Squealing noise and a burning rubber smell — where to start

This one comes up in the group most weeks, usually described the same way: a sudden squeal while driving, a smell of hot rubber, and the owner pulling over wondering how bad it is.

The first thing most owners here point at is the auxiliary/alternator belt — whether it is still there at all, whether it is glazed, and whether a pulley or tensioner has seized and is cooking it.

Worth checking before you drive it again

• Is the belt intact, or has it shredded or come off?
• Any warning lights — battery light in particular?
• Does the noise change with engine speed, or with steering?
• Any belt dust or black rubber residue around the pulleys?

If the belt has gone you can lose the alternator and, depending on the setup, the water pump — so it is worth establishing before a long drive rather than after.

Had this on yours? Reply with the model and year, what it turned out to be, and what it cost you. If your answer solves it for someone, we will mark it as the answer so the next owner finds it straight away.