Whats wrong with my car? (Mechanic Help Thread)

So I am starting this thread for people who are having problems with their car. People who know a thing or two about cars can help out and trouble shoot. When posting the question, make sure you put in details, like things that are already broken that may be causing the problem. Also, put the specs of your car so people who want to help know and don't have to ask. Use this as a template:

Brand:
Model:
Year:
Engine:

So here goes the first question:

Brand: Pontiac
Model: Sunfire
Year: 1999
Engine: 2.2L SFI 4-Cylinder

Today I started my car and I could hear a whining noise that wasn't previously there. When I revved up the engine, the noised changed pitch with the engine. My oil levels are fine. My air conditioning fan does not work, but its been like that since I bought it. I have not heard this sound before. No lights pop up on the dash, so I am assuming its nothing too bad?

 

that sounds like an old belt is all. I think.


My 1985 300zx idles at 2000rpm when it's cold. Is it supposed to? It sounds awful.

 

When I got my oil changed around 2500 miles ago, they said the belt looked very good. I am wondering if the air conditioning fan crank is seized. Cause then the belt would just be rubbing over it and not turning it, wearing out the belt. Hmmm...

Here may be an answer to your question:

When an engines cold some of the atomized fuel condenses onto the cold metal in the intake rather than getting into the cylinder,this makes the fuel/air ratio weak,that's why cars used to have choke and now fuel injection control to provide a temporary enrichment.Once the engine heats up this isn't needed.

 

i was thinking one of your belt tensioners could be seized up but i think there would be smoke and smell. I don't know if the bearing in the tensioners are known to make squeaking noises when they're going bad though. I don't think they do but you could take a listen i guess.

 

A few cars do detect changes in temperature and adjust their idle points accordingly. My corsa when started on a chilly morning will idle at 1200rpm for a minute or 2 while the engine temperature approaches normal and then goes back to its usual 750rpm. Stick the car in the warm somewhere and see if it does it again. Otherwise it might need ODB hooking up to actually diagnose what the hell is going on.

 

i meant cold in the sense of a cold start. It does it every time.

It also idles at like 1100 normally but that's ok because under that it kind of loses all oil pressure gonna need a rebuild soon

 

A/c pump clutches like to go out on those GM products from what I've seen. It will produce a metal grinding noise, getting worse the more you run it obviously.

All vehicles with ECU fuel and spark control will do this.

 

Sounds to me like the power steering pump, those 2.2L OHC had terrible steering pump problems. Similar to the trailblazers with the V6, they always had a loud wining noise that would get even louder when you turn the wheel and accelerate, the sound follows the rpms

 

Michael, I agree that it sounds like a power steering pump if there isn't any obvious smell or smoke associated with extreme friction from a seized up part. And for the idling problem person who'd name escapes me because I can't see it while replying.... Idling high from a cold start is pretty normal in order to get the engine to a more optimal temp.... However, a loss of oil pressure is not..... That honestly could be a number of things... The best thing I can't think of is a Warner's piston or cylinder walls that are scored really bad... :/ unless your exhaust doesn't have white smoke. At that point I'd just be looking really hard for metal shavings in the oil when you change it. Or if you're really feeling up to it, take the oilman off so you can get a good look at the crankshaft and connecting rods. And see if there's anything in the oil pan that shouldn't be:/

EDIT: moosedicks was who I was looking for!

 

Haha the way i drive it if the bearings were shot they'd be hella shot and knocking hard by now. Oil is clean and it doesn't even burn very much. I used to think it burned oil but i found out it was pissing it out the oil pressure sensor as i drove. Probably from the -10f cold starts where the oil pressure went to 90psi

 

Ohhhhh THAT cold? Wow.... Maybe it's just a relativity thing then? When it's that cold the oil could be more viscous and hard to push around leading to a higher pressure reading. Then when it warms up it gets more fluid so the pressure drops that's the best thing I can think of if there's no other symptoms hahaha once you get below 20 or 10F cars start to do some odd things on startup. If its below 30 my f150 makes the strangest mechanical whine for a minute or two until it warms up then it goes away. Always has

 

id put money on it being either the power steering pump or a BAD vacume leak, I had a vacume leak once that made my car sound like it had a turbo charger lol

 

I love this off-topic thread. A video game community is helping a chap with his actual car.

 

To be fair, the game is a car/vehicle simulator..

 

Yeah I might get my power steering checked out. I actually at first thought it was that in the first place. I do not smell anything burning.

 

Yes, well it isn't a forum dedicated to help with actual cars.

 

ok, and? if people can help him, as well as get one of their own problems fixed, i don't see why it can't be here

 

Don't be such a forum cop. Ur not a moderator and also your claim has no basis, it's a simple question. It's not like that minecraft thread, which indeed had no place here. This thread relates to cars, member to member, it's valid. So stop with your big headed-ness

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

Vacuum leaks don't cause a a wining noise, more like a whistling noise. It's ur power steering pump, 99% bud.

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Look, I wasn't saying he couldn't be here.
Before, in fact, scroll up a bit and you see I praised him for being here. This is really cool.