Had the car for a few days, let the squeaking begin! Help!

There are many noises that come from these cars. It will be much more helpful for those here if we knew the year of your car and perhaps if you had the information on the last time belts and bearings were replaced etc. This will help narrow down the expected noises from your car vs unexpected. For example a frequency valve will chirp in a changing pattern like you mention but isn't present on all model years.

 

Each model is different,and 308 sound like no other,in fact 308 make lots of crazy noise,thats why the radio is only useful when your washing it,your car is fine,enjoy,dont worry.

 

The noise when just pushing on gas then disappears may be either vacuum leak or just air flowing through throttle body. I had same sound after my head rebuild and gasket replace and the mechanic stated it was coming from the increased air moving over the throttle body.

To check just move throttle manually at the place where the cable attatches to the throttle body and listen if the noise is coming from that area.

$2 dollar ear plugs will eliminate the noise although not the worry.

 

Be sure to check fan belts for tightness, and general condition. The alternator/water pump belt (behind passenger rear wheel well) is very thin, and any slipping (squeeling sound like you describe) will end in a disintegrated belt in very short order, followed by overheating and no battary charging. Tighten belts to spec imeadiatly! It's no fun to be stranded out on the road as I have learned by experience!

 

If the chirping is coming from the front it could be the suspension squeaking. Does it do it when you are going over bumps or is it more steady.

One common source for the chirping sound is the exhaust. It's the perforated screen inside that seems to make the noise. There are some threads here somewhere showing how to make a simple insert to stop that.

I wouldn't worry too much about any of the noises though. Get to know then and eventually you will figure out what they are and whether they need to be fixed or not!!

Enjoy driving it!!

 

Does the front end have urethane bushings? They tend to creak and groan over big bumps.

 

That could be coming from the throttle pedal assembly itself. It's an elaborately-engineered piece that utilises four needle bearings and two spherical bearings (on a linkage rod from the pedal to the cable bell-crank). It could have dried-up grease and/or seized bearings and that could be causing that particular squeak.

 

i would be glad to take your 308 for a good hard ride and give you my impressions

 

Welcome Chris, what's the serial number of your car?

 

ANY unusual noises from an engine bay, especially squeeking, are cause for concern.



FIND Um;

FIX Um;

ONLY THEN ......




Forget about them.

 

You could always try shutting off the engine on a slope while in motion to hear the front squeeks better. CAUTION: power brakes will become very ineffect so be ready to restart and do in a safe place. Have you tried pushing on the throttle with the engine off to see if the throttle squeek is the assembly or the engine?

 

I have done this myself and was amazed at how little noise the car itself made. However, there were a few strange sounds that I don't think I will ever be able to localize and I refuse to obsess about. Of course I will now have to do it again since this thread has reminded me.

 

Since everyone is taking guesses here, I guess I'll jump in and take a few guesses also.

Front end: If the squeak is rythmic, that is, as the car rolls, its a constant "squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak......" it's probably a wheel bearing. If it only squeaks when you hit a bump, it might be a suspension bushing, shock, something like that. If it's a suspension bushing, you can probably make it squeak by pushing up and down on the fender (just be careful not to dent the fender). Wheel bearing squeak will likely change a bit with speed.

If it's coming from the back, first figure out if it's happening at idle or when the car is standing still. If it happens when the car is idling, not moving, pop the rear bonnet and try to isolate it. It's probably coming from the passenger side (right side). If so, it is probably a bad bearing, or a belt issue (water pump, alternator and/or AC). A good way to figure out where it's coming from is to take a length of hose (I use an old 3 foot piece of garden hose), hold one end to your ear and use the other to probe around. You'll figure out pretty quickly where it's coming from.

The prime suspects would be water pump bearing, alternator bearing or timing bearings. Could also possibly be the AC compressor. Timing belts don't squeal. Water pump, alternator or AC belts can. If its a belt squeal, be sure you have the correct size belts, that they are in good condition, and examine the pulleys. I had a problem with my alternator pulley causing a squeal, and I was throwing belts. Turned out the pulley was messed up and was chewing up belts, and the alternator needed to be rebuilt. If you see a lot of black dust all over the place down low, suspect a bad pulley, but be sure that you don't also have a bad bearing.

Just a few thoughts.

 

p.s. Probably common sense, but I'll mention it anyway -- if you are poking around with a length of hose or stethescope to find the squeak on a running engine, be careful not to get the hose caught in a moving belt or turning bearing. Not good for you or the car. Ask me how I know. Like my dad warned me, be careful where you stick your hose. LOL

 

Thanks, I also have an 84 QV US S/N 49455, you should register your car here:
http://308qvregister.com/WebMainPages/308_gts_qv.htm

 

My first thought would be the alternator belt. Sounds like it might be slipping. It's kind of typical for it not to squeal at idle, and then start when you step on the gas and RPMs go up. Check the belt tensioner, make sure it didn't loosen up and that belt tension is correct. Even though someone looked at them during the PPI doesn't mean that it is tensioned correctly. Also, look for telltail signs of belt wear, like black dust near the crank pulley and the lower parts of the engine.

The only way to really get in there is to put the rear end up on jackstands, remove the right rear wheel, and the wheel well liner to get access to the belts. It's not a big deal to get in there. Once you do, you can get a clear look at the belts, pulleys, etc., and get a better idea where the sound is coming from.

p.s. Don't overtighten the alternator belt. The pulley is aluminum, and it is not a stock Bosch pulley. It's a custom piece specific to the 308/328 cars. I had to buy a new one from Ricambi America for my 328 as the old one deformed and was eating up the belts. So be careful when you tension it. If the belt is not fitting right or is showing any signs of wear, just buy a new one (and a spare).

 

Do you ignore the holes in the bottom of your shoes as well ?


As for the noises.

1. You answered your own question.

2. Tighten the AC belt.

What did the PPI say about the bushings, suspension etc?

 

One thing that you should get in the habit of doing when you have an older car is to check the front wheels for play. Make sure the steering wheel is locked and grab the front tire at nine and three and try to move it back and forth and grab on the top in the back of the tire and try to move it towards you and see if there is play basically you are checking for any free play and there shouldn't be any and if there is you should have it checked out sooner rather than later.