2001 Dodge Neon Car won't rev all the way and squeaks

LOU10579

MEMBER
2001 DODGE NEON
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
95,000 MILES

Hi all. I have a 2001 Dodge Neon I'm having a bit of trouble with. Just today, it started squeaking as if it's belts had gotten wet. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, the weather was terrible in the area today (very cold, and rainy), but I've been driving it around for a while and the squeak hasn't gone away.

Figuring I'd warm the belts up a bit, I revved the engine a bit while in park and found it wouldn't rev all the way up, so to speak, like it used to. There's no tachometer so I'm not sure where in the RPM range it's peaking and falling back from, but if I had to estimate, I'd say it was around the middle of the scale. So once I hit the gas (while in park) it revs to that point, comes back down and goes back up again, almost as if I were pulsing the gas pedal. The car seems to drive fine, aside from the annoying noise.

Help!

Thanks,
Lou

1 Reply

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

Hello lou10579

The high-pitched squealing noise is caused by a glaze that develops on the outer surface of the belt, which may be due to pulley misalignment and/or slippage (loss of belt tension or a weak automatic tensioner). The noise does not affect belt operation or reliability (unless it is slipping), but the noise can be very annoying. Belt replacement is the only way to get rid of the noise. You can spray a noisy belt with aerosol belt dressing lubricant. These products will often quiet belt noise for awhile, but sooner or later the noise will come back. The best fix is a new belt, or to replace the belt tensioner if it is weak and is allowing the belt to slip.

Keep me updated.