Grinding noise when pressing gas pedal on 2001 Subaru Outback

This morning as I was driving my daughter to school, I notice a high pitch sound. I turned off the radio and realized it sounded like metal grinding on metal. It sounds only if I press my foot on the gas pedal. It went on for a while, then stop, then started again. I pull to the side and parked on an incline (front of car facing the incline). I turned off the engine, then, restarted. The noise went away. I need my car as I have a lot of errands to run. Is it save to drive it?

Open the hood while the engine is running and see if you can figure out where the noise is coming from. It could be something simple and obvious to the eye. Just don’t put your hands or anything else near the cooling fans because they can come on at any time.

Perhaps one of the drive belts is loose. That makes a screeching sound.