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Howling from my El Dorado


Spurlee

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Last Friday here in Chicago we had quite a snow - heavy and wet. I took the trusty El Dorado for a 100 mile trip through the very thick of it. It performed like the great road automobile it is, absolutely flawless and rock steady. It plowed through and over some pretty deep stuff, I could hear and feel it underneath.

Saturday morning it was pretty cold - in the 20's and when I started it she really howled - a deep whine that paced the RPM's. I put it in my heated garage to melt the snow off the underside where it was packed a bit. By Sunday it was thawed but the howl remained, through a bit more muted.

Sunday night I drove it another 100 miles at 75-80 MPH back to Chicago and the howl was intermittant but persistant.

In listening/looking I'm imagining it's the alternator bearing or maybe the A/C bearing (the A/C clutch is disabled). Doesn't seem to be the in the P/S pump area.

I wonder if the snow had anything to do with it or if it's a coincidence...

Scott

Scott

1996 El Dorado

2006 STS

2000 Corvette

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Sounds like a coincidence. Why is the clutch disabled? Buy a short serp belt 6K739 and eliminate the AC compressor from the circuit. That should be your first test, if it is the AC hub, the howl will stop immediately. If its not the AC hub, you will have eliminated the AC hub a bad AC hub will sound like a bad steering pump and alternator...

IF you can go to the NEXT larger size, tell them you want 6K739 BUT you want the VERY next larger size, the 6K739 was tight to get on, and I have a 96 also.

Look at this thread for more:

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...c=7760&hl=6K739

WOW, that link was to a post started by YOU! :lol:

Here is another thread

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...c=8091&hl=6K739

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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With the engine running, get you a 3' piece of 3/8" rubber hose with one end up to your ear and use it like a stethoscope. It will pinpont exactly where the noise is coming from. Be careful not to let the hose get caught in your belt... :o

Let me knowif you need any help with your AC hub bearing/clutch R&R.

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Sounds like a coincidence. Why is the clutch disabled? Buy a short serp belt 6K739 and eliminate the AC compressor from the circuit. That should be your first test, if it is the AC hub, the howl will stop immediately. If its not the AC hub, you will have eliminated the AC hub a bad AC hub will sound like a bad steering pump and alternator...

IF you can go to the NEXT larger size, tell them you want 6K739 BUT you want the VERY next larger size, the 6K739 was tight to get on, and I have a 96 also.

Look at this thread for more:

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...c=7760&hl=6K739

WOW, that link was to a post started by YOU! :lol:

Here is another thread

http://caddyinfo.ipbhost.com/index.php?sho...c=8091&hl=6K739

Yes, it was started by me and since I use the car eery day in the winter I've put off the A/C repair until later - mostly to see how the car survives the winter.

Thanks, as always, for the advice I think it's a coincidence as well.

I really like the car, it's the second one I've had. It's just at that point where something major could easily go wrong. I'd really like to get 200,000 out of it - I know the engine will handle that easily and I'm at about 120,000 now. We'll see.

I might just look for a deal on a low milage 2002 model - that would give me another 6 or 7 years of El Dorado. That model has been in the lineup for a long time, maybe they'll make another one, though it would likely look like every other car out there.

I'm also thinking about a Jaguar XK8 covertable as a replacement. They're long in the tooth design wise but look unique. People pay too much for them used right now, but maybe later....

Thanks again...

Scott

1996 El Dorado

2006 STS

2000 Corvette

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Listen if your hub is howling, DON'T let it go long! You might get away with a hub replacement, wait?, and you will need a compressor, like on MY 96...by-pass it, that is easy... Mike

post-2998-1138115352.jpg

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Listen if your hub is howling, DON'T let it go long! You might get away with a hub replacement, wait?, and you will need a compressor, like on MY 96...by-pass it, that is easy... Mike

You're right. I'll take your part numbers and bypass it.

Scott

1996 El Dorado

2006 STS

2000 Corvette

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