Loud screeching(like PS) at takeoff, downshifting

[slipnfall]

Hi folks, My '92 S13 has started screeching really bad, and I think it sounds a lot like when you're low on PS fluid. I *just* topped it off before I went out today: I'v put less than one quart in since the system has been dry. New belt.

Odd thing is, I have no loss in power steering. Also most of the time I hear it, it's *not* when I'm turning. Usually when I'm just taking off from 1st, or I downshift to 2nd and release the clutch. When I put in the clutch, it goes away(???). If I do nothing it will go away once I hit about 3rd. I had the heater on full, and one time when I turned it off, the screech went away immediately.

As far as tension goes, I made sure not to overtighten the tensioner. You can still deflect the belt maybe 1/4" with slight pressure. What are some causes for belt screech? Possibly coolant on the belts?(I say this because I re-bleed my coolant earlier today). I'm baffled because it doesn't happen when I turn the wheel, only when changing engine loads.

Can anyone explain this? I hope I didn't over-fill the res.

Thanks for reading,-Jamie

[s13sr20chris]

please verify that the noise is not coming from the transmission bellhousing. are all the belts new? you may want to run a screwdriver across them while the engine is running to break the glaze off of them. also, splash some water on the belts while the motor is running and see if the noise changes at all.

[slipnfall]

Hi Chris, Thanks for the response. I can't say for certain it wasn't from the bell housing. I installed a new clutch/pp/and release bearing, however couldn't get the smaller 'ring' out of the end of the block(the one that the transmission spline end rides in). Chassis has ~120k, and I'm not sure when the last it was changed. This noise happened while the car was warm, so I didn't really think the belts were it. I checked over some things tonight: The PS belt seemed to have loosened up, so I re-tightened it. Also the PS fluid was over-filled-I was going by the resovour/screen when topping it off, rather than the cap. I noticed some P/S fluid on the one pump hose(the lower one, return I presume), so I sucked about a 3/4 cup out of the res. I drove about 15-20 miles tonight and it hasn't returned. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. I'm fighting with an oil leak and coolant overflow problem, it seems the list goes on. I cant say I didn't expect problems, the car hasn't run for 3 years, and I have no idea on prior car/maint.

Regards,-Jamie

[NISTECH]

your problem seems to have variables that make me think of 2 possible problems. at first it all sounded like the pilot bushing in the crank shaft.[the part you didnt change when you did your clutch] then you threw in a twist and said that the heater blower motor affected it which then suggested possible alternator belt.And the fact that it only does it warm tends to rule out the pilot bushing as that usually only happens when the car is cold and pushing in the clutch makes it stop.

[slipnfall]

FWIW, the alternator belt was a bit loose also(I guess that and the PS pump settled, or the belt stretched a little bit). Either way they are tighter than they were. Again I'll see how it goes today and if the noise returns. Does the pilot bearing howl like that also? I'll keep that in mind, since it didn't get replaced.

Thanks for the input guys.-Slip

[NISTECH]

it can sound very similar to a belt squak. its not as high pitch as a belt though.

[slipnfall]

Just to conclude this thread for anyone who may come across it in the future:

The horrible squeal has gone away, and hasn't returned in days. Any one of the following things may have solved my problem:

Tightened power steering beltTightened alternator beltReturned power steering fluid to normal level(was overfilled).

-Slip