you don't need the defog setting as much.

 

OK, got a chance to check out the Fit and have it narrowed down. The defrost was on and when it kicked in the click and rpm increase was normal. I'm not sure why the constant cycling was occuring but anyway, that does not seem to be the issue. I started the engine to investigate and heard the squeak when it started, but no longer. I shut off the defrost and put the selector in the floor heat postion. The engine was quiet and idle was normal. I shut it off and started it again and hear the deep hollow squeak again which did not contiue after the start up. So I revved the engine a couple times inducing the "squeak". I then had my son rev the engine while I observed and the "squeak" is coming from the belt area. The car has just over 70k on it and it's cold winter weather here. So now looking for any suggestions as to what coiuld be squeaking. It's hard to nail it down without a stethascope, but I guess it could be the belt, or one of the components or idler driven by the belt. There are no codes being set or dash warning lights on so could it be the belt? The A/C compressor is ruled out since I had it off (no A/C or defrost on, and I now believe the A/C defrost mode was inducing the whatever it is squeak in the belt area at start when it kick in). So belts? Idler? any other bearings in that belt path likely?

TIA for any advice, Reb

 

drive belt and/or tensioner could need replacing. Have them checked.

 

So I still was bothered that the "squeak" started right after the oil change and the fact that the oil fill is right above the the belts. My wife just magically recalled that the guy who did the oil change said he spilled something (she can't remember what, but it wasn't oil) and a little smoke might come off the engine. So now I'm wondering what was spilled. The oil change sheet shows the only fluid added was windshield washer fluid. The serpentine belt looks fine, but now wondering if it's just washer fluid or oil that the oil change shop spilled that may be on the belt and causing squeaking and/or slippage. I did spray some warm water on the belt while my son revved the engine and the squeak noise diminished by about 85%. So at this point I'm tempted just to have her drive the car and if it gets any worse replace the belt/tensioner, and if it gets better (hopefully) let it be.

I'll check back either way and monitor for any other thoughts from the NG.

Thanks! Reb

 

Try belt dressing

 

can you post a video or sound clip ?

 

I'll post a soundclip if I get a chance this week. Unfortunately my wife has been out most of the weekend.

The good news is that the squeak is diminishing (bad news for making a video clip though). I had read a suggestion to spray water on the belt to see if the squeak goes away to try to determine if it was belt noise or a bearing. When I sprayed a bit of warm water on the belt most of the squeak was gone. I think the oil change guy must have spilled something (either oil or winshield wash) on the belt. Again, my wife could not recall what he said he spilled, but those were the only 2 liquids added as noted on the service sheet. The water I used may have washed some of whatever liquid off, don't know. Or it's just quieting down now as the substance wears off. Lots of speculation. But, the belt looks fine (no cracking or heavy glazing). So we are taking a chance keeping it running and as long as the noise/squeak goes away we're good. If I get a chance tomorrow and there is still some squeak occuring I'll get a video. Thanks for all the ideas & thoughts. I'll post back and let you all know how it's going. Hopefully I won't be posting about going to pick her up and a calling a tow truck heehee.

 

Looks to me oil was spilled on the belt. Take car to car wash use some engine degreaser on belt then spray clean should resolve issue or oil will dry up and noise should go away on its own.

 

So we have run the car all this week and the "serpentine area belt sqeak subsided almost completely on it's own. My wife did pick up some belt dressing from Wally world and I sprayed it this evening and the little bit of a sqeak when revving the motor dissapeared completely. I know that belt dressing may be a temporary cure for the little noise that remained but we'll see. It did appear to be a belt related noise, and coincided with the oil change shop spilling either oil or washer fluid on the belt. So anyway, the squeak is not an issue and the belt seems to be fine. So I'll post if there are any other issues. Thanks for all the great ideas.