YACT: Belt squeal...

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
New symptoms...

Even idles at >2000RPM... Then dies down after a few minutes...

Was driving, put car in neutral, engine went from 2000-2500 and repeatedly did that, almost as if I was slightly revving, all on its own...

Engine didn't overheat this time... Check battery light still on...

Trying to give as much info on the probs as I can to get the best help... Still look like problems with alternator belt/tensioner?

Oh yeah, there was no squealing at all this time and everything sounded good from inside the car...

if your idle isn't stable, then something is a miss with the fast idle valve, or the idle air control valve. or the throttle posistion sensor.

 

[alexjohnson16]

ARGH. I hate my car.

The squeal is gone for good.

I haven't driven long enough to see if it still overheats. The charge battery light is still on. Still idles in neutral at >2000RPM and still revs itsself.

And to top it all off, MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK NOW.

It just spits out cold air.

Second car my time has been fux0red in two months. My internet is going through a mass failure at connection (it's ironic that I said that, because as I pressed send my modem reset for NO REASON). I just turned 18 and have a good paying job, but all these repairs to things are killing my bank account.

I hate my life. Thanks for listening though.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
ARGH. I hate my car.

The squeal is gone for good.

I haven't driven long enough to see if it still overheats. The charge battery light is still on. Still idles in neutral at >2000RPM and still revs itsself.

And to top it all off, MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK NOW.

It just spits out cold air.

Second car my time has been fux0red in two months. My internet is going through a mass failure at connection (it's ironic that I said that, because as I pressed send my modem reset for NO REASON). I just turned 18 and have a good paying job, but all these repairs to things are killing my bank account.

I hate my life. Thanks for listening though.

You having some car problems is warrant enough to hate your life? Man, I guess I should've killed myself long ago.

 

[alexjohnson16]

Sarcasm, I'm just really pissed at my car.

I knew I'd get that response on ATOT though, thanks for giving me that laugh. :beer:

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
ARGH. I hate my car.

The squeal is gone for good.

I haven't driven long enough to see if it still overheats. The charge battery light is still on. Still idles in neutral at >2000RPM and still revs itsself.

And to top it all off, MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK NOW.

It just spits out cold air.

Second car my time has been fux0red in two months. My internet is going through a mass failure at connection (it's ironic that I said that, because as I pressed send my modem reset for NO REASON). I just turned 18 and have a good paying job, but all these repairs to things are killing my bank account.

I hate my life. Thanks for listening though.

Heat dont work? how cold is it outside?
When's the last time you had a coolant system flush and refill? Was the thermostat replaced at the same time?

First suspicion would be a stuck open thermostat. The thermostat controls when the coolants get released to the radiator, and regulates what temp the coolant in the engine has to be before the coolant in the radiator starts to circulate. If it is stuck open, and it is cold outside, your engine is being "overcooled," and it will take a long time before you get heat.

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
Sarcasm, I'm just really pissed at my car.

I knew I'd get that response on ATOT though, thanks for giving me that laugh. :beer:

Glad I can give a laugh and a smile. Cheers! :beer:

 

[alexjohnson16]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
ARGH. I hate my car.

The squeal is gone for good.

I haven't driven long enough to see if it still overheats. The charge battery light is still on. Still idles in neutral at >2000RPM and still revs itsself.

And to top it all off, MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK NOW.

It just spits out cold air.

Second car my time has been fux0red in two months. My internet is going through a mass failure at connection (it's ironic that I said that, because as I pressed send my modem reset for NO REASON). I just turned 18 and have a good paying job, but all these repairs to things are killing my bank account.

I hate my life. Thanks for listening though.

Heat dont work? how cold is it outside?
When's the last time you had a coolant system flush and refill? Was the thermostat replaced at the same time?

First suspicion would be a stuck open thermostat. The thermostat controls when the coolants get released to the radiator, and regulates what temp the coolant in the engine has to be before the coolant in the radiator starts to circulate. If it is stuck open, and it is cold outside, your engine is being "overcooled," and it will take a long time before you get heat.

I haven't had a coolant system flush/refill since I've owned the car (a year and a little over 3 months)...

The heat worked great before all this crap started happening, so I assume it's in chain reaction to everything that has happened...

I'm just curious to as why the belt stops squealing... The charge battery light comes on... My engine instantly overheats... And now my heat doesn't work at all...

I'm just pissed that all of this happened so quickly... And my mechanic is on vacation and can't get anything checked out...

Any ideas from the car gurus of ATOT?



BTW, I do appreciate all the advice I've gotten so far... Makes it a little better that I have ideas why this stuff is happening...

 

[BannedTroll]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
ARGH. I hate my car.

The squeal is gone for good.

I haven't driven long enough to see if it still overheats. The charge battery light is still on. Still idles in neutral at >2000RPM and still revs itsself.

And to top it all off, MY HEAT DOESN'T WORK NOW.

It just spits out cold air.

