Screeching sound at start up

Hey guys,

I have a 1994 Ford Ranger, and I BELIEVE its the fan belt, but I really have no idea what it is, but anyways, whenever I start my truck up(its a standard tranny if that matters) it makes this high pitched screeching sound and it comes from somewhere under my hood. If I remember correctly that would most likely be the fan belt? What do I need to do to fix that, and is driving my truck a bad idea with this going on?

Thank you!!
Jessicaa That would be very consistant with a loose belt. Some are self adjusted by a tensioner pulley and some done manually - not sure on this one. It can be the belt has stretched to its limit, tensioner doesn't do it's job, or perhaps just need adjustment if the manual adjustment.

You can feel for how tight it is now yourself. Engine off, cool/cold - keys OUT and feel the tension on belt the runs the alternator especially if two used in this. If alternator has cooling fins you shouldn't be able to turn it by hand easily.

What happens is right after start up the alternator works real hard for a few seconds to replace the energy taken from the battery for the start up and can squeel,