For the last couple weeks my car has been idling at around 1500 RPMs at start up, before coming down to the normal 1000 RPMs idling. My belts also squeal when I start driving my car, but it usually only last 30 seconds.

I drive a 1997 Mitsubish GSX, roughly 105000 miles on it. The belts were replaced about a year and a half ago, so I doubt they've been worn down so much as to be worn out in that time. Anyone had this problem before?

 

Your car SHOULD idle at 750rpm. NOt 1K. Check your TPS and for vacumm leaks... as for the squeak? Belt dressing.

 

You also might want to check your BISS.

 

I'm completely new to car mechanics, and am here at the bequest of my friend who is a car junkie and said I am more than smart enough to learn and do this stuff myself. So I'm afraid I'm going to need those terms spelled out for me =P

 

Base Idle Set Screw... its on your intake manifold near the throttle body. And your Throttle position sensor... which is attached to the throttle body. Spray down your hoses (the ones you can see) with belt dressing... and just check all your vacumm hoses for leaks. Listen specificaly to between the intake manifold and about where your driver side strut mount is. Listen (obviously) for a hiss.

 

i used belt dressing and it kept throwing my belts off but it did stop the noise..i would recoomend checking your tensioner pulley cause mine was offline a little...cost me 130 to replace but thats brandnew from jegs...also my balancer was off..it had a chip in it so through it off just enough

 

my belt squeaks at start up too...i thought it was just a bit of fluid on the belt until i saw a 6 inch tear in the belt! so you might want to take your belt off and check it. if you buy the haynes or chilton or both...you can do pretty much everything on a engine with a manual...just as long as you understand it.

 

The high idle when cold is normal... then 20 seconds later should be back to normal.

750 is normal idle... all you have to do is adjust your BISS screw like the others said.

My belts squeeled too. Get some WD40 and spray it... works for me.

As for the check engine light... go to autozone and find out what the code is.. .and we will tell you everything u need to know

 

Don't use belt dressing, its a very thick compound that slings all over your engine bay and can actually cause more problems then it solves.
As for the squeal, you need one of 2 things most likely, a new belt and a new ensioner pulley.
The bearing in the tensioner goes bad easily.

 

Its prolly the power steering belt. Or the alt belt... just spray that **** with WD40