Questions and Answers
Screeching Bravada
Q. My 1994 Olds Bravada has 147,000 miles and in otherwise very good condition. It has been maintained regularly and timely since new. I recently experienced a very loud, screeching noise that sounds like it's coming from under the hood or somewhere in front. The sound only lasts a few seconds.
It happened three times in succession within a period of about 20 minutes. First two times I was at a stop - foot on the brake - waiting to turn. The third time I was moving. I took it straight to the dealership for diagnosis. They heard the sound once but it lasted such a short time that they were not able to track down the cause. They have now had my car for one and a half weeks and still don't know what caused it. They cannot get it to repeat the sound. They bring it in the building, start it up, let it run, take it outside, start it up let it run - nothing happens.
They agree that there must be something wrong but can't diagnose it. They suggested it could possibly be an A/C compressor and that would be very expensive to replace and then find out that that was NOT the problem. The only difference I had noticed prior to this was that the engine was idling slightly rough - very slightly. Ever heard of such a thing? I am very frustrated.
Thanks for any help you can give.
A. Not having actually heard the noise, I would have to guess that the cause was a belt slipping. If the A/C compressor had locked up or had a very high demand, it would make the belt screech as you describe. But any belt driven device could cause the belt to make the same noise. I think this is a case where the problem has to become a constant one, or at least more frequent, to be able to locate it.
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