1999 Grand AM GT with continuous high noise

[ClemsonKitten]

Okay, I love older cars, but lack some (a lot) mechanical technology. and yeah 1999 isn't old, yet. I'm a chick that is capable, willing and glad to work on her car. My Baby decided a few months to act like one. The moment I start the car, I hear this high squeal... air or no air on - same sound. Sounds higher, to me, if I accelerate, but never goes away, even when idle (unless I turn up the radio). High enough that people look when I'm driving down the street. I had some leaks with oil and antifreeze that have been fixed. Put new tires on it (still less than 10K to 100,000 on the odometer). I WD-40 anything that should have been and look for things that were obviously "not right". This noise is definitely something under the hood... alternator? harmonic balancer? I've had others look at it, but nobody can give me a for certain without a lot of money and a "it could be"... I'm figuring I will have to pay for someone to "look at it and fix it" but does anybody have any suggestions of what it could be and the part cost? I'm always use to going in to a situation knowing at least more than 50% of the outcome with cars or houses, but this one had me blind. HELP! And THANKS!

 

[melsg5]

Take a length of rubber hose and hold one end near your ear and carefully move the other end around different areas of the engine till you locate the source of the sound. The other thing is find a shop that has an automotive stethescope.

 

[Kevlar]

The stethoscope is invaluable for pin-pointing or norrowing down the source of the noise, but forgive me, I have to ask the obvious question; have you confirmed that it is not your serpentine belt? Another possibilty is the idler pulley may have worn. Is it a metal on metal srcreech or squeal?

 

[Kevlar]

I have a 96 with the 3.1L V6, the belt is a pain to remove, even with the right tools, but it would be valuable for you to be able to replace yours. Get yourself a service manual if you don't already have one. Remove your belt so that you can check it for wear and also turn the various pulleys by hand, they should all turn smoothly and easily. If one feels rough and/or makes a scraping sound when turned by hand, you've probably found the culprit.

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[Kevlar]

Oh, the main crank pulley will not turn by hand. (sorry)

 

[Twinpilot001]

just a thought here=?? since u say u wd-40 everything????????????? did you wd- any areas of the belts=?? where they run?? yet a good mechanic shop ????????? should be able to tell you EXACTLY!! what it is & give a =WRITTEN!! estimate to repair that noise!! I would also look @ the entier air intake system - air filter areas & make sure the parts are correctly assembled!! Noise in past has been found there!!

 

[richardgriese]

@Twinpilot001, Yes a good shop should be able to tell you what it is; if she hit the belt it would be slick but it should have thrown all of that off.

@Clemsonkitten, report back. As kevlar stated, sounds like a worn belt or pulley. Mel always has good suggestions as does kevlar.

@kevlar, your '96, did it have that engine mount on the passenger side that needs to be removed before you can replace the belt? Maybe we under estimate her strength; perhaps she can turn the harmonic balancer.

 

[Kevlar]

Yes Richard, the dreaded upper engine mount! It's a bit tricky the first time or two but once you've figured it out, just an annoyance.

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[Kevlar]

Though, for ClemsonKitten, if yours also has the upper engine mount, you can take the belt off to inspect it and free up/test the pulleys without removing the belt completely. If the belt is good, no need to replace.