Driving home from work yesterday I took off from a stop and my car started to squeel. Wasn't doing it without giving it gas at first but today you can hear it slightly with just idle. The belts don't seem lose or to be making any noise so I'm wondering if my water pump bearing could be going out any suggestions on where to start the trouble shoot the noise and best way to check if indeed it is the water pump failing? 1978 el camino 305 cid no smog runnin dual belts... thanks for any help

 

If you can't pinpoint which pulley is binding, take the belts off and freewheel the pulleys by hand and see if any are binding. While it could be the water pump, other indicators are overheating,coolant loss through the weep hole, coolant loss. Good luck.

 

Thank you I will start with that.

 

Please also go into your USERCP and update your vehicle information. If you look on the left under my username, you'll see what I mean. It'll help us greatly since we'll know what year/model your vehicle is.

Does it only squeal under acceleration? Or when the car is started?

 

When the bearing goes bad on water pump it will leak water from the weep hole on the bottom. Some times it’s a lot and some time is just a drip.


Also either get yourself a "mechanics stethoscope" or a piece of hose long enough to reach each piece you’re listening to. Touch one end to any unit and the other to your ear. You should be able to pinpoint the right one.


This is a really a nice tool to have = http://www.autozone.com/test-scan-an...ope/70131_0_0/

 

Could also be the fan clutch.

 

I forgot that some of these cars came with a clutch fan. Good call Sofa.

 

spray each pulley with a little bit of wd40 or something, if the squeal goes away when you spray one then you know where the leak is. the weep hole leak is the number one thing to look for if suspecting your water pump is going