Accidentally spilled coolant on serpentine belt!! now screaming!!
 

I accidentally spilled coolant on the belt on a g37 last week, and a few days later, the car started screaming after 10-15 minutes of driving.... is this related to the coolant on the belt?? I didn't clean the belt since, and when the car is screaming, I noticed the RPM at idle higher than usual and as if the car has less power, at first when there is no screaming, the RPM is normal... Can someone help me?

I Wonder if the coolant damaged something, like the alternator per example... because now I have to charge the battery everytime or else the car won't start.... no CEL

The belt is slipping. First try spraying some belt dressing on it liberally with the car running. See if that helps.

Ok I'll try that, but is it normal that the RPM is higher than usual when it is screaming? I mean if the belt is creaming wouldn't it be just the noise with no other effects on the performance of the car?

Well if the belt is slipping, and you have to keep charging the battery that would mean the alternator isn't being turned enough or at all. The alternator does put a load on the motor which if taken off will cause the RPM's to rise. Also if you don't clean that belt soon, then you'll be wearing it out even faster and soon you will be having to replace it. As Black Betty said clean the belt and do it NOW!

Al

The belt is making noise because it's slipping. And if it is slipping it is affecting other components and it may be affecting engine speed. It could be that the engine is spinning more freely because the belt is slipping and the other items on the belt like a/c, alternator, pulleys, etc, are not having the same drag on the engine.

Sorta like if you were doing a burnout - your tires would be screaming, you would barely be moving forward, and the RPMs would be high. The screaming is the rubber not being able to do its job and move things forward.

Just change the belt

if you cant change the belt... a bar of soap or baby powder also cleans up the belt and quiets it. If its slipping, replacing it may be the simplest fix.

Replace the belt

I've had coolant spill on belts before. Once dry and evaporated there were no issues. Maybe the coolant got into something and caused it to seize or bind partially. This would cause more load and possibly cause the belt to slip.

I'd check with the tensioner and idler pulleys. Remove the belt and rotate those pulleys. The alternator should also spin freely. If anyone of them is binding or difficult to rotate, you've found your cause.

You don't have to change the belt just yet. Spray belt dressing on the belt and the pulleys while the car is running until the squealing stops. If that does not solve your problem THEN it is time to remove the belt and clean all the pulleys before installing a new belt. If you change the belt without cleaning the pulleys, there us a likelihood you will have the same problem.

turned out that it was the water pump that broke!!!, it was making that noise, the dealer changed it and now they say I have a problem with the starter, I have some issues will starting the car, they tested the battery, said it was okay

My mechanic spilled coolant on my belt. It would scream like you wouldnt believe. He said there was no real way to fix it. He ended up replacing it.