squealing and smelling burnt

maybe, what does it smell like, rubber or oil?

we what? got cut off.

We replaced the belt 2.5 years ago but still makes squealing sound. Recently it started to make a hovering sound (couple of weeks) and then today when my husband parked it started to smoke. It looked like it was coming from the front passenger tire area. Someone said it might be the brakes and someone else said it might be a radiator leak.

we did not notice any smell.

if it is brakes wheel will throw off heat and be burning hot to touch. if anti freeze it will have a smell.

you mean belt replace did NOT cure squeal? does it sueal all the time or mostly after starting.

My husband said it did have a tar smell, but I didn't notice. Replacing the belt did NOT fix the squeal. It use to only squeal at start up in 1st gear, but now it squeals more often and even up into 3rd gear, but most after it has been started. Next time I drive I will check the tire for heat and lift the hood to see if we can get a better idea of where the smoke is coming from.

did you replace belt or have someone do it? does it have a spring tensioner pulley?

We replaced the belt ourselves but couldn't get it tightened all the way so took it somewhere to get it tightened to the right tightness. We just took it into les shwab today they said the brakes were fine. So how do we check for a radiator leak? Where is the radiator?

radiator is across front of car behind grill. if you have AC there are 2 of them. 1 closest to motor has coolant for motor. dont know how this could be related to squeal though.

We were thinking the smoking/steaming might be due to a radiator leak. I'm lost on the noises. I just would like to know if it is something urgent or that could damage a different part of the car.

see if your loosing coolant? if radiator is leaking, coolant level in resovoir will go down.

we did notice the coolant is low. but the coolant reservoir is on the opposite side of the car from where the smoke/steam was coming out.

leak is on other side?

It stopped smoking on it's own and we topped off all the fluids. but how do I check for a leak if it starts to smoke again?

2 kinds of leaks. wet and dry. dry kind just steams and leaves no clues. wet kind drips leaves wet clues where leaking. anti freeze has a definate smell to it. cook some and you will get the nose for it. or open your reservoir and smell it when warm.