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| Car problems |
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Steve Terry
Member #1,989
March 2002
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Seems we have a couple of people on the forum who know a little bit about car engines. I got in my car today after work and when I started the engine I noticed some soft of strange squeaking coming from the passenger side of the engine. It gets louder/faster when I accelerate and softer/slower when I am idle such that when I'm idling the squeak only comes every second or two so it's not constant. I checked the belts and they all look good and I've been unable to identify specifically where the sound is coming from. Other than the squeak the engine seems to be running fine but the sound is annoying. It's also been raining like crazy the past two days so it's possible it's humidity/moisture related. Usually if I run through a puddle I get a squeak on the right side but it's temporary. Today it seems more permanent. Any ideas? <edit> ___________________________________ |
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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If you spray some carb cleaner or WD-40 on the ribbed side of the belt while the engine's running (carefully) and the sound changes, it's the belt squeaking. If it doesn't change, it might be an alternator or other device with bearings going out, take the belt off temporarily and if the squeak then disappears, it's one of those. If you spin them by hand, they should rotate very smoothly with no rough feeling or rumbling/squeaking noises. You might also be able to narrow it down by putting one end of a long rod or something against the suspect component and the other end against your ear like a stethoscope. Don't let it slip and get caught in the belt! I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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verthex
Member #11,340
September 2009
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Do you have a v-belt (serpentine belt) mechanism. That has a pulley on a spring which can go out and make some weird noises. My car had that when I drove in reverse sometimes.
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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V-belts have a trapazoid cross section and the pulleys have one big "groove", serpentine belts are pretty much flat with ribs on the traction side and the pulleys have several grooves. I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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Steve Terry
Member #1,989
March 2002
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I believe I have a V-belt. I will see if I can find some WD-40 and try that. I don't have the tools, time, or skills to pull the belt off. If it still has the same sound in the morning I will just take it to the mechanic for a diagnostic. I'm thinking it's a pulley or belt, but why only squeak every two seconds on idle? I would think it would be pretty consistent and squeak more than that on idle if it was a pulley or belt. Guess I may find out the problem tomorrow. If it's something really bad then I guess me and Katko can go shove both of our cars off a bridge together sometime ^_^ ___________________________________ |
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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Steve Terry said: why only squeak every two seconds on idle?
The A/C compressor could be engaging/disengaging, putting intermittent stress on the belt. If it's cycling that fast though, I'd guess you're a little low on freon too I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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Steve Terry
Member #1,989
March 2002
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It's squeaking with a warm engine. Well it could be the damn a/c compressor. It's been bad on this car twice? three times now? But it's never caused squeaking before. Oh and I couldn't find any WD-40 so I can't test the belt theory. ___________________________________ |
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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I meant the extra load on the belt when the A/C compressor is running would cause the squeak. If you're not running the A/C or defroster the A/C shouldn't be on though. It could be the belt's simply worn out, not the fault of the A/C. If it's a manually adjustable tensioner, it's not likely to loosen on its own so that would point to a worn belt again (bigger circumference due to loss of rubber) but the automatic spring type tensioners can get weak with age. Once in awhile pulleys can get worn to the point where they'll squeak with a new belt that's properly tensioned. Also a small amount of Freon loss is normal (it goes right through rubber hoses) but if it's leaking too low within 3 years it's too much. I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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BAF
Member #2,981
December 2002
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Last I heard (from my Dad, he does HVAC for a living) the refrigerant isn't going to be leaking through the hoses, but rather, it leaks at the seal on the compressor shaft (which is normal and acceptable, even expected). The problem is exasperated if the seal is allowed to sit and become brittle/whatever, which is why you should run the A/C a little every month when it's not in service. |
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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I remember reading in a trade magazine that Freon also goes through the hoses in addition to where you'd expect. They were pointing out the disadvantages of the newer systems that only take 8-12 ounces of freon as opposed to the older ones that took 30-40 ounces. I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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Johan Halmén
Member #1,550
September 2001
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Steve Terry said: Usually if I run through a puddle I get a squeak on the right side but it's temporary. Yes. Poodles make that sound. It's temporary, as you said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Chris Katko
Member #1,881
January 2002
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Arthur Kalliokoski said: I remember reading in a trade magazine that Freon also goes through the hoses in addition to where you'd expect. I wouldn't suspect it does. The hoses aren't rubber. They're steel tubes with a rubber coating. "Materialistic things can't bring you happiness. Except Marshmellows--which are pretty much the same thing." |
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bamccaig
Member #7,536
July 2006
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Johan Halmén said: Yes. Poodles make that sound. It's temporary, as you said.
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Arthur Kalliokoski
Member #5,540
February 2005
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Chris Katko said: The hoses aren't rubber. They're steel tubes with a rubber coating. You saw tubes with insulation then, not hoses. Hoses have steel mesh inside for burst resistance, but the steel mesh is permeable. I've spliced quite a few together with the ridged ferrule and clamps. I really admire the U.S. Constitution. It's so much better than what we have now. |
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verthex
Member #11,340
September 2009
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Arthur Kalliokoski said: V-belts have a trapazoid cross section and the pulleys have one big "groove", serpentine belts are pretty much flat with ribs on the traction side and the pulleys have several grooves. Right, I think my car had a serpentine belt, it had a spring mounted pulley that went out. Maybe V-belts have that too.
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. Or it could just be random squeaking... Usually the squeaking is loudest on startup in the morning for a few seconds while the alternator is charging the battery after just having the starter drag it down, turning a cold engine.
