Klaus' explanation sounds right. If you could describe the screech a bit more (duration, occurence relative to cranking) it might help. Is this screech there until the car idles a minute or so? If you drive off, does the screech go away as you get up to 5-15mph? If so, that sounds like the belt. Klaus may be able to read between the lines better than I. I first envisioned the screech occuring as you were cranking the engine and just after starting (I don't know why).

If it is the belt, as Klaus suggests, someone (it can be you if the screech lasts 30 seconds or more) standing outside with the hood up will find the screech appears to be coming from the passenger side of the engine.

Mine did this two years a go (once) and this past year (once). My car exhibits an anomoly when driving through puddles where all the indicator lights light up but the engine runs fine. These symptoms both point to that belt and I haven't gotten around to it. If it does it regularly you'll want to get it fixed.

Don '95 854T 174.4K