Clutch Problem?

[Ray Todd]

1999 Mazda Protege Approx 71k miles

This *normally* only happens in the morning. When I get in to go to work, put the car in reverse, press the gas, I start hearing a squealing noise and what appears to be the sound of something spinning. After I put the car in first gear, it sometimes goes away immediately, othertimes, it takes a while (.10 mile) for it to stop. However, until the the squealing noise stops, I hear the spinning sound.

This did NOT start until after I had the belts replaced.

Could this be the clutch or am I looking at some other problem?

[copter steve]

Hello,
You really did not give alot of info. When you put the car in gear does it go,or does the rpm go way up and it really goes no where. If the car is driving like normal but you are hearing a squelling noise it is probably the belts. some belts have a tendency to stretch after installation or the where not properly installed. Check the v-belts by pushing on the belt where the distance is the longest between pulleys there should be about 1 inch of deflection. On the serpentine belts which are the multi grooved thin belt they should be a less delfection maybe a 1/2 inch or so. I hope this helps.

Copter Steve