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[acetech09]

If you insist... 2003 Silverado, 5.3, fan belts squeaks when cold, worthy of concern?

Eh, it's not timing related... if you're prone to developing insanity from squeaking noises, then you should be concerned. It could be the belt squeaking, a tensioner (which I presume it has, big GM engines I know little about), but either way, squeaking has little to do with any risk of failure.

[Eldin00]

squeaking belts sometimes mean slipping belts, in which case the belt would wear out faster. Might be worth checking how tight the belt is and increasing the tension on it slightly, if needed. But worst case scenario, you have to spring for a new belt a little sooner than you otherwise would, so not a huge issue either way.

[Strife26]

Alrighty, here we go for mine! 04 CTS now with 70,070 miles on it. Replaced the engine once. Replaced the new valves on the new engine once. Now leaking from the rear main seal badly. No budget for continuing to dump cash into a lemon.

[MonkeyHead]

As resident king of shit cars, I feel the need to join this thread. Currently nursing a 1996 Citroen ZX 1.9D through its twilight years (oil leak at sump nut, bearings shot all around, one cv joint on way out, only one working door, alternator belt tensioner non functional, dozens of minor electrical faults including but not limited to erratic wipers and washers and a demoniacally possessed stereo system, more dents than body panels, power steering pump sounds like a strangled kitten, patchwork exhaust system, gear selection like a soviet tractor). Just had to skim the cylinder head after the whole thing warped when the cooling system thermostat failed. This also caused the oil filter and air filter to disintegrate in the heat, and melt-welded most of the hoses to their connectors. Fun fact - you can drive for at least 20 miles at 60 mph with no radiator in this model car. Only 116,000 on the clock!

I love shit cars. When this one dies it will join a long honoured list of cars I have killed (GM Cavalier 2.0, chassis failure due to rusted through. VW Polo MkI, radiator blew ruining electrics. VW Golf MkI, water pump blew, ruining electronics.  Pug 306 1.4, combination of randomly cutting out and suspension failure. Pug 306 1.6, met a bus. Pug 205 2.0D, hit by someone else and rolled over. Pug 205 1.3D, critical cylinder head failure due to slipped piston ring. Pug 406 2.1D, cracked engine casing so went bang). I like to think I have learnt a thing or two along the way about coping with the trials owning a shit heap presents you with.

[acetech09]

Alrighty, here we go for mine! 04 CTS now with 70,070 miles on it. Replaced the engine once. Replaced the new valves on the new engine once. Now leaking from the rear main seal badly. No budget for continuing to dump cash into a lemon.

3.6 or 3.2? The 3.6CTS is probably one of my favorite cars because of how damn bulletproof it is. The RMS seal leaking is the sign of a poor engine replacement. Not sure why you even had to replace the engine in the first place - failed timing chain?



How dare you call a MkI VW/Citroen a shit car :p. Cars like that are just old, awesome, and full of character .

*acetech09 is currently restoring a 205 in his garage*

[That Wolf]

Yeah sounds like bearing me. Does it do it around corners?
Its funny howmuch car knowledge we all remember from school or family.

Get it checked or blow it up

[Pajama Knight]

I didn't crash and die, just been busy. I took my car to a tire place and they told me the rubbers were way past their expiration date. I honestly had no idea that bad rubbers could cause that kind of vibration. They weren't bald, I'd looked at them and didn't think they looked that bad. I guess I just have a bad eye for car problems.

So the car's less of a death trap now and it only cost me half an hour and a new set of tires. Strange thing is I took it to a 'shop last month to get an oil change (Because I'm lazy and don't change my own oil) and the guys there didn't mention it. Looks like I won't need to get a new ride for now. I appreciate the help!

Should I just rename the thread to Generic Car Advice Thread?

[MonkeyHead]

Bad tyres can be noisy as hell. I once thought I had blown a CV joint. Turns out instead the inside tyre wall on one wheel was disintegrating, with the steel threading flailing about the place and hitting the road at speed. 

[acetech09]

I took it to a 'shop last month to get an oil change (Because I'm lazy and don't change my own oil) and the guys there didn't mention it.

That's probably because the guys doing oil changes are typically lazier than you are. Where do I begin, with all the horror stories from those jiffy-lube style places...

[Zrk2]

I took it to a 'shop last month to get an oil change (Because I'm lazy and don't change my own oil) and the guys there didn't mention it.

That's probably because the guys doing oil changes are typically lazier than you are. Where do I begin, with all the horror stories from those jiffy-lube style places...

I pay the extra to get a mechanic I actually trust to do mine when I can't do them myself.

[acetech09]

I took it to a 'shop last month to get an oil change (Because I'm lazy and don't change my own oil) and the guys there didn't mention it.

That's probably because the guys doing oil changes are typically lazier than you are. Where do I begin, with all the horror stories from those jiffy-lube style places...

I pay the extra to get a mechanic I actually trust to do mine when I can't do them myself.

yeah. If you find a good regular mechanic that you trust, he shouldn't charge you much more for an oil change, and you get the bonus of a cursory inspection whenever the car goes up.