Noisiest Little Car
Aztekmom
12-16-2008, 01:02 AM
Can someone please help me?? I am a single mom so it is not like I can do it myself so I get stuck paying all the time and it is Christmas time.
Last year, January, I paid to get the serpentine belt replaced and a full break job. $500. All has been great until it got cold. I am hearing the same whining sound from the belt that I heard when the guy said I needed it replaced, but once it warms up it is still whining but not as loud. Is that the serpentine belt again? It has not even been a year yet. and ...
The brakes, they have always made a noise since he did them but it was an annoying noise like they were just tight or something. As you brake you can hear it like pull real tight on the front passenger side. Honestly I have just learned to ignore it, but now that it has gotten cold it is still making the steady noise it always has when I brake but sometimes I hear it pop and twice now heard it squeal real loud but the popping and and squealing seem to be coming from the back passenger side. Not sure hoping you can help. One last thing ...
I just paid two weeks ago to get all the spark plugs and wires changed and ran a diagnostic on it, all looked good except for the fuel tank issue that was recalled and it is going into Pontiac for that but ... I was shopping this weekend and as I pulled in a parking spot a light beeped at me that said coolant hot so I immediately turned it off and went into to shop to let it cool and .. buy coolant. I took it right home, only around the corner, it never did heat up again and even when it did it was only for a minute before I caught it, luckily I was pulling in somewhere. Anyway I got some coolant, put it in with the water like I am suppose to. Took almost the entire jug and has not done it again. Should I be planning on something going out? LOL, or did maybe with all the work they did on it it was low or emptied? I am nervous because I know this car cost to get worked on with the engine the way it is.
If someone can please help me out I would really appreciate it. I can not afford this right now I just paid $466 last month for all the wires and spark plugs and oil change to be done.
Last year, January, I paid to get the serpentine belt replaced and a full break job. $500. All has been great until it got cold. I am hearing the same whining sound from the belt that I heard when the guy said I needed it replaced, but once it warms up it is still whining but not as loud. Is that the serpentine belt again? It has not even been a year yet. and ...
The brakes, they have always made a noise since he did them but it was an annoying noise like they were just tight or something. As you brake you can hear it like pull real tight on the front passenger side. Honestly I have just learned to ignore it, but now that it has gotten cold it is still making the steady noise it always has when I brake but sometimes I hear it pop and twice now heard it squeal real loud but the popping and and squealing seem to be coming from the back passenger side. Not sure hoping you can help. One last thing ...
I just paid two weeks ago to get all the spark plugs and wires changed and ran a diagnostic on it, all looked good except for the fuel tank issue that was recalled and it is going into Pontiac for that but ... I was shopping this weekend and as I pulled in a parking spot a light beeped at me that said coolant hot so I immediately turned it off and went into to shop to let it cool and .. buy coolant. I took it right home, only around the corner, it never did heat up again and even when it did it was only for a minute before I caught it, luckily I was pulling in somewhere. Anyway I got some coolant, put it in with the water like I am suppose to. Took almost the entire jug and has not done it again. Should I be planning on something going out? LOL, or did maybe with all the work they did on it it was low or emptied? I am nervous because I know this car cost to get worked on with the engine the way it is.
If someone can please help me out I would really appreciate it. I can not afford this right now I just paid $466 last month for all the wires and spark plugs and oil change to be done.
GTP Dad
12-17-2008, 07:09 PM
Welcome to AF!!
The first thing you need to do is to find a new mechanic this one is really overcharging you. A set of plugs and wires should cost a maximum of $100 and it shouldn't take more than one hour to change them. Even with full synthetic the oil change shouldn't cost more than $50. Hopefully you see where I am coming from.
As for the brake job I think he either used cheap pads or didn't prepare them correctly. It sounds like you may just need to have shims or brake quiet placed on the back of the front pads to get the squeal to go out of them. As for the rear pads you may need a brake replacement. You didn't say how many miles you have on the car but they may be due.
The problem with the coolant issue may have just been a low coolant issue. If you replaced the missing coolant and the light hasn't come on again then you should be OK. Keep an eye on it though as the thermostat may be sticking in the closed position and will cause an overheating condition.
Finally, the belt in fact may be bad again especially if it squeals. I suspect that the tensioner for the belt is probably going bad and may need replaced. I would change the belt again if it gets annoying, it is also possible that that is causing the overheating problem. If the tensioner is getting weak it can cause the belt to squeal as well. The belt is much cheaper to replace than the tensioner.
Good Luck!
The first thing you need to do is to find a new mechanic this one is really overcharging you. A set of plugs and wires should cost a maximum of $100 and it shouldn't take more than one hour to change them. Even with full synthetic the oil change shouldn't cost more than $50. Hopefully you see where I am coming from.
As for the brake job I think he either used cheap pads or didn't prepare them correctly. It sounds like you may just need to have shims or brake quiet placed on the back of the front pads to get the squeal to go out of them. As for the rear pads you may need a brake replacement. You didn't say how many miles you have on the car but they may be due.
The problem with the coolant issue may have just been a low coolant issue. If you replaced the missing coolant and the light hasn't come on again then you should be OK. Keep an eye on it though as the thermostat may be sticking in the closed position and will cause an overheating condition.
Finally, the belt in fact may be bad again especially if it squeals. I suspect that the tensioner for the belt is probably going bad and may need replaced. I would change the belt again if it gets annoying, it is also possible that that is causing the overheating problem. If the tensioner is getting weak it can cause the belt to squeal as well. The belt is much cheaper to replace than the tensioner.
Good Luck!
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