Help me figure out this car problem? Please?

[snoopdoug1]

My gf has a 2002 saturn with 65000 miles. About 3 months ago she had a head gasket blow and had that fixed by the dealer. Her car started acting up again last week(she said "weird grinding noises"), but she couldn't get the problem to replicate for me. We checked the oil and it was a quart low, so I put in another quart and the grinding seems to have gone away. Now the new problem... while driving there is a weird whistling/squeaky sound coming from the front of the car. It only happens while driving, so you can't just put it in park and get out to see exactly where the problem is. The sound seems to get louder as you go faster. Any ideas what this could be?

Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[snoopdoug1]

shameless bump?

 

[imported_Mike]

ac fan?

 

[snoopdoug1]

Sorry, forgot to add we had it all off(ac/heater/radio/etc).

 

[Allanv]

fan belt
power stearing belt / pump
squashed hampster

 

[snoopdoug1]

Originally posted by: Allanv
fan belt
power stearing belt / pump
squashed hampster

lol @ squashed hampster
Thanks for the suggestions

 

[R Nilla]

whistle tip?

 

[Allanv]

The sound seems to get louder as you go faster. Any ideas what this could be

that sounds like the fan belt to me, sorry missed it the first time round. But definatly a belt of some sort

 

[herm0016]

could be something caught in the air dam/grill. does it do it when going over bumps? could be suspension. could be idler pulley on your serpentine belt or the belt it self.

 

[funboy6942]

Look for something caught or hanging from the front grill or bottom of the car, or even look at trim pieces on the bumper, or sides of the car, what you may be hearing is in fact a whistle caused by loose trim parts catching the air and doing just that, whistling. It will go with the speed of the car, and I have had used cars that the parts were getting old, coming loose, going down the highway, screaming whistle really loud, so it happens.

If it was engine parts on the car then would be doing the noise in park, sitting there in the drive way giving the car gas, so it is trim/car part/wind related. And if it was suspensions would change in pitch every time you went over a bump. And if it was brakes would change in pitch, or go away, once the pedal was depressed.

So only thing left, going down the road, whistling, making different noise as you go faster, is what I suggested, and Herm suggested.

 

[snoopdoug1]

thanks for the suggestions guys. We'll take a look around the car for loose parts/something in grill.