Ok so heres another "i got out of work today and..." story for you guys.

So i get out of work, turn my car on and its making a high pitch noise, similar to a hair dryer.

I turned it off, visually checked all the belts and and everything and all seems fine so i started it up again and it started rough

Same noise as before, only this time i noticed the "charge" indicator is on, so i started driving because i diddnt want to get stranded and as soon as my car hit about 1800-2000rpms, the noise stopped and charge light gradually went out as i proceded driving.

car ran smoothly the way home. (only about a mile)
My alternator is less than a year old. I know my distributer cap/rotor and plug wires are in desperate need of replacement, also, we've had some strangly warm weather all of a sudden... could condensation formed under the distributer cap have caused this?

Regardless, im shoppin' it thursday when i get my check...

Thanks, Brian

I just did a little troubleshooting, I think its the fan clutch. Its a winding sort of noise, almost like a messed up bearing. (maybe from when my motor mount broke it hit the shroud and screwed it up?)

I could feel a light breeze coming from the fan when the car was making the noise, when the noise stopped the breeze turned into more of a gust.

Turning on the a/c or heat makes the noise louder, so does turning the wheel in park. I drove back and forth around town and no overheating. Driving actually seemed to cure the noise.

When I get the time I'll try removing the belt to the powersteering pump and alternator to see if the noise stops just incase its one of those.

If anyone has any other ideas it could probably save me some time.

Man, I hate weird squeaky noises.

thanks,
Brian

sorry to drag this one to the top again but im still trying to figure it out,

it makes the sound constantly now and its driving me crazy, the charge light is on as well.
There were a few times where i accelerated hard and it stopped the noise and the light went out... so i guess its the alternator right? any ideas as to why it stops under accel? The belts are all tight.

the alternator is practically brand new, although i've been milking it with amplifiers and such.... damn this is driving me crazy


Brian

Wouldn't think of a hair drier making the same whine as an alternator. After thinking about it, the higher frequencies do sound similar.

Belt can look OK, be properly adjusted, and still slip. Alts whine when under heavy load and the light indicates no charge, leading me to believe it's the belt.

If it's not a slipping belt, I'm guessing you'll a new alt.

Don't take my word for it, get it tested before you replace it.

Regards, Norm.

norm- must be the belt, i sprayed a little big A "belt-tac" on the belt and it calmed the whining down a little... this noise has sort of worked its way down the list of priories right now.

i replaced my spark plugs today, i started the car after each plug was replaced to make sure it was done correctly and there was no misfire, but when i finished the last plug and started the car what i got was a clicking noise coming from that last plug, and it gradually increases with rpms.

The wires arent melted or anything, and the car doesnt skip a beat although theyre pretty old wires i think the boot might have been damaged when i removed it.. do these simptoms sound like a damaged plug boot?
(they were STUCK on the plug points pretty harcore)

damn noises

Brian

Hi Brianritchie21787, all,


Replace the belt.


You are either hearing the snap (maybe a crack?) of an arc inside the boot, or the sound (similar to a header flange or exhaust manifold)of a leak at the plug.

Change the wires.

Regards, Norm

did the alternator belt, distributer cap, rotor, and wires this afternoon. Still hearing a clicking sound.



a leak? meaning the plug could be loose? this is very possible seeing how cramped the space was.

Another thing i noticed, i managed to break what looked like a 'tan - colored' plastic vacume line that goes from behind where the shock absorber is to a little canister device mounted just above the valve cover.

Pictured here...


I blocked the line to see if i heard the noise stop and diddnt notice anything, i even tried rigging it back together with electrical tape, nothing changed.

ideas?

Thanks
Brian

Hi Brianritchie21787, all,


Alt belt was to address a problem. The others were not. Always best to focus on the problem only, until it's rectified.


And you will, until you address that problem.


Yes, that is the next step. I was thinking crossthread, but it's unlikely. since your access is limited. Easier to fix if it's loose.

Plug threads should be lightly oiled, then screwed all the way in by hand. If no gasket is used, very little movement is needed to torque it. If a gasket is used it should take less than a quarter of a turn.


I remember dealing with that line once, don't remember anything else about it. Not related to to the noise problem. Check where it starts and ends, Might tell you what it does, and why it's there.

Regards, Norm