Second car my time has been fux0red in two months. My internet is going through a mass failure at connection (it's ironic that I said that, because as I pressed send my modem reset for NO REASON). I just turned 18 and have a good paying job, but all these repairs to things are killing my bank account.

I hate my life. Thanks for listening though.

Heat dont work? how cold is it outside?
When's the last time you had a coolant system flush and refill? Was the thermostat replaced at the same time?

First suspicion would be a stuck open thermostat. The thermostat controls when the coolants get released to the radiator, and regulates what temp the coolant in the engine has to be before the coolant in the radiator starts to circulate. If it is stuck open, and it is cold outside, your engine is being "overcooled," and it will take a long time before you get heat.

I haven't had a coolant system flush/refill since I've owned the car (a year and a little over 3 months)...

The heat worked great before all this crap started happening, so I assume it's in chain reaction to everything that has happened...

I'm just curious to as why the belt stops squealing... The charge battery light comes on... My engine instantly overheats... And now my heat doesn't work at all...

I'm just pissed that all of this happened so quickly... And my mechanic is on vacation and can't get anything checked out...

Any ideas from the car gurus of ATOT?



BTW, I do appreciate all the advice I've gotten so far... Makes it a little better that I have ideas why this stuff is happening...

Sounds like you no longer have a belt at all or it is insanely loose.

 

[BannedTroll]

Come on man. This isn't that hard to figure out.
Your alternator belt also spins the water pump which is why you are not getting a charge and it is overheating. So;

Take your ass to autozone and get a belt if the one you have is gone or simply tighten the one you have.

Belt $8

ALTERNATOR

Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key. Allow the engine to cool.

Remove the power steering belt.

Loosen the alternator adjusting bolt and upper mounting bolt.

Raise and safely support the vehicle.

Remove the right splash shield.

Loosen the lower through-bolt.

Lower the vehicle and remove the alternator belt.

To install:

Install the alternator belt and make sure it is correctly lined up on the pulley.

Adjust the alternator belt deflection by turning the adjusting bolt. A new belt should deflect 0.22-0.27 inch (6-7mm), and a used belt should deflect 0.24-0.29 inch (6-8mm).

Tighten the upper mounting bolt to 14-18 ft. lbs. (19-25 Nm).

Raise and safely support the vehicle.

Tighten the lower through-bolt to 28-38 ft. lbs. (38-51 Nm).

Install the right splash shield and tighten the bolts to 15-88 inch lbs. (8-10 Nm).

Lower the vehicle.

Install the power steering belt.


Power steering belt (needs to be removed):

POWER STEERING

This belt includes the air conditioner compressor, if equipped.

Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key. Allow the engine to cool.

Remove the power steering pump belt shield.

Without A/C, loosen the adjusting bolt, lockbolt, and through-bolt. With A/C, loosen the adjusting bolt and the locknut.

Remove the power steering belt.

To install:

Install the power steering belt and make sure it is correctly lined up on the pulley.

Adjust the power steering belt tension/deflection by turning the adjusting bolt. A new belt should deflect 0.32-0.35 inch (8-9mm), and a used belt should deflect 0.36-0.39 inch (9-10mm).

Without A/C, tighten the lockbolt to 24-33 ft. lbs. (32-46 Nm). Tighten the through-bolt to 14-18 ft. lbs. (19-25 Nm). With A/C, tighten the locknut to 24-25 ft. lbs. (32-34 Nm).

Install the belt shield and tighten the attaching bolts to 5-86 inch lbs. (7-9 Nm).

 

[alexjohnson16]

Easy to say, but I have no idea about anything involving car engines...

I guess I'll just take it in to the mechanic when he gets back and have him tighten or replace the belt...

Thanks for the help though BT, :beer:.

 

[imported_Phil]

14 days and you still haven't taken it for someone to have a look at?

Enjoy your fvx0r3d engine. :beer:

 

[SaturnX]

Originally posted by: BannedTroll
Come on man. This isn't that hard to figure out.
Your alternator belt also spins the water pump which is why you are not getting a charge and it is overheating. So;

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Like it was mentioned your alternator belt spins the water pump which in turn pumps coolant through your engine... if any belt in that system goes, or is loose (they all work off each other), then first you'll loose charge, and second your engine will overheat.

And if you keep driving your car in this state, you'll toast your engine or at the very least, your head gaskets, then you'll be complaining about the bill. Or hey, if you really keep on going you'll crack a piston, then it's time for a new engine... Seriously take it in and have the belts examined, christ it's not that complicated, and something you could on a saturday afternoon...

--Mark

 

[alexjohnson16]

Well, it finally died... I was on my way to taking it to a different mechanic...

The belt is completely gone, but there's no real damage to the engine (at least I don't think)...

Since its dead I'm going to let it sit on the street until my regular mechanic gets back... Here comes two days without a car... In the middle of finals... Off campus...

:beer:

 

[Viper GTS]

At the risk of making a total ass of myself (since I didn't read the entire thread), WTF did you do for the last two weeks that prevented you from fixing it before total failure?

