[AWD]

No to all your questions.

I once had an aftermarket alternator (that right out of the box) began squealing on start up. At first I did not know what the chirping noise was. I took it to a few mechanics who all diagnosed the belt. I replaced the belt which did nothing. Had a mechanic “grease the pulleys”. This also was not helpful. Like you shared the noise would go away after driving around for a bit. Only to return on start up randomly! I started having weird electrical issues also because of cheap alternator so when I replaced with OEM, I held the aftermarket alternator in my hand and turned the pulley (by hand) and it made that awful squeal/chirp noise. I guess it had a bad bearing. Saw many mechanics and posted on this forum about that issue but no one was able to diagnose the alternator as the culprit.

 

[AWD]

View attachment 218813
Are you 100% sure its on there like this? Any dirty hands touch the belt? Is it a belt squeal or a bearing noise?

I think it’s really here to tell the noise difference. Especially if it is intermittent. He needs to record the noise.

 

[AWD]

I have a supercharger on my Element and have changed belts along with different size blower pulleys depending on tune. Belt is supposed to be super tight. I have always struggled with putting it back on. The tensioner will tighten it automatically. With the OEM tensioner you can see it has a little arrow on it that shows you whether belt is in spec.

@ OP- are the tensioner, WP, and alternator that you replaced aftermarket parts?

 

[AWD]

I have been dealing with this exact same scenario for a couple weeks now...alternator went out, replaced alt. tensioner and belt. I have replaced serpentine belts many times before but this one was something else to get on. at 6'3" and 230 ponds i can put some torque on a wrench...almost had to "stand on the wrench" to get the belt on. the squeal/chirp is driving me nuts...I have loosened tighten and shimmed different bolts and it will go away, get worse, change sounds, etc, but always comes back and it does quiet down after the engine heats up.
Dayco 5070695 belt
Remy 94125 alt.
Gates 38278 tensioner
To the OP...any chance the part/s you used were the same?

and please save the OEM comments, I know these are the best but sometimes money and time require us to go with other options.
Aftermarket should not be doing this from the get go.

It shouldn't, but coincidentally this issue happened to both you and OP after installing aftermarket alternators. I can only share my experience. My intermittent chirp was not from belt even though several mechanics told me otherwise. It was from a new (remanufactured) alternator that worked, BUT contributed with weird noises that drove me insane. Just like OP, the noise would quiet down after engine heats up.

Here is my original thread from 2015 when I was dealing with this issue:

Chirping on start up, need feedback!

Hey Gang, So I have replaced both the power steering pump and alternator in the last year, I am currently at 114k. I also replaced the compressor at 92k. Since replacing the alternator I have noticed some chirping on start up, it is not consistent but seems to be worse when cold outside. The...

www.elementownersclub.com

 

[AWD]

Long I understand, but down where the tensioner is on the E there is very little room for a socket. All I've ever been able to fit in there was a box wrench. I have a tool that looks like the one in your pic, and even with a stubby socket it does not fit.

Vadim is correct. I bought that “serpentine belt tool set” and found it to be worthless. The fork socket simply popped off. Then the regular little socket got stuck in gap between pulley and wall. It was hell getting it out. I now just couple two wrenches together and it works so much better.