I jinxed myself, if it's not one thing... Options

[Jenny]

it's another. Finally got the car in a very decent shape, and all stoked about the upcoming breakfast. Driving it today on the freeway, and I hear a screech. then nothing. I thought maybe it was the radio. But on my way home on surface streets, the screeching is back, louder and much more frequent. I'd describe it like brakes that screech, but instead of it happening when I'm braking, it's when the car's going. I hear it in the lower 3 gears. But that may just be because the engine noise is too loud in 4 & 5 for me to hear. The screeching is repetitive, slowly at first, then more frequent the faster I go. Which makes me think it's something to do with the wheels. I've had bad bearings clunking before. This doesn't sound like it. This is like screech..... screech...... screech.....screech..screech.. screech. schreeeeeeeeech the faster I go. But it happens when I'm cruising up to a red light as well. I haven't been able to figure out if it's doing it during acceleration or braking. It's not favoring either.

Any ideas on where to start? I've checked the bolts to make sure they're on tight. Right when i got home, I checked each wheel for smoke or burning smells, etc.. Nada. Front wheels are hot, but that's the brakes, right?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

Jen

[redshift]

It stays about the same pitch, but it just happens faster?



M

[Jenny]

Yeah, same pitch. Think squeaky brake pads. But times 10.

Jen

[skline]

If it is not when braking but accelerating, My first guess would be throwout bearing. Easy fix, just time consuming.

[redshift]

After a couple rainy days, my car does something similar.

Then it goes away.


M

[drew365]

How about a loose alternator belt?
I always forget, was Screech on "Saved by the Bell" of "Welcome Back Kotter"? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[redshift]

Mine sounds like a rear wheel bearing.

Saved by the Bell... I am pretty sure. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)


M

[McMark]

"Saved By The Bell" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

My first thought was alternator belt, but it sounds like maybe she's describing a much louder sound. The key to the solution is figuring out was actions cause the screeching. Is it under acceleration or constant speed? Etc?

[Jenny]

I want to say acceleration, but I also heard it while cruising up to an intersetion. Definitely not constant speed. The sound goes away then. But I hear it accelerating and braking.

Jen

[redshift]

If it's like mine, it happens even when the clutch is disengaged.. rolling..

If it's not like my problem, well hell, it could be nearly anything else.

Mine starts at around 30, and no matter how hard I run the car, remains mostly the same, maybe a little more frequency, until the car slows below around 30 again..



M

[drew365]

QUOTE (McMark @ May 24 2005, 09:20 PM)

"Saved By The Bell" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

I knew that, I was just seeing if anyone was awake. Bueller, anyone? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)

[Jenny]

QUOTE (redshift @ May 24 2005, 09:22 PM)

If it's like mine, it happens even when the clutch is disengaged.. rolling..

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

[ThinAir]

If it's the alternator belt then the noise will be there when you rev the engine with the car sitting still and the transmission in neutral, right? If that doesn't sqeek, then put the clutch in and try it again. If it sqeeks then, doesn't that make it the throwout bearing?

If it doesn't do it with either of these when the car is still then it sounds like something in the brakes or wheels because they are what move when the car is moving.

[redshift]

Well, then I guess it can't be the other things!

Jen, I dropped mine off with a rocket scientist, and told him about the problem, and he replaced my front wheel bearings, and the next day it was no different.

So, just to make that clear, the mechanic I used is a dope.


M

[Eric Taylor]

I know this sounds stupid but it happened to me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif).I'm in the audi it starts making this horriable noise that woud go away and come back. I'm thinking great I hate this f-ing car it always breaks and i'm with my girlfriend on a trip. So I think about it logically and take it to schwab as the calipers were just replaced. The girlfriend and I go run off and um pass the time you could say and when we come back I tell the guy I've got a white audi and ask if it's done. He throw's me the key's with this thing attached and says " your car got stoned". What? Well their is this little pebble attached to the paper which I guess got caught between the caliper and the rotor. What a relief, made a nice and shiney little pebble too (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) Anyway I guess you never know and if it came on all of a sudden, could be something simple. Think positive right? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)
Eric

[redshift]

My gut tells me it's in my rear passenger brake thingy area...

Jen, get it making noise, and drive by a wall, or have someone listen for the noise... my friend told me it's from the rear end, he couldn't tell which side.

Excellent advice Eric! That could explain why mine seems to only do it after a couple rainy days.. my drive is covered with crushed stone about the right size to do that exact thing. I'll look.


M

[Jenny]

It only happens when the car's in motion. So probably not the alt. belt, and probably not the throwout bearings (I don't even know what those do (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) )

Brad didn't do any thing to my suspension or wheels, so this is probably a problem that's been building up over time.

Jen

[Jenny]

sounds like the rear pass side to me, but I had the driver's side window down only. I'll try it tomorrow, but I'm hesitant to drive it and break it anymore than it's already broken!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)

Jen

[redshift]

Or, it could be a rock, or some other debris, as Eric said..

The rear clearancing issues.. it could be something that was just waiting to happen..

If you worry about breaking the car, never drive!



M

[Eric Taylor]

QUOTE (Jenny @ May 24 2005, 09:33 PM)

not the throwout bearings (I don't even know what those do (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) )

Applys and removes the pressure from the clutch via the presure plate. It's the thing attached to the other end of clutch cable basically. It's on the input shaft and the shaft spins around inside it. Could make a nice high pitched whine if it's wearing out or not properly lubed. I always thought that you knew when one was going if it whined when you engaged and disengaged the clutch. Is this true?
Eric