Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Fantastic Morning

well I got p at four to get to work and my car is sqeaking like there is chipmunk caught in the engine. I now a CEL.

there is 1-2 inches of snow and its probably around 15 degrees.

I'll post more once I'm home

Well I just had a fun trip to no where. I'm not getting to work for the next 2 or 3 hours...

Just tried to get to work via 97 blazer and that was no luck at all. All four tires were spinning :shooked:

Well anyway. little more detail:

Went outside to clean snow off my car and warm it up. Brushed most of the snow off and started the car. Let it idle down then turned on the headlights, defroster - 3 dot high heat, and the rear defroster. I went back outside to keep cleaning off snow and wipers. I'm banging the wipers and I hear squealling...My first thought was that the little chipmunk/squirrel thats been a PITA for the last month is trapped on top of my manifold and is scared shitless. So I pop the hood and prepare to be mauled by a rodent.

There is no rodent and the motor is sqealing, then not, sqealing, then not. I was thinking then great the belt is slipping because of cold. Well I went back into the car I was going to turn off the defroster thinking it would help if the belt slippage and bam CEL. So I immediate off the defroster and turn off the key.

It was a horrible squeal too, hence me thinking animal. I've been told if you spin a bearing you'll hear a horrible squeal before it dies. so could this be a bearing? Or I am over worrying

I plan on getting a ride to advance to pick up a obd-II scanner if I get to work.

did you try to verify were the squeal was coming from before you turned the car off?...when you opened the hood was the engine running smooth or shaking?

It sounded like from the right side, but I was to concerned about what was happening. So thats really not a definite.

I bought a code scanner, but it fails on the first click, and gives lean codes on 2nd click. I would think the lean codes are from the car being on, but not running.



Edit: Messed with OBD-II Scanner, need to read codes while car is on or on first click. Second click will give lean both sensor because of being in accesory(ie car on, but not running).

Started the car. Whining/grinding/squeal is from the passenager side. It is not as loud as before but I can still here it. It is worse with the defroster on.

Could this have something to do with pulleys?

I'm lost I don't know whether I should run my car or not

turning your car to the acc. postion will not throw anycodes,if its giving you a lean code,then thats what it is....as far as the noise it could be your powersteering pulley... or alt...

It the book it says do not use the code reader in accessory position. And the CEL was never on for those before. And a lean code has nothing to do with metal grinding noise.

Check the serpentine belt tensioner pulley and spring, it should be about half travel and the pulley bearing should be smooth turning. If the tension spring is bad or pivot is stuck, the belt will slip. Also check idler pulley near alternator and the alternator itself for binding. duratec belts is a picture of the side of the engine, might help.

I think I know which you're talking about. I'll need to take a look quick before it gets dark. I only have 30 minutes if that of day light left.

Thank god I bought more batteries for my digital camera today after work. Thought I might need them. I'll post them up on photo bucket.

Simple test... disconnect the serpantine belt.. start the car. Noise gone?

there's your problem.. belt/pulley/tensioners.
still there? look elsewhere.
a 3/8 breaker bar will loosen the tensioner enough to slip the belt off of a pulley.