The car:

1988 Volvo 245 DL 241,000 miles
Transmission last serviced at maybe 50,000 miles -automatic
oil changed every 3,000 milesor sooner for life of car

Whether cold or hot the car sounds as though the belts are squealing. However, the belts are not that old (having been replaced after the alternator fell off, yes fell off--it fell into the radiator---so everything is pretty new under the hood except for the engine and tranny). Anyway, there is a squealing noise up to the time it shifts into third gear at around 38 mph. At first I thought it was the belts but now am not so sure. Could it be a bearing somewhere or a bushing? You can obviously tell I know little about cars. Sometimes however, it doesn't make the squealing noise at all regardless of speed.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have owned the car since I bought it new and would prefer to get the last mile out of it before I retire it but I don't want to have to spend more than it is worth on a repair. Also, this car is used only to drive less than 10 miles per trip, mainly only about 2-4 to work. I have barely 3,300 miles on it for the year.

Thanks,

Richard

 

Hi there. Just want to say 'Way to go on the high miles!'

The squealing you described could be coming from the power steering pump, that is, if the belts dont feel loose to you. See if the power steering fluid is a touch low and top it up if it is. Low fluid will cause it to make a sound like that.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give it a try.

 

Make sure the crank pulley isn't bad.
Mark from the inside metal to the outside metal going over the rubber area.
Start the car and rev it a few times then shut it off and check your marks.
If they are off it might be the crank pulley spinning that is causing the noise.

 

Ahh..thanks. My commute to work and back starts and ends in the dark so it will be a couple of weekends before I can do this. I will post my findings. I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

 

In case anyone is interested I figured what the real problem. I do appreciate the responses I received. One never knows. Anyway, as it turns out a bolt sheared of the alternator housing and the alternator was about to fall off. This would have been the second time the alternator fell off, but at least this time I caught it in time.

 

What is going on with your ride for it to keep shearing the alternator bolts off????