Should I maim or kill?

[SilverFive]

Here we go!

90 525i (E34)

Rough start in the morning or anytime the car has been sitting for hours...then there's this hideous scraping sound as if one of the belts were loose (which we've determined are not) or the water pump or something.....(ccchooooocchooooocchhoooo) That's the sound....with a very light squeal.

It sounds as if something is sticking and changes speed upon acceleration. My mechanic just replaced a radiator hose that exploded on me a little over a week ago...and this was after I complained about the coolant light continously coming on. It takes until the temp gauge hits 1/2 way mark before the noise stops....

I did notice this sound after he replaced the water pump....and I also noticed one of the blades broken off the fan........

Am I crazy or should this be replaced automatically? The sound is embarrassing and after spending close to $1200...I'm embarrassed that this problem has not been solved. What do I need to tell him to take me seriously......

 

[Average Jae]

i have a similar issue w/ my 95 talon during a cold start. the shrieking sound is really loud, sounds like part of the engine is just going all out on a blackboard. esp during the first throttle after start up. then it disappears. (i know i should look into it, but i rarely driver her around now, so out of sight, out of mind.) but i'd like to figure out what might be cause it.

i've seen some other older cars, mostly those from early 90s to 80s that make similar sounds after a parking lot start up. anyone have answers? thanks.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Sounds like there might just be a belt loose or overly worn. It could very well be the case that the mechanic didn't tighten one of the belts enough after changing out the pump. Also, make sure the fan isn't hitting anything since you have a blade broken off.

So, did you blow a radiator hose? If so, then coolant no doubt went everywhere. If coolant got into the alternator, it can make their bearings squeal and make noise.

 

[Kirby]

A portion of the belt probably got contaminated with coolant when your hose blew, and this contamination could be causing the squeaking noise as it goes round a pulley.

The broken fan blade bothers me. It will be out of balance, and will likely cause premature bearing failure. It should be replaced.

 

[SilverFive]

Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, the hose blew about a week after I'd gotten a tune up and some other work done....the scraping noise was happening prior to that. Now that you mention it, the squeals didn't start until after the hose blew.

Once the car warms up then, boom! both the scratchy and the squeal are gone...so it only behooves me to take the car when I first start it otherwise he doesn't hear it and assumes that nothing is wrong.....

 

[SilverFive]

Is there a way to fix that....will I have to replace the alternator? Its' been a litttle over a week or so since it happened.....he replaced the hose, but the noise is still there and theres a hint of smelling antifreeze....when the car is warmed up....

 

[Wadula]

as jrt67... already mentioned it, this sounds like a loose belt or worn one. my guess, as you already checked the belts, is the tensioner of the belt. i once had a car that was making the same noise and whatever we did (replaced the belt, used chemicals that normally help, tightened it...), nothing helped. then finally by accident we found out that the bearing of the tensioner was going bad. we had it replaced and all was fine.

the smell of your coolant is not uncommon i guess. i did not have thta before, but think about how long oil can last smelling in the engine bay...the liquid got all over the place at the blow and now is litterally burning off when the engine gets warm...i do not really believe this indicates another problem.

 

[SilverFive]

Thanks for the reply. I'll mention it when I take it in......

I love this board!