squealing like a pig

October 19, 2006 7:10 PM

Car-filter: There is something squealy and squeeking on my automobile-type machine. Help clueless person.

It is not the brakes. Or I don't think it is. Previously when I've had squeaky brakes (i.e. brake pads or whatever) the brakes squeaked when I pressed the pedal and actually used the brakes. This is not the case. Now, I get squealing/squeeking when accelerating! Occasionally, I think that the squealing might be happening when I release the brakes, but maybe my car is just messing with me. It has gotten worse over the last few weeks, and definitely seems worse after a ride on the highway. Taking it in tomorrow, but just wondering...brakes? Or something serious? Like, is the axle of the wheel gonna fall off on the way to the mechanic? Will I die? Should I definitely be taking this beast off the road?
(A '92 Acura Integra if that means anything.)

posted by typewriter to travel & transportation (15 comments total)

Sounds like a loose belt. Easily and cheaply fixed.
posted by autojack at 7:20 PM on October 19, 2006

i second that. It could also be something to do with the air-con, although that is a guess.
posted by graytona at 7:22 PM on October 19, 2006

Umm. Loose belt. I'm trying here, autojack. (See? You have a user name like autojack. mine is typewriter. there is a reason for this.) I'm gonna take a stabbing guess... Fan belt?

graytona - (see? user name graytona!) No AC in this car for many years!
posted by typewriter at 7:31 PM on October 19, 2006

If the brakes squeak when you're not pressing them it's probably the wear indicator letting you know that it's time to replace the pads.
posted by jclovebrew at 7:33 PM on October 19, 2006

You should be okay until tomorrow. Like autojack said, it's probably a belt. Should be a relatively cheap repair. Do you ever smell burning rubber?
posted by MegoSteve at 7:35 PM on October 19, 2006

What jclovebrew said.... the brake pads are always pretty close to the drum, even when not being pressed, and you'll get all kinds of weird squealing even when the brake pedals aren't being pressed. Fortunately changing brake pads is almost as easy as changing oil.

The belt is the other suspicion, but probably not if the pattern of the squeak tends to vary with the car's wheel rotation/braking rather than being sort of constant during the intervals where it squeaks.
posted by chef_boyardee at 8:01 PM on October 19, 2006

Thank you all for general education and assurances that I probably will survive the short trip to mechanic's!

Mego Steve: No strange smells like rubber. Does bad rubber smell mean brakes or belt?

At the mechanic's tomorrow, I'm going to be all...is it the brakes or maybe the belt? (just for my small amusement, because I actually had a very shitty week and I'll take amusement however I can get it.) Sounds like not too dire or expensive. Yah!
posted by typewriter at 8:58 PM on October 19, 2006

Bad rubber smell would mean a belt (or at least, belt and not brakes), since that's what belts are made of. I'm not a car expert or a mechanic, but that squealing sound you are describing sounds like what happens when a loose belt slips against the pulleys.

I guess it boils down to how the squeaking sounds... is it like the squeaking sound of people playing basketball with their rubber sneaker soles scuffing against a wooden court, or is it more like the metal against metal squeal you get when it's time to put in new brake pads?

In either case, your car isn't going to blow up and leave you horribly disfigured, nor will you have to junk the car based on this one thing.
posted by MegoSteve at 9:36 PM on October 19, 2006

Unless you have an established relationship with your mechanic, don't ask if it's the brakes or the belt. That's pretty much telling the guy that he can charge you whatever he wants. Just say, "I hear a squealing, would you check my belts?" and then come back when he's done.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 9:50 PM on October 19, 2006

typewriter: Brake squealing is a somewhat loud metal on metal scraping sound. A belt squealing is usually louder, and doesn't have that same "scraping" quality that brakes do.

Any indicator lights on in your car? I'm tempted to say alternator belt, which could impact the charging system leaving you with a dead battery.
posted by knave at 10:10 PM on October 19, 2006

To tell if it's a belt - start the engine, turn on the air conditioner (if you have one) lift the bonnet (hood) - assuming the squealing is noticeable when the car is idling pour water on each of the belts - if the squeeling goes away then the belt problem is obvious. Try and get the car to reproduce the squeal

Squealing could also be a bearing in your water pump (fairly common source of squeals), which isn't trivial, but it's not overly expensive or difficult for a mechanic to fix (maybe $200/300).

