Screeching Squeeking Sound

[benzonline]

Hey guys,

This is a new one. I got this screeching and somewhat squeeking sound coming from the car when cold. It seems to only happen when its sitting outside the whole day at work and I drive off. It stops when the vehicle is at operating temperature.

The sound is like a worn belt but it doesnt seems to be the belts as the sound doesnt change with the RPM plus it only makes the noise over 20mph.

Could be bearings? But with that it would be more vibration I beleive in which its not doing.

Im not too worried as its only doing when cold but still....

[allirroz]

im guessing a pulley is the culprit

Edit: Idler pulley is my bet

[jnolte]

may be the fan clutch, or water pump

[benzonline]

Water pump? Damn my car has 70,000miles probably not even. Here in Canada we are up to date with our metric system so we call it kms...100,000kms.

Im leaving it for now...see what happens.

[jnolte]

my water pump needed to be changed at around 80,000 miles

[benzonline]

Is exspensive and what were the symptoms?

[jnolte]

does your belt wobble at all? is it loose to the touch?(dont touch it when the car is on)

[allirroz]

Originally posted by allirroz
im guessing a pulley is the culprit

Edit: Idler pulley is my bet

or the idler belt tensioner, you might as well replace the belt too.

[benzonline]

ALL belts were done 10,000miles ago. When I have time ill bring her in for a looksy.

[Nelson Lago]

Ya it might be your power steering pump because when its cold the power sterring fluid is thick,and are you expercing any difficultly steeringwhen its cold, if not then mostly likly its your tensoner because i had a smiller sound when starting me car but it never went away when the car was up to temp. It just was harder to hear, roll down your window when your driving and the cars up to temp if you hear a light sweeking sond its your tensoner chang it dont be a fool like me i didnt chang mine and it froze on the highway and the belt burned off and i was stuck.

[krappy]

im pretty sure your right. that squeaking noise comes from the wheels bearings. its a very different sound compared to a rubbing pulley belt. i no this because my mechanic told me that i needed to change them. as for the vibrations, in my car if i go over 140 it shakes. it can be dangerous so you should check it out. supposedly you might not have to change them, they might be able to be realigned. if your gonna buy new ones, be ready to fork out like 150 a piece.

[benzonline]

Today it did it louder! Only for about 5 mins until warmed up. Mind you, our temps here have been extremely cold for a month now and the whole car is just cold soaked.

I could barely hear the sound with the window open. Only from the inside mostly I can hear it clearly.

Next year, winter beater!

[davis449]

Ok, I had this EXACT same problem and the dealer beat themselves over the head for a month straight trying to find it. Mine ended up being the Water Pump. However, they did replace the following trying to hunt it down, idler pulley, alternator, and belt.

[benzonline]

Thank you Davis.

So perhaps its water pump for sure? I'll keep an eye on it a bit more but shouldnt it do it all the time?

Im a bit dissapointed now.

[benzonline]

Doesnt do when parked overnight in a garage. Its the cold.

[alpine951]

I replaced the water pump in my wifes 98 C230 at 90K miles. You may be able to tell if its the water pump by grabbing the pulley on the end of the pump while the car is not running and try to shake it and wrestle it around. If it moves side to side and up and down then the bearings are worn and needs to be replaced. Also look at it from the side when the car is running. If it looks like it is wobbling then thats another sign to replace. On my cars normally aspirated C230 it was one of the easiest things I have replaced on any car. Easy access and plenty of room. Water pump was $75 at Autohasaz. Put in a new thermosts while in there too.

[davis449]

Originally posted by benzonline
Doesnt do when parked overnight in a garage. Its the cold.

Yeah, all the time I had this problem the car was parked outside under a carport all night, so the cold always go to it and caused it to squeal every morning. I noticed that it only happend when the car sat in the cold all night outside.

[Sulaco]

For potential closure:

Had this issue on my 94E320 and 94 C280. Both have m104 engines. It was the idler pulley on the e320. No idea on the C280.

[horgantrevor]

a quick one to rule out belt start car run engine get some baby talcum powder and squirt on belt stand back or you will look like a snow man after it if the noise goes its the polly v belt
if the water pump look between the pulley and pump for a lot of oil it means the bearing may be burnt out then its the pump if its the tensioner pulley you will have play on it and with close inspection you may see cracks on the plastic

[Sulaco]

on the C280, I've replaced entire tensioner assembly and idler pulley and belt. still squeeking.

at first it was only when very cold and for a few seconds. i've nearly overheated the car recently (long story). now it's constant. it's loud, it's brutal, and nothing makes it go away. just constant, KILLER squeeling when the engine is under any load

[horgantrevor]

that is the bearing in either the water pump or alternator or power steering pump pulley

a trick is with engine running and some one making the noise with the bonnet up get a lenght of garden hose about 1.5 meter long very carefully put near the area you hear the noise and other end in ear you will know then you found the broken part as the noise will change this is great also for finding a blow on a exhaust manifold

be care full of fan and bet please ? loose fingers or hand if caught

[Sulaco]

That's some good detective work there, horgantrevor. Thanks!

I'm fairly certain it's the water pump now. I found a leak on the top of the water pump where it attaches to housing for the thermostat. A bolt's head broke off letting it leak when it gets really hot. I'm thinking when it overheated, it showered the rest of the water pump with super hot coolant and washed out the bearing.

I replaced that damn water pump in 2003. Damnit.

[horgantrevor]

water pump should be about 100 euro and polly v belt 25 euro might as well do the belt as your at it peace of mind

not look on ebay or try ebay uk or germany for prices i would change tempeture stat at i was at it also cheap

[horgantrevor]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATER-PUMP-Mer...item5ad802d5cc

link for pump

[horgantrevor]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OEM-Mercedes-B...#ht_3672wt_752


link for belt