It's a friggin' belt!

Viper GTS

 

[alexjohnson16]

The fact that the squeal stopped making noise... And that I'm completely a moron when it comes to engines and cars...

 

[BannedTroll]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
Well, it finally died... I was on my way to taking it to a different mechanic...

The belt is completely gone, but there's no real damage to the engine (at least I don't think)...

Since its dead I'm going to let it sit on the street until my regular mechanic gets back... Here comes two days without a car... In the middle of finals... Off campus...

:beer:

Please don't take this the wrong way......

You are an idiot. Hopefully the car died because the battery went dead not receiving a charge and not because you blew the fvcking engine,. I don't care what you think you don't knoww about cars whith an hour, $20 (belt and haynes manual) you could have learned a little and prevented sh!t like this from happening again.

 

[BannedTroll]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
The fact that the squeal stopped making noise... And that I'm completely a moron when it comes to engines and cars...

I pasted your cars specific instructions. If you can put on your clothes you can change a belt on most cars. It has nothing to do with engines really. It is a belt between two (really three) pullies. NNot that complicated.

 

[alexjohnson16]

I'm certain it was the battery going dead... THe radio went out, the lits dimmed, then lost power...

I didn't have time for that... With class and work, I had less then 30 minutes a day... Even on weekends I had no time for this... I figured the problem was fixed after the belt stopped squealing...

I learned a lesson though...

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
Well, it finally died... I was on my way to taking it to a different mechanic...

The belt is completely gone, but there's no real damage to the engine (at least I don't think)...

Since its dead I'm going to let it sit on the street until my regular mechanic gets back... Here comes two days without a car... In the middle of finals... Off campus...

:beer:

You do realize that 10 minutes at the old mechanic 2 weeks ago could have saved you all this?

Not to mention tightening loose belt at the place that installed it =free
Getting new belt installed because the old one broke = MONEY

 

[alexjohnson16]

Originally posted by: BannedTroll

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
The fact that the squeal stopped making noise... And that I'm completely a moron when it comes to engines and cars...

I pasted your cars specific instructions. If you can put on your clothes you can change a belt on most cars. It has nothing to do with engines really. It is a belt between two (really three) pullies. NNot that complicated.

I don't have the means for that kind of work (Nothing to raise car with, not really any tools to work with)...

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: BannedTroll

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
The fact that the squeal stopped making noise... And that I'm completely a moron when it comes to engines and cars...

I pasted your cars specific instructions. If you can put on your clothes you can change a belt on most cars. It has nothing to do with engines really. It is a belt between two (really three) pullies. NNot that complicated.

I have problems clothing myself.

 

[alexjohnson16]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
Well, it finally died... I was on my way to taking it to a different mechanic...

The belt is completely gone, but there's no real damage to the engine (at least I don't think)...

Since its dead I'm going to let it sit on the street until my regular mechanic gets back... Here comes two days without a car... In the middle of finals... Off campus...

:beer:

You do realize that 10 minutes at the old mechanic 2 weeks ago could have saved you all this?

Not to mention tightening loose belt at the place that installed it =free
Getting new belt installed because the old one broke = MONEY

I don't think I'll have to pay for the repair... When all my belts were replaced, one of the things he said is that the belt prior was on there really tight... So he put it on a little less tight... Granted its due to my ignorance of hte situation and my avoiding it, I will pay for the repairs if needed but I just don't think I'll have to pay...

 

[Eli]

OMG....

This thread almost made me cry.

I'm going to find where you live and beat you with a bent connecting rod.

 

[BannedTroll]

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16

Originally posted by: BannedTroll

Originally posted by: alexjohnson16
The fact that the squeal stopped making noise... And that I'm completely a moron when it comes to engines and cars...

I pasted your cars specific instructions. If you can put on your clothes you can change a belt on most cars. It has nothing to do with engines really. It is a belt between two (really three) pullies. NNot that complicated.

I don't have the means for that kind of work (Nothing to raise car with, not really any tools to work with)...

Really you don't need to raise the car and a cheap toolset is $20 which you should have anyway. I suggest buying one and learning a little bit about your vehicle or turning in you man card. Even if you don't as someone else said a trip to the shop in the beginning would have saved you the trouble and money. You will now be paying.

Also did you ever even raise the hood?

 

[alexjohnson16]

I raised the hood, and when I last looked (yesterday) the belt was still there... That is, if I was looking at the right belt... It didn't look like much was going wrong...

I just love the ATOT attitude though... I know I fvcked up and realized my mistake... But of course, ATOT has to rub it in...

As I said I just turned 18, have no real enthusiasm with cars (my dad died when I was nine, so that could be a factor) and thought the problem fixed itsself...

I will take your advice though BannedTroll, and try to learn a little bit about my car...

Thanks for your help the whole time throughout though, I appreciate it even though I didn't follow it...

Edit: And Eli, if you must come find me, come to Burlington, IA... You can administer the beating for my ignorance... At least I can take that like a man...