Alternatively, look for a pig wedged beneath the car - I've heard this also tends to produce squealing sounds.
posted by strawberryviagra at 12:31 AM on October 20, 2006

Hmm - I never finished "try and get the car to reproduce the squeal..." before I posted. What I meant to say here was - if you can't get the car to reproduce the squeal at idle, have someone accelerate for you, or go out on the freeway and then do the above test (somewhere safe, obviously, not on the freeway).

Changing belts is pretty straightforward for many cars - to let one snap can have both dangerous (power steering) and deleterious consequences (overheating) for your car if you don't quickly replace them, however.
posted by strawberryviagra at 12:36 AM on October 20, 2006

just had a VERY similar problem. it was my rear brake that had almost worn down. it squeaked constantly, and stopped when i braked.

booked it in for a full service and to find out what it was - which the dude did. he clipped off the offending piece if metal so that it wont do it for the moment - giving me a chance to buy and fit new pads (and discs actually) without going insane from teh squeak.
posted by lemonfridge at 4:04 AM on October 20, 2006

Could be a belt, as mentioned; I have a 1992 accord, and there is a reported issue with the bearings in the alternator, so it's possible it is that; it is annoying, but only when the radio's off, heh.

This could mean that your alternator is working harder than usual, meaning you could have a short, a drain of sorts, or maybe your battery is nearing the end of its life; let us know what you discover.
posted by AllesKlar at 6:46 AM on October 20, 2006

There are quite a few parts in the car with the ability to squeal. The precise sound of the squealing will tell a trained mechanic volumes about it. Some common squeaks I've found before:

Squealing brakes sound like a metallic screeching that generally gets louder when you brake. This usually means just replacing the brake pads but if the car is older you may also need to have the rotors turned or replace them. Brakes can make all kinds of other noise, but you can usually tell from the location of the sound (near a wheel). If left too long, the screeching becomes a rumbling, grinding noise and then you will definitely need to replace the rotors.

Squealing wheel bearings are another common problem in older cars. This is usually a fairly quiet, very high pitched intermittent squeak that can change when accelerating, braking, or turning. Wheel bearings that squeak eventually need to be replaced, but the sound will get much, much worse before they really need replacing. Wait until it sounds like a Boeing 747 idling just off the passenger side before doing anything about it.

By far the most common squeak/squeal/screech is a loose belt. When I saw your post, this was the first thing to come to mind. It has a very familiar, loud sound that comes directly out of the engine compartment. It is usually somewhat rhythmic, and can be also be a chirping noise. Belt noise will almost always change with engine speed and load. A belt squeaks because the rubber is sliding against the metal pulley. Belts squeak for several reasons, must often because the rubber is worn and simply needs to be replaced. Visually inspect the belts while the car isn't running. Press down on each belt; maunfacturers specs vary but a good rule of thumb is this: If there is 12 inches or less of space between the pulleys, it should deflect between 1/8" and 3/8", if more than 12" between pulleys it should deflect between 3/8" and 5/8". If the belts appear torn, split, cracked, frayed, glazed, or have teeth missing, it is time to replace the belt. You will want to inspect as much of the belt as possible. Replacing belts is easy and fairly inexpensive. I generally encourage replacing all the belts at once, as they usually have similar lifespans, but if one belt looks shot and the others look fine, just do the one. If the belts aren't worn, they could simply be too loose, or the pulley could have become much more difficult to turn (such as a bad alternator or power steering pump) in which case the engine has plenty of torque to turn the belt but the belt isn't strong enough to turn the other end of the pulley. If this is the problem and you don't do anything, your belts will squeak more and more as time goes on, and eventually the belt will break, causing some amount of havoc under the hood.

If you intend to perform regular maintenance and repair on your car, I strongly suggest investing in a repair manual such as Haynes or Chilton's. This will greatly help you as you familiarize yourself with what goes on under the hood and should include important information like how to much to tension the belts, which belts go where, etc.

Good luck!
posted by leapfrog at 10:03 AM on October 20, 2006