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Squeaking noise

Tiny
ROSY SCALZITTI
  • MEMBER
  • PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
I have a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville. It is a 3800 supercharged 6 cylinder with 106,000 miles. I just bought it used in May. About a month later, I hear a squeaking sound when the engine is running. It sounds like it could be coming from the AC compressor or harmonic balance area. I have a brand new belt on teh car. I am having a problem locating the noise. It is a high pitched squeak that comes and goes when it wants. I noticed this week since it is a little cooler it hasn't happend when I drove it. But other times the more I drive the lounder and longer the squeaking lasts. It is very emabarrasing. Is there a problem with harmonic balancers, that you know of? When I turned on the AC compressor clutch the noise remained. I don't think it is the AC.
Any input would be awesome. I love this car but am embarrased to drive it.
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Monday, September 10th, 2007 AT 2:52 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
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Next time it happens, take off the oil filler cap and see if it changes. These have a pcv valve problem with o-rings.
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Monday, September 10th, 2007 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
DSHAW
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I have the exact same problem. I have replaced the serp. Belt with no success. It sounds like its comming from the left side of motor (if facing the car). I have gone as far as taking off the serp belt, starting the car for only a few minutes, the sound went away, so I know its not internal. Have you had any problems with your power steering, I was told by a friend it might be the power steering pump going bad. The noise seems to be worse when I drive for longer periods of time in warmer weather. I have sprayed lubricant over all moving parts, and even bought some belt reconditionor tried rubbing that on, nothing works. One morning my power steering went out for only a minute but came right back on and hasent gone out since. I have done a complete tune up including sparkplugs, wires, egr, pcv, air filter, gas filter. I hope someone out there has a solution.
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 AT 8:49 PM
Tiny
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That's good you narrowed it down to the belt/pulley area. When the belt was off did you spin each pulley? You can sometimes feel roughness in a bearing by doing this. Also feel for any play in the bearing by rocking it perpendicular to the bearing.

Another tip will should help is to use a stethescope, (You can also use a 2 foot prypar or screw driver with a plastic handle. Put your ear right on the heandle end after you have placed the tip as close to each pulley housing) to pick up the roar of the bearings, the loudest one is usually the problem.

Check to make sure the belt tensioner isn't weak or cocked. You can see the gap where the tensioner body mounts to the block. It should be equal.
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Thursday, September 20th, 2007 AT 3:56 AM
Tiny
DSHAW
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Thanks for your reply
Yes I turned every moving part when I took off the belt and didnt feel any tension or bearings freezing up on me, all were pretty smooth and spun around freely. When I use a long screwdriver to hear and pinpoint where the problem is it sounds like its comming from the lower left hand side of the pulleys if im facing the dead on. When the power steering pump goes bad on these cars I thought would hear more of a winding sound when you turn the car left or right not a squeeking sound, but Im not a professional Pont mechanic so I dont know for sure.L I suspect It might be my power steering pump eventhough it is not burning any fluid (its full of power steering fluid) no leaks, and no winding sound, but the steering did go out for about 30 seconds a couple of mornings ago when I first started the car. It hasent completly gone out since, but it has been tuff to turn left or right a couple of times after the car has warmed up and been running a while. Its doesnt go completly out but I noticed a coulple of times pullling into a parking lot my steering was a little tougher than usual. Sorry to type on, just trying to give as much info as possible. I know I have a valve leaking internally in the engine, its burning oil, and I get smoke out of tailpipe on cold starts, not leaking at all though. And my engine light, will come on sparatically with a egr code (which I just replaced wth a AC delco new one) and cylinder 4 misfire ( were I suspect my valve leak to be) Its had a complete tune up.
Thanks for your time
DShaw
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Monday, September 24th, 2007 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
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The stiff cold steering problem point to the rack being bad. As the fluid heats up, seals swell and pressure can then be created.

By chance are you losing any coolant?
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Monday, September 24th, 2007 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
DSHAW
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Should I go ahead and replace the power steering pump? At this point it would be worth the money to spend on a new pump, than hear that damn squeeking sound anymore.
Im not loosing any coolant, very litlle if any, I drive around a 100 miles a day, and havent had to add coolant for about 2 months, and thats just topping it off.
Hey I greatly appreciate your advise
Dan
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Thursday, September 27th, 2007 AT 6:32 PM
Tiny
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There are a couple things I would do first. Take a bottle of water and spray the belt both sides and see if the noise stops temporarily. If not, use can of penetrant and very briefly blast a shot to the inside, wait and then the outside of the belt. Sometimes water will flush out the noise, sometimes penetrant will. Penetrant can make the belt flip off, that is why I say breif shot.

If nothing changes, pick up a bottle of lucas power steering additive, sometimes I have had this help. Sometimes not.

Since I can't hear the noise It's hard to say what is the source. If the pump is the whine it may be a symptom of a fluid restrction, possible from the rack. Rack sounds like it may be a problem from the stiffness when cold.

The reason I ask about the coolant has nothing to do with your problem. The 3800 are infamous for intake manifold going bad and loss of coolant is not a good sign for then.
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Friday, September 28th, 2007 AT 5:59 AM

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