Loud squealing noise

Tiny
MBPOKUSA
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SATURN SL2
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 265,000 MILES
From time to time it would make a loud squealing noise. The other morning when driving home from work it started to do it after slowing or stopping and the heat started blowing out cold. After speeding back up the squealing would stop and the heat would start blowing hot again. I have checked other threads stating to check pulleys but I am not 100% sure what to look/feel for. Should they move freely? What about the power steering pump should there be any tension on that pulley. Is there any pulleys that shouldn't being moving. Please help!
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 AT 2:50 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

The pulleys on the front of your engine are basically round wheels that hold belts in place and act as pivot points for the belt. Some are stationary and do nothing but provide a pivot point, while some have a shaft attached them and work a component, like a water pump, or alternator, or power steering pump, etc. No matter what they do they all have a bearing in them. These bearings have an inner and an outer race with ball bearing in them and the races are precision ground. If the lubrication wears out then the ball bearings will wear out the races making slop in them and causing bearing failure. As the bearing fails it will produce a squealing noise.
To test a bearing grab a hold of the pulley and look for any play at all. If any play is present, the bearing is no good and must be replaced. I have included a link for you to go to down below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-squeaking-noise

Please go to it and go through the guide and get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 AT 4:13 PM
Tiny
MBPOKUSA
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for your reply. I will check them tomorrow and hopefully I will know which parts to change. I’m wondering if with the power steering pulley should it spin freely or have some tension on it?
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Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

It should have a little tension to it because it is attached to the shaft and the shaft is attached to the pump and the pump will always have fluid around it causing a little tension, but not too much.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 AT 12:50 AM
Tiny
MBPOKUSA
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Checked all pulleys. Idler and tensioner pulleys has a bad wobble. Changed idler pulley and tensioner assembly along with the belt. Problem solved. Thanks so much for the help.
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Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 AT 10:40 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,356 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Monday, April 8th, 2019 AT 12:47 PM

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