Spurlee Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 I've been chasing down a whine in my 1996 El Dorado (120,000 mi.) and just replaced the A/C compressor (which was bad anyway), tensioner assembly and belt. When I picked the car up it was quiet. 100 highway and 100 street miles later I start it up and suddenly it's whining and ringing intermittantly - very loud. I figure the belt is working itself off so I get out and look but can't see anything that obvious. I make the 35 mile commute home and look a bit deeper and still can't really tell where the whine and pretty clear ringing are coming from exactly. I made an offering to the Gods of Old Cadillacs in the form of a full-retail-priced idler pulley and since my tools aren't with me I just set it on the hood for the karma to seep in overnight. Sure enough, by this afternoon it's as quiet as new. I'm guessing it's the idler, maybe the alternator. Maybe the new belt and tensioner just chased the problem to the next weakest link... Scott 1996 El Dorado 2006 STS 2000 Corvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted February 28, 2006 Report Share Posted February 28, 2006 Use a 3/4" hose to about 3 feet long to listen to the accessories and wheels to see if you can localize it. Also take the belt off and turn each wheel and accessory to see if its dry, rough or noisy.. 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAC Posted March 1, 2006 Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Listen to BodybyFisher and take the time to locate the problem. You could also by a mechanics stethