2000 Protege check engine light + screeching/scratching noise during acceleration

[Automobilefanatic]

Mazda Protege 2000 here with 230k km on it.
For the past year during acceleration but only when I press the pedal down to a certain point (if the pedal is pressed any less or more there is no noise)
around cruising speed of 40 miles/hr on a flat road when the pedal is pressed at that point it will make a loud screeching/scratching sound.
The check engine light appeared around 3 days ago, does this have anything to do with the noise as well?
The noise is not belt related as that was a separate noise problem I had earlier but was fixed.

[adamgrant]

It sounds like a slipping belt? Do you know the what code is set with the check engine light?

[Automobilefanatic]

Originally Posted by adamgrant

It sounds like a slipping belt? Do you know the what code is set with the check engine light?

It is not belt related, I stated that in the original post, I know what a loose belt sounds like because I had that problem before but it was fixed.