Hi ya'll! Can anyone tell me if anything can be done about a screeching car?

Question

A family member just bought a 25 year old car that screeches extremely loud, and was told that it was not the breaks. The car sat for 5 years up until now. It also needs the whole tie end rod and axle in front rebuilt. Other than that, the car is in great condition.

Answer 1

Is the screeching coming from the engine or the tires? If it's the engine then it's probably the belts or a bad pulley. If it's the tires then the suspension is really out of alignment.

Answer 2

Check the cam belt tensioner or V belt tensioner. Check the water pump, and power steering pump as well.
Which is it ??? Except for the cam belt tensioner, the other belts can be taken off and the engine run(no long term driving) without, to see if the noise is there.
I had same screech in Chev Cavalier, thought it was water pump, was cam belt tensioner. Sprayed some water down that side and the noise stopped for a minute, so first made me think V belt or water pump.

Answer 3

its hard to give a good answer with this description. does it happen at certain speeds? or is it a constant steady screech? my first thought would be to check the belts. they could be loose or just need replacing. another option to check would be the pulleys. maybe there is one that has a bad bearing. or maybe there is a pulley that is froze up causing the belt to slip. i had a pickup where the ac compressor pulley wasn't moving at all and when i started the truck it would make an ungodly screeching.

Answer 4

Screeching from under the hood is mostlikely a belt that is loose. If it can't be tightened, then it probably needs to be replaced. Before operating a car that old, that's been sitting, you should change ALL fluids, and check all the belts, brakes and hoses, including the brake hoses.