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Car just started making a really loud moaning noise one morning. Not a squelling belt, I know what that it. It spewed white smoke from the left side where the pulleys are, and I think it was the belt that was smoking, not sure but it was white and smelt like burning rubber. Not too much I could do so I drove to work. That was about a month ago.

I has only smoked one time since then and it wasnt as bad. But it does still moan really loud ever since then. Hard to explain the sound but it is to the point that when I sit next to my running car, you have to speak pretty loud to hear someone over the moaning. Kind of like a mesquito that keeps flying around your ears, or the sound of a constant tug boat, way off in the distance.

Could it be a seized pulley? Its pretty tight in there, and I cant pinpoint the sound. Makes the noise whether the A/C is on or not.

thanks

 

not sure

 

It sounds like a S/C whine while driving, except I dont have a supercharger

 

I have had exactly what you describe. In my case it was the crank pulley that had cracked and shifted, in such a way that it was running against the power steering belt.

I was lucky and the serpentine belt broke before the power steering belt, as I was doing 120KM/h when the belt broke.

However in my case it broke within 30 minutes of the initial signs.

I would recommend you open the hood and take a good look at the serpentine and power steering straps for wear. Also look to see if the serpentine belt looks to be tracking straight.

 

By "tracking straight" you mean not wobbling too much left to right while the engine is running right? Thanks for your input!!

 

Mine did the same exact thing but it ended up being the AC compressor had locked up. The belt on mine ended up just snapping. You can always get a smaller belt and bypass it, thats what i had to do for a little while. I think i ended up using a 36 inch belt instead of stock.

 

that would really suck to have no A/C in Florida during summer

 

Yeah.....most likely a bad bearing in either the alternator, AC compressor, or the belt tensioner pulley. There are a couple ways to check this. Take a long screwdriver, and while the car is running, place the metal end against the alternator and the handle end against your ear. You will hear it if its the alternator. Repeat with the AC compressor. The other method would be to take off the belts (with the car off obviously), and give the 2 pulleys a spin with your finger. You should be able to tell which it is.

 

[QUOTE=ohannon7;6302930]It spewed white smoke from the left side where the pulleys areQUOTE]

belts are on the right side
(unless you drive a honda)

anyways, remove the surpentine belt and start up the car, if noise goes away then at least it could be pinpointed to a/c compressor, alt or pulley, then you go from there. If it doesn't go away, remove the p/s belt and start the car again. If it goes away the second time, it your p/s pump. If it doesn't, take a look at the crank pulley for major cracks or if the top "shifted" of center. (common problem) Not sure how many miles you car has.

 

I am guessing he was looking at the engine from the front of the car, not from the drivers seat. Therefore, left side........

 

[QUOTE=nsnrider;6306628
take a look at the crank pulley for major cracks or if the top "shifted" of center. (common problem) Not sure how many miles you car has.[/QUOTE]

What exactlly does that mean " top shifted off center"?

Ill do the long screw driver check too, im basically just trying to nudge it over a little bit to see if the sound changes pitch right? Then I would know it is that pulley.

Right befoe I bought the car 4 months ago, the previous owner had the a/c compressor replaced & the idler pulley. Just went through the receipts he gave me last night.

 

Since the ac compressor and idler pulley had been replaced, i would check the alternator first. In my '99, i had a similar noise with some smoke in that area and it was a bad bearing in the alternator.

As for the screw driver method, just place the tip of the screwdriver against the alternator itself, not the pulley. Put your ear right on the end of the handle, and the vibration of the bad bearing will cause resonance in the screwdriver and you will definately hear it.

 

Correct. You should be able to look at the belt and it should look like it's in a vertical plane in reference to either the crank pulley or the alternator. Also look to see if it is rubbing against the power-steering belt or if there is unusual wear on the belt. (best done with the engine off, I would guess.)

If the belt is not worn on the sides but rather on the top or bottom surfaces, I would guesstimate that it would be something more like a seized bearing in one of the driven components (e.g. alternator, AC compressor, tensioner, etc.)

Good lck and please keep us informed.