LT1 Loud squealing when you step on the gas
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 135
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From: San Diego
LT1 Loud squealing when you step on the gas Alright so I drove my car to dinner on Tuesday night and she ran like a champ. Went to pick it up from my girlfriends Weds and she started fine but when you step on the gas she squeals like a pig and has some serious power loss. I have no idea where to start. Luckily I have a second vehicle so I am not in a hurry. Any suggestions on what it could be or where to start. Its a 1995 Firebird Trans am with the LT1 motor 6 speed transmission.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 135
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From: San Diego
Well I ended up driving it home about 3 miles but she kept wanting to stall cause she was loosing power and I would floor it in first and second just to keep her moving. I can't hardly tell if the belt is slipping or what.
^+1 check and make sure all the pullies are spinning. If one's frozen up it'll chew through the belt in a heart beat
double check that the belt is still in one piece. If it's still there start looking at the charging system. Sounds like the bearings in the ALT could have bit the dust as well
double check that the belt is still in one piece. If it's still there start looking at the charging system. Sounds like the bearings in the ALT could have bit the dust as well
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Well it seems the squealing is coming from the alternator but the alternator is still good cause car kept running when we disconnected the battery with all accessories running. However I now think my cat is clogged so I may just remove my exhaust and see what happens ha
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TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
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Bearings in the alt can still be going out and making noise while it still works... But... When it locks up...expect to lose ur belt....
Now...
Y do u think the cat is out...
Now...
Y do u think the cat is out...
Last edited by popo8; Dec 22, 2012 at 11:47 PM.
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TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Little Rock, AR
You should never do that on a modern car. It can ruin the alternator. Of course, if it is squealing, you need to address the issue anyway.
Yeah and the following really happened to me. The big front bearing in the alt walks backward out of its socket in the aluminum housing and the plastic fan blade starts grinding against the housing. Sounds like nails on a chalkboard. I lightly JB welded the socket and machined it out to simply better snug the bearing in place. Only reason I went to that much trouble is because the alt housings are painted.
His cat is clogged. The squealing noise is the high exhaust pressure escaping from the weakest point of the system ahead of the cat, probably the manifold gasket right behind the alternator. There's not a belt driven accessory known to man that will over power a v8 at heavy throttle. But a clogged cat will do this with ease.
OP since you left it at your GF's house overnight unattended make sure somebody didn't shove something up your tail pipes to clog it up before you cut off the cat.
Vernon
OP since you left it at your GF's house overnight unattended make sure somebody didn't shove something up your tail pipes to clog it up before you cut off the cat.
Vernon
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 135
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From: San Diego
His cat is clogged. The squealing noise is the high exhaust pressure escaping from the weakest point of the system ahead of the cat, probably the manifold gasket right behind the alternator. There's not a belt driven accessory known to man that will over power a v8 at heavy throttle. But a clogged cat will do this with ease.
OP since you left it at your GF's house overnight unattended make sure somebody didn't shove something up your tail pipes to clog it up before you cut off the cat.
Vernon
OP since you left it at your GF's house overnight unattended make sure somebody didn't shove something up your tail pipes to clog it up before you cut off the cat.
Vernon
So you might have a built in whistletip. Woooowwwwwwwwwwooooo!
I dunno... I'd think there would be a distinct difference between a whistle and a squeak. Any way you can get some audio of this? Anyone mad at you?
I dunno... I'd think there would be a distinct difference between a whistle and a squeak. Any way you can get some audio of this? Anyone mad at you?