eleetmatt Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I have a 2012 fusion SE and I've loved it but having some issues I'm concerned about. This is my first car so I'm not used to what to do or who to go to, just looking for advice So a while back we started hearing a squealing noise when the car first starts. I initially thought it was due to the car being cold and the belt not being warmed up for the first few minutes, as it was in the winter months that it started. Itll make the high pitched squealing noise when we first start the car then after about 3 minutes or so, the noise stops completely. Had a family member check the belt since that's where the sound is coming from and he said the belt seems in great shape still. I applied some wd40 like he suggested and it worked immediately for the first drive we took, no sound at all for the first time since it started. The next time we started it, it was back but with a different tone or pitch. Same type of sound but it sounded a tiny bit different. Still goes away after about 3 minutes of driving. Curious what that could be since its warmer now and my first thought is now ruled out. Question 2. The other day when we started it, it said "power steering assist failure" so we shut it off then cranked it back and it went away. No other indicators or anything, no trouble steering. This happened twice and hasn't done it for a few days. Now were noticing a light grinding sound when pulling away from being parked. Still no indicators or anything. Aside from these 2 things, everything seems fine. I get like a general "the works" maintenance service every couple of months so I'm not neglecting it completely or anything. Going to get an oil change in the morning and I'm gonna ask them about those things but I'm off today and stressing so hopefully I can get some opinions just to ease my mind, and also a second opinion because the more, the better. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 42 minutes ago, eleetmatt said: I have a 2012 fusion SE and I've loved it but having some issues I'm concerned about. This is my first car so I'm not used to what to do or who to go to, just looking for advice So a while back we started hearing a squealing noise when the car first starts. I initially thought it was due to the car being cold and the belt not being warmed up for the first few minutes, as it was in the winter months that it started. Itll make the high pitched squealing noise when we first start the car then after about 3 minutes or so, the noise stops completely. Had a family member check the belt since that's where the sound is coming from and he said the belt seems in great shape still. I applied some wd40 like he suggested and it worked immediately for the first drive we took, no sound at all for the first time since it started. The next time we started it, it was back but with a different tone or pitch. Same type of sound but it sounded a tiny bit different. Still goes away after about 3 minutes of driving. Curious what that could be since its warmer now and my first thought is now ruled out. Question 2. The other day when we started it, it said "power steering assist failure" so we shut it off then cranked it back and it went away. No other indicators or anything, no trouble steering. This happened twice and hasn't done it for a few days. Now were noticing a light grinding sound when pulling away from being parked. Still no indicators or anything. Aside from these 2 things, everything seems fine. I get like a general "the works" maintenance service every couple of months so I'm not neglecting it completely or anything. Going to get an oil change in the morning and I'm gonna ask them about those things but I'm off today and stressing so hopefully I can get some opinions just to ease my mind, and also a second opinion because the more, the better. Hi eleetmatt. Blind Internet diagnosis is always tricky at best, impossible at worst. So with that in mind, here goes: Your Fusion is ~9 years old. Sounds like it could be a failing/bad belt. You do not mention mileage, whether the serpentine belt has been previously changed, or how much your "family member" actually knows about cars etc. Can tell you...Do not spray WD-40 or other lubricants on your belts anymore. Concerning the power steering warning light: Again, blind Internet diagnosis. Could be something as simple as the battery is failing. Today's cars are heavily electronic/electrically dependent. When the battery begins to go, the startup system checks can not get enough voltage to properly complete, which can cause false warning lights. So have the battery tested by the Dealership, especially if it is more than ~3 years old. You an usually find coupons for a free battery test on the Ford owners website. I believe it may also be part of "The Works" package. The "light grinding" sound? Blind Internet diagnosis: Most of us are not driving as much nowadays. When the car sits, the brake rotors develop rust. This rust is rubbed off when the car begins to move and on the first few brake applications. So this sounds like it could be your issue. But it should be checked by the Tech tomorrow. Again, all of the above is blind Internet diagnosis. You should tell all of this to the Service Writer in the morning and the Tech should check those issues out during their multi-point check-up. Let us know how you make out and good luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuser Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 The previous answers are all good responses. You can try a belt dressing. Make sure you get belt dressing that is for serpentine belts. WD-40 is a great product but not a cure all. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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