'98 Pontiac Sunfire... strange grindand squelching sounds from engine on startup.

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Shinnokxz - 22 Dec 2006 02:20 GMT

Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather has
been acting up every time I start it up after about a day's of rest,
there will some grinding noises coming from the (what I think) the
engine, and sometimes they'll be consistent enough to start emitting
very high-pitched squelch. Driving for a while seems to make it go away,
and it seems to disappear entirely when I'm around town and it's parked
and I start it up. Anyone have any ideas? Is this a common occurance or
should I get it checked out? Thanks.

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Shinnokxz - 22 Dec 2006 02:21 GMT

> Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
> about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather has
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> and I start it up. Anyone have any ideas? Is this a common occurance or
> should I get it checked out? Thanks.

Also, I suppose it's worth noting that I recently had it serviced and
the oil changed (synthetic), and it was doing it before and it's still
doing it after.

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Geoff Welsh - 22 Dec 2006 08:02 GMT

>> Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
>> about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather has
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> the oil changed (synthetic), and it was doing it before and it's still
> doing it after.

since "serviced" is a 100% ambiguous term, no, that doesn't help.
The first thing I do when diagnosing an engine noise, is to remove the
serpentine belt and see if the noise goes away. If it does, I spin all
the accessory pulleys by hand and see if something feels wrong. After
that the mechanic stethoscope comes out of by box.
If this isn't stuff you can do, take the car in.

There is usually a very short time between noise and total failure.
GW

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Shinnokxz - 22 Dec 2006 23:55 GMT

>>> Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
>>> about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather has
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> There is usually a very short time between noise and total failure.
> GW

Thanks for the reply; just 'feeling' my way about and was curious if
this was at all something that as happened a lot to other Sunfires. I
frequented the Toyota Pickup group back in the day, and just by some
basic symptoms by the poster, some people were able to see it as all
on-target for a failure that most Toyota Pickups suffer or have a
tendency towards- thanks for the help though.

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Geoff Welsh - 24 Dec 2006 04:39 GMT

>>>> Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
>>>> about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> on-target for a failure that most Toyota Pickups suffer or have a
> tendency towards- thanks for the help though.

At almost ten years old (we're in the 2007 model year), you are looking
at problems that every car has, not just 1998 Sunfires.
But that's a profession mechanic's opinion, not a 'net conspircist.

GW

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Shinnokxz - 30 Dec 2006 00:24 GMT

Follow-up: Brought it in and apparently it's the water pump seizing up.
People are charging $550 for parts and labor.

*inserts gun in mouth*

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Janl - 30 Dec 2006 13:30 GMT

> > Hey, my 1998 Sunfire is pretty much all stock and I don't know much
> > about the ins and outs of it, but recently since the cold weather has
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> *inserts gun in mouth*

My 2001 Sunfire needed a new water pump on Wednesday - $731 total -
ouchie.

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