97 Trans Am Noisy below 1800RPM

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97transamftw

I just got my 97 Trans Am, when I was test driving it I noticed a screetching noise coming from the engine, it seemed like a loose belt at the time and the owner said it had started about a week ago. Well now it's gotten pretty annoing here's what happens.

At a cold start there is no sound whatsoever. Once the engine warms up a bit the noise begins and sounds like it's in sync with the engine.

Once the engine is plenty warm the noise is quite annoying. Then when the engine goes above about 1800 RPM the noise goes away, then as the RPM drops below 1800 the noise starts again.

Anyone have any clue what's going on? I've had two knowledgeable car people look at it, and one said it was probably a bearing, the other said it was the harmonic balancer. Either way the noise seems to be coming from somewhere in the belt line. Any suggestions would be appreciated, also what's the cost of replacing a harmonic balancer? Should I go to a dealership mechanic shop or a local mechanic shop?
 
97transamftw said:
I just got my 97 Trans Am, when I was test driving it I noticed a screetching noise coming from the engine, it seemed like a loose belt at the time and the owner said it had started about a week ago. Well now it's gotten pretty annoing here's what happens.

At a cold start there is no sound whatsoever. Once the engine warms up a bit the noise begins and sounds like it's in sync with the engine.

Once the engine is plenty warm the noise is quite annoying. Then when the engine goes above about 1800 RPM the noise goes away, then as the RPM drops below 1800 the noise starts again.

Anyone have any clue what's going on? I've had two knowledgeable car people look at it, and one said it was probably a bearing, the other said it was the harmonic balancer. Either way the noise seems to be coming from somewhere in the belt line. Any suggestions would be appreciated, also what's the cost of replacing a harmonic balancer? Should I go to a dealership mechanic shop or a local mechanic shop?
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Ok, Id say its one of the belts, one reason, a harmonic balancer when it goes, it doesnt make a screeching sound, it makes like a ting ting metal on metal sound. Ive blown 2 in my time with these cars, 2 you mentioned when it is cold it is quiet, thats because, when things are cold, they expand, so when the belt warms up, it is looser and has movement to it, when the engine spins faster than 1800 rpm, it is spinning fast enough to creat tention on the belts and pulleys to make it tight again. If its not a loose belt, then it will be one of the pulleys, for the same reason as it would be a belt. Check the belts when they are cold, then hot for tention, see the difference, if the belts are ok, then check the pulleys. Try and tighten the pulley by loosening the alternator, and wrenching on it tell it is really tight, then try it. I only say the alternator, because, in my expereince thats usually what makes a loose belt because there is only 2 bolts keeping it there and will loosen with time. Good luck. keep us informed on the progress.
 
I put a new belt on and the noise stopped, for a while anyways, now once the car is at normal temp, the noise tends to occur every once in a while, like a soft squeek.
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Thats not bad at all, just try and tighten the belt a little more, its new so it will break in a bit, that should fix it permanatly then.
 
Doesn't a 97 have a serpentine belt? If so then I would say it sounds like the idler/tensioner pulley. I know g.m. has had problems with them. On my 2001 tahoe I have replaced it 3 times.
 
well I kept the belt on for about a week then the noise returned, but not as bad, then yesterday I replaced the tensioner pulley assembly and the problem was still there. Finally I took it to a mechanic, he installed a different belt and the problem thus far has gone away, I took the belt back and got a refund, hopefully the sound stops this time.
 
well, after taking it to the mechanic they put a different belt on and that's all i know of, the next day the sound was back and worse this time as it made the noise during accelerating rather than ideling, so monday morning i'm taking it back again to have them either do something or get my money back
 
Shitty deal. I dont really know without hearing it then, It has to be somthing to do with the pulleys then, not the belt. Take it to another shop, have them look at it, dont tell them you were at the other shop, then if they fix it, then you bring that bill to the first shop, show it to them, and get your refund back on what they "did" the first time. At least that way, youll know if they are being honest with you or just trying to use you fr more money.
 
I took powerwasher to the serpentine area to clean off all of the belt dressing gunk, then the sound got really loud, loud enough to see where it was coming from, it turns out that the belt is slipping from the crankshaft pulley or harmonic balancer, i looked at it and found that it was very rusted, so I took a wire brush to the whole thing and cleaned it off, the problem has since then gone away, hopefully it never comes back.
 
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