Squeel on start up and shake at 60 mph

[jm1080]

******UPDATE ON PAGE 2 NEED HELP ON PAGE 2 THANKS******

Hey guys before I posted that I was going to buy a 97 gsx for 4500 dollars, I got some responses, but then a mod deleted thread for some unknown reason. But anyways I just bought 97 GSX with 95000 miles, black in color, tan leather, perfect condition inside and out.

The guy who sold it knew nothing about the car having turbo or nothing, so he just sold it to me, the only problem it had was that it was leaking clutch fluid. My uncle whos a mechanic said its an easy fix. Another problem that we noticed was that when the car starts, it makes a loud squeel, my uncle said its some belt, dont remember the name, it on the right side of the engine towards the right headlight, I think it the power steering, not sure. The guy said he just replaced it, it was like 350 dollars, I saw receipt. But my uncle said that its a bit loose, they didnt adjust it right.

Anyways the car runs perfect, Im still learning how to drive stick, my old car was a 99 eclipse rs, it was automatic. Another thing I forgot was that when it hits 60mph, the car shakes a bit, I think my uncle said alternator or something, but he said its fixable and I got a real good deal on the car. What you guys think about the shaking at 60mph? And what you guys think of the car? Ill take pics tomorrow to show.

 

[hubz91talontsi]

every dsm will make that "loud squeel" its a lovely sound is it not...

 

[jm1080]

No, I dont mean the turbo, I mean when the car turns on, its a really really loud eeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkk dunno how to explain, it comes from that belt to the right lower hand corner, I think it steering not sure. It definitly not normal.

 

[klipschaudio]

It could be as simple as a loose alternator belt, but maybe not.
Check that both of your ground cables are hooked up to the battery. Check the alternator belt, it is the lower one on the driver side by the driver headlight. It should have about .5-1 inch leeway, if its more than that, tighten it. Then take an digital volt meter and measure in DC mode that it is charging your battery at 14V. If it keeps on making the squeeling noise still an it is charging, that means you haven't burned it yet and either the alternator is trying too hard to charge the dying battery or you have a short somewhere. Fix it before it turns into a bigger problem. Also, whenever you mess under the hood, disconnect your battery ground, this could have saved me lots of my time. Good luck.

 

[nfernotalon]

Im sure its either your alternator or power steering belt make sure theyre both tight, you have to tighten them quite a bit, as for the shaking, get your wheels balanced, its like 30 bucks to get all four balanced..

 

[jm1080]

Thanks for responses guys, I just talked to my uncle and here are the 3 problems. Its a loose alternator belt thats causing the really loud noise, Clutch fluid leak coming from the clutch slave cylinder, and the car shaking at 60mph, he thinks its something electrical or a leak on a hose.

So the alternator belt is a quick fix that we'll do tomorrow. The clutch fluid leak, we need to replace the slave cylinder or what? Anyone know approximately how much? Also some air went in, so we have to bleed it out. The car shaking, what can that be? You think getting wheels balanced will fix that? wouldnt it always be shaking though? Thats the only one were stuck on.

 

[nfernotalon]

Thanks for responses guys, I just talked to my uncle and here are the 3 problems. Its a loose alternator belt thats causing the really loud noise, Clutch fluid leak coming from the clutch slave cylinder, and the car shaking at 60mph, he thinks its something electrical or a leak on a hose.

So the alternator belt is a quick fix that we'll do tomorrow. The clutch fluid leak, we need to replace the slave cylinder or what? Anyone know approximately how much? Also some air went in, so we have to bleed it out. The car shaking, what can that be? You think getting wheels balanced will fix that? wouldnt it always be shaking though? Thats the only one were stuck on.

Yes 99.999% sure its your wheels, it only shakes at highway speeds because its when theyre turning fast enough, same thing happened to me, it would go away above 65, got my wheels balanced and went away..

 

[D's GS-T]

Ya man, just get your wheels checked. My belt squeels all the time I gotta adjust it like every six weeks . I wish I couuld find a GSX in great condition for $4500 that's BS . around here their like $8000 with 126,000 miles. or their like $11,000 with 100,000 miles Damn!!!

 

[stomp]

Maybe he means shaking, like symptoms of a boost leak..preform a boost leak test..refer to vfaq.com for procedures on preforming one.

Or up at the top of this forum in the red boxes..search button highlighted in yellow,type in any info i.e.(boost leak ,clutch,wheels,anything,) in and preform a search..there is tons and tons of useful info.

 

[jm1080]

:Thanks ill get the wheels balanced and see if that was the problem. Ill see if my uncle knows how to do boost leak test as well.

Also yea Im so lucky I got the great deal on the car just got to learn how to drive it , been watching some videos on how to drive stick, I think I nailed it.

Also one more thing, about the slave cylinder for clutch? Any ideas on where I can find one? And approximately how much are they?

Thanks again guys.

Will take pics tomorrow

 

[nfernotalon]

My slave cylinder was bout 30bucks go to Napa or Auto zone anybody should have it..

