# Toyota Echo 2003 - Screeching when A/C is on **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** echo, toyota\ **Created:** [July 23, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707 "2012-07-23T15:33:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulTony2012](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@PaulTony2012](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PaulTony2012)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/1 "2012-07-23T15:33:45Z")
My Echo screeches when the AC is on. If I hit the gas, the sound will go away. Also, sometimes when I’m slowing down the screech starts with the AC on. Occasionally, the sound goes away after I’ve driven about 20 - 30 miles; it appears that the car at idle then is idleing a little higher. And, lastly, on very rare ocassions, the screech will start when the AC is off and I turn a corner. I’ve had this screech for years and the Toyota folks just ignore it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/2 "2012-07-23T15:35:35Z")
Have a mechanic check the tightness of the belt that drives the A/C compressor. More than likely, he will find that the belt tensioner needs to be replaced, and that the belt is also ready for replacement. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/3 "2012-07-23T20:01:13Z")
I had a similar problem. The solution was just a matter of tightening the belt. Follow VDC’s advice and have a mechanic, not necessarily Toyota, check the belt. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/4 "2012-07-23T23:24:53Z")
The belt is not staying tight when the AC is running. It could be a bad belt or a bad belt tensioner. Have a good independent mechanic check it out. ---
**Author:** ![BondKennyBond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@BondKennyBond](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BondKennyBond)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/5 "2013-02-26T07:40:16Z")
The Echo does not have a belt tensioner. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/6 "2013-02-26T08:59:00Z")
This post is 8 months old. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-echo-2003-screeching-when-a-c-is-on/73707/7 "2013-02-26T18:18:45Z")
+1 for BustedKnuckles. BondKennyBond…I believe the alternator serves as the “belt tensioner” in this case like the automotive industry used for decades.