Okay, so I have been having an issue with my 99 z28. Let me begin with the list of problems I have had, just so you guys can see if any of these issues tie into the problem.
1. When I first bought the vehicle, there was a ticking noise, and when I tried to drive in the rain, and went through a puddle or something, the car tried to die on me and I had to redline it to keep it from dying. Well needless to say, the ticking got louder and louder, and one day it got so loud, I had to take it straight to the shop. They told me one of my spark plugs had backed out. The issue was fixed, and now I don't have the rain problem anymore. (and before I got the problem fixed, I could hardly go above 120; but afterwards, I pegged the speedo with ease.)

2. I have a terrible belt squeal when there is moisture in the air, or when it is raining.

3. And now, I have trouble again going past like 120, and when approaching high speeds, the car threatens to die, all lights go dim, and the rpms go extremely low; although, it has not actually died yet. It also does this if I slam on the brakes, then push the clutch in. ( I have replaced the battery about 2 months ago, and went to Autozone and talked to a guy and he said I might not want to start with the alternator, but with the O2 sensors, and the coolant temp sensor too.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I am thoroughly lost on what to do now. Thanks!

 

maybe your sparkplug threads are shot and it backed out again..

 

But why would that cause my car to almost die out? I'm pretty sure that motor can run on 7 cylinders just fine

 

I retract my previous statement. I also agree it could be the tensioner, it makes sense

 

Really? If your belt squeals and slips when it is even damp outside why have you not changed it yet? I bet that fixes all your problems.

Or maybe the guy at autozone is right, your O2 sensor is pulling so much voltage its killing the lights?

Is this a serious post?

 

Yes. This is a serious post. I have already replaced the serpentine. Excuse me for not mentioning that. Still all of the problems.

 

Replace the tensioner, they get weak and let the belt slip, that will cause the alternator to not charge and it will cause the belt to squeal.

Start there and see if that helps. Check all the spark plugs, a loose plug will ruin the threads in a cylinder head.

 

Wouldn't a belt slip literally make the belt slip off of the pulleys though?

 

No the belt won't slip off there is enough ridge on the outer edge to keep the belt on.

 

Depends, it can go either way, it can slip or jump off. I have had both happen. I used to hear mine squeal on 1-2 upshifts and sometimes I would pop the hood and the belt would be halfway hanging off. I put a buick pulley on the tensioner and stopped all that from happening.

Cheap belts are more likely to squeal too btw.

One last thing, I used to have problems with glazing my belt and it starting to squeal all the time because it slipped at high RPM, but it never came completely off (until my power steering pulley exploded lol).

 

Well, I guess that's where I can start. I'm probably going to go with the comp camps belt tensioner. And I mean, how exactly can I tell if the threads are damaged on the heads if I take the plugs out?

 

Usually once the threads are damaged the plug won't thread in right or it won't stay in. Yours are probably okay just make sure they stay tight. But all you can really do is a visual check and make sure they look okay. If the plug feels funny or really loose in the hole when threading it in then they are probably damaged.

 

There will either be threads on the plugs from the head or the threads on the plugs will be distorted. In other words something will not look right.

 

I would also suggest You buy some of the aluminum anti-seize compound and put plenty on the plug threads and be careful starting them in the threads . Good luck .