 

[skyrone]

Yeah definitely get you tires balanced. I'm a tire technician and if you have custom wheels be sure to tell them to do an alloy or alluminum balance. While your there have them check your brakes and front end. At our shop thats free idk about other places. But i was also wondering if it was a shake like a vibration that increases with speed or if its more of a stutter like the engine is cutting out. If your uncle is a mechanic and he thinks its a vacuum leak or something then it sounds to me like its cuttin out. A good thing to do when you first buy a dsm is to change the fuel filter. Theyre like 20 bux. Sometimes they get clogged up and dont let enough fuel through at higher speeds when there is more resistance on the engine. Good luck.

 

[Defiant]

Your harmonic balancer is blown.

Hey guys before I posted that I was going to buy a 97 gsx for 4500 dollars, I got some responses, but then a mod deleted thread for some unknown reason.

If you were asking about whether we thought a car you were looking at was worth buying or not, it was moved to the "What's This DSM Worth?" thread, where all such discussions are shipped to. We cannot appraise cars we can't touch. It's tough enough trying to diagnose mechanical issues of things we can't hear, and must rely on the written descriptions of, typed by people who couldn't decide for themselves whether they should buy the car in the first place.
An alternator will not shake a car a 60, nor at any other speed. Unbalanced tires will.

 

[gixrman]

I hope you enjoy your 97 GSX as much as I do....and all of the money that you will dump into it.

 

[jm1080]

Your harmonic balancer is blown.
If you were asking about whether we thought a car you were looking at was worth buying or not, it was moved to the "What's This DSM Worth?" thread, where all such discussions are shipped to. We cannot appraise cars we can't touch. It's tough enough trying to diagnose mechanical issues of things we can't hear, and must rely on the written descriptions of, typed by people who couldn't decide for themselves whether they should buy the car in the first place.
An alternator will not shake a car a 60, nor at any other speed. Unbalanced tires will.

We fixed the problems, the alternator belt was not tight, noise is completely gone

But what I dont get is why Defiant would you move my thread to the 420a, the car is not 420a, and that why I put it in newbie section because Im newbie and need help. Also more people look on there. Also I never stated the alternator would shake the car, I said thats where the noise came from, but its fixed. I was going to post pics, but you moved the thread so its kinda pointless, then eventually you will close it again..

 

[ricktb]

get an alignment too

 

[nfernotalon]

Yea why did it get moved to the 420a???

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Moved back to the Newbie Forums...

 

[jm1080]

Thanks paul, also I ran the car and it runs real nice, but then when I started up the car right now, the noise is slowly coming back I think. I heard it for a second, its really soft though, should I be worried at all? Maby the alternator belt gets loose somehow?

 

[skyrone]

Sometimes its a good idea to go back to what you worked on the next day and retighten all the bolts. I didnt do this on my turbo once and the next time i went to pull it off the back two bolts were finger tight and my gasket was blown... all fixed now but back to what i was saying sometimes retourquing is a good idea

 

[jm1080]

Thanks, ill check it again. I noticed the clutch fluid leaks fast, because I bought the car on Sunday, and it was full, then yesterday night it was almost empty, had to refill it with brake fluid. My uncle thinks its from the clutch slave cylinder, but what other possibilities could it be? Were going to check it on Wed.

Another thing is that I found a small puddle of dark brown fluid under the car. My uncle hasn't seen it, he thinks its either engine oil, or the clutch fluid oil?? But the clutch fluid is clear can it change color once it leaks?

Thanks for replies guys. Just trying to fix the car up

 

[nfernotalon]

Check for fluid on the firewall in the inside of the car, the master cylinder usually leaks through the inside under your dash..

 

[jm1080]

I just told my uncle what you said, he said that there is no leak there, He believes its the clutch slave cylinder, anyways Im waiting for him to lift up the car tomorrow.

Also for the dark brown oil that is on the floor, it leaked another puddle today. If its engine oil, could that be a huge problem? Or maybe just the filter that was not put in right? Because the previous owner took it to a crap mechanic, who fixed the alternator belt all wrong as well

One last thing, the clutch oil leaks somewhere so does that mean I can just refill it with brake fluid? It hasn't gone on empty. Previous owner said it went on empty once. So I believe some air went in the clutch. But until I wait till tomorrow its safe to drive right? Thanks again.

 

[skyrone]

Check your master cylinder for sure. It is where your clutch pedal pushes a rod. It isnt a very noticeable leak especially in the winter but if its there your master cylinder is going out like mine did. If that is for sure not the problem make sure your bleeder screw on your slave cylinder is tight. As for the brown liquid its probably tranny fluid. Engine oil would be black and clutch fluid evaporates quickly i believe. Check your transmission and transfer case fill and drain plugs to be sure they are tight. If it still leaks it is probably an axle seal. good luck

 

[DontStartModdin]

Power steering delete FTW.

I shoulda done it a long time ago. I'm very happy with it. It started leaking on my alternator, so I got rid of it.