1995 Geo Prism, not in good shape, 112k miles. Started hearing a low squealing from under the hood that gradually grew louder over a few blocks. It was different and new from any of the other typical noises that come from the car, so I turned to head back home, and just after I did so the battery light came on and my power steering went out, and then the squealing became a very loud high-pitched squeal. I parked the car briefly and turned it off. After a few minutes, I started the car again, the power steering was back but the very loud high-pitched squeal continued as I made my way home. When I got home later that day, there was a puddle of something under the car. We've since started the car to move it in the driveway, and it still starts and still squeals. Any ideas? It's not worth it for us to fix it, but we're having a salvage company come out tomorrow and I want to know if it's totally junked or just needs a belt replaced, to get an idea of its value. Thanks in advance!
2006-07-24 10:06:24 · 7 answers · asked by SDC0422 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Forgot to mention - it had been intermittently overheating previous to this incident.
2006-07-24 12:00:08 · update #1
I'm going with a bad belt for the power steering and alternator.....Probably the water pump too! The squealing is from too much friction between the pulley system and the motor. i.e. the belt is going bad. Hopefully it is the serpentine belt as opposed to something real expensive.
Get it to someone who can look under hood. The liquid is probably from your overflow bottle. Don't drive it till someone looks under the hood.
You should only spend $50-75 on parts. A nice dinner for the boyfriend to replace the belt. If it is more than $250 to fix anything on your car you must consider letting the old girl go in my opinion.
2006-07-24 10:11:35 · answer #1 · answered by John Q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your definetely gonna need a belt! As for the squeal, it was probably from a siezed up pulley. The liquid is probably coolant form the car overheating, or from the power steering pump.
2006-07-24 18:54:44 · answer #2 · answered by blacksrt4acr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey, i had that same problem b-4- with my firebird, and it ended up being that my power stering hose was leaking, so there was no pressure with the stering system & how i notice it was leaking, there was power sterring fluid all over the drivers side under the hood and some in the belt wich was making it squeal.
p.s. also u might want to check u'r water pump, check for wetness around it, although it may look dry but u can still tell there was liquid around it., and or u'r water pump pulley,
hope this helps, wish u the best.
2006-07-24 17:26:08 · answer #3 · answered by JHONNY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It probably needs a serpentine belt. This belt runs through your entire engine around the water pump, alternator, and power steering pump. It costs around $30-100
2006-07-24 17:10:52 · answer #4 · answered by geewhizbaby2008 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have something seized. could be the water pump, the power steering pump , the alternator or most likely the air conditioning pump. if its the A/C pump you just need to buy a belt without A/C and run it as if it doesnt have A/C. good luck, check all of this everyone else is wrong.
2006-07-24 17:13:12 · answer #5 · answered by askmike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Major Belt problem!!!
2006-07-24 17:11:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
check the lower engine pulley on the crankshaft
2006-07-24 17:28:13 · answer #7 · answered by raiderpt1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