First it starts with a horrible squealing from the front around 2500-3000 if I got up there slowly, or right away if I floored it, sounded like a loose belt, so I checked, tighted up the alt. belt a bit, the rest were all tight and in good condition. So I'm driving carefully and the squealing slowly gets to lower and lower RPM's. Finally its now squealing at 1500, no matter how slowly I bring it up there. On top of that the damn thing won't pull over 3000 or 2500 depending on the gear. The shifter boot & stick I noticed feel a lot hotter than usual yet the engine temp is normal. To add to all this crap I've got hardly any oil pressure (just barely above the red), I checked the oil and its full. This all happened over the course of the last 24 hours and I'm pissed!

I just went out, started it up and took the air cleaner off and revved it by hand and listened for where the sound was comming from and it sounded like it was comming from the drivers side bank of the engine... what the hell could it be? fried piston ring? something w/ the lifters? someone help!

oh yeah, and I took for a drive earlier today and oil pressure was back to normal

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1986 Z28 LG4 M5
Alpine 6x9's 2 10" MTX Thunder 4000's MTX Thunder 102 Amp Hooker Aero-Chamber Cat-Back

 

i would find out why so low oil pressure first. check the sensor located on the block

 

You need to try and locate the source of the sound a little better. I would try and take the belts off one at a time and see if the noise is still there. If you take a belt off and the noise goes away, then check the component the belt drives. Could be a bad smog pump, water pump, A/C compressor or alternator. If you take all the belts off and the noise is still there, then it could be a spun rod or main bearing. Often times rod bearings will squeal like a loose belt. If you still have the smog pump, my money would be on it.

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If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
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GM Master Tech
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'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
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Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
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SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
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Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

would a bad accesory bearing cause it to not rev past 3K though? I was thinking maybe the alternator could do it... if the belt was slipping maybe it wasn't getting enough power for a good spark, but the volt gauge inside doesn't change at all when it starts squealing. I also don't think the smog pump would be the culprit since I've seen/read about tons of people that have removed them... grr, I really hope it isn't a main or rod bearing...

 

Probably not, but you may as well rule out the easy stuff before digging into the engine.
Anytime I chase an engine noise, I remove the belt and unbolt the torque converter. (you'd be surprised the noise a torque converter could make, its fooled me a couple times).


------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes
Summit 1-5/8" headers, 2.5" Dynomax catback.

Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

It probably is headlights, make sure all the belts are attached to the headlight lens covers protectors dodads are tight and functional. Or maybe, as said before, it could be the fact that you are low on the turn signal fluid in the relay and/or you need to purge it of are in the long skinny tubs running to and fro from the signals and switch in the drivers compartment some people like to call the interior. Check both.

[This message has been edited by camaro6spd (edited July 01, 2001).]

 

Well, it'd be nicer if that were helpful at all, but it'd also be nice if your bull**** reponse actually made any sense. Get a life.

 

hey, whoa, I was just f'n around. Christ somepeople don't know how to take a joke.

[This message has been edited by camaro6spd (edited July 01, 2001).]

 

Alternators tend to squeal when the bearings are going out.. And it COULD cause the car to have problems reving up very high.. the bearings shot out the back of my distributor and cut the engine off because the car didn't have the power to turn it. I thought my engine locked up at first.

In any event, it's worth a shot. Take the belt off the alternator and see how easy it is to turn it.

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89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

dude, he probably got defensive b/c his car is broken! time and place for f'in around, that was neither.

Anthony

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previous ride: 87 Camaro LT
350, A4.Comp Cams 268H, Edelbrock Preformer intake, Hedman Headers and y-pipe, gutted cat, No AIR/smog pump. 14x3" Open element K&N, Q-jet w/ D hanger and DA rods, adjusted AV spring tension and quick can.

Current ride: 1992 Camaro RS, K&N, Flowmaster, 305, T5, Black, T-tops, 76k miles.

 

I've seen this problem a few times, although the culprit was a locked up (yes, locked up) alternator. Seen a water pump do that, too. Locks up solid and will not turn so the belt squeals going over a non-rotating accessory pulley. Causes alot of drag. Hard to say. I agree with GM Tech, take the belts off, just today I found my friends '89 IROC had a bad smog pump, he thought he lost a rod bearing. Could be alot of stuff, but check the simple stuff first...nothing feels dumber than to pull a motor only to find the problem was something small. Good luck finding your problem.