squeal at idle


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By NewPunkRKR - 17 Years Ago
Thanks to those that chimmed in on the bad voltage regulator.  On another note, I've got a squeal coming from the engine at an idle...  I'm guessing the water pump because the car tends to run warm.  Thoughts?
By Hoosier Hurricane - 17 Years Ago
Take a piece of hose about 3 ft long, like a piece of garden hose or heater hose, hold one end to your ear and use the other end to listen for where the squeal is coming from.  Pay particular attention to the carb to manifold gasket and all vacuum lines and connections.  Intake gaskets too.  I would think the water pump would squeal all the time, not just at idle.  Listen to the belts too.

John

By Moz - 17 Years Ago
listen to the distributor as well if i dont put 3 drops of oil in mine once a month it will squeal at idle & disappear as it speeds up.
By webconst - 17 Years Ago
sometime crankshaft balancer slips back &cont, timing cover
By ejstith - 17 Years Ago
I had this deal when I put a 4bbl carb and manifold on my '56. After I cranked it up it whistled like crazy. I did the listen to the hose thing and had determined it was comin' from the manifold front passenger side port. One of my airplane mechanics told me to take a propane torch, turn it on, don't light it, and run it around all vacuum sources, manifold, carb, hoses etc ... I got ready to do that but when I cranked it up the whistle was gone and hasn't been back since!. I guess it just had to settle in for the night ... but it was a good plan .. the engine will speed up if there's a vacuum leak ...
By NewPunkRKR - 16 Years Ago
After all this time I found the squeal.  It's coming from the water pump shaft between the fan and the pump.  There is a little hole on the top drivers side.  (Sorry no pic, if no one knows what I'm talking about I'll try and post one)  Anyway, out of desperation I dripped a bunch of oil in there and it went away.  After driving the car for a week or so, it's back.  Is there supposed to be a grease fitting there?  I would have to believe it's not lubercated properly, but how can I fix it?  If not, why else would that squeal?

 - John

By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
I have never heard of oiling the water pump.They are supposed to be sealed and not require lube.I would guess the bearings are on the way out and would require water pump replacement.
By Ted - 16 Years Ago
NewPunkRKR (5/27/2009)
After all this time I found the squeal.  It's coming from the water pump shaft between the fan and the pump.  There is a little hole on the top drivers side.  (Sorry no pic, if no one knows what I'm talking about I'll try and post one)  Anyway, out of desperation I dripped a bunch of oil in there and it went away.  After driving the car for a week or so, it's back.  Is there supposed to be a grease fitting there?  I would have to believe it's not lubercated properly, but how can I fix it?  If not, why else would that squeal?

That hole to which you refer is a weep hole and simply allows for water to exit in the event the seal gives up.  From your description, it sounds like the ‘sealed’ bearings in your water pump are about to give up.  A replacement pump is the easiest course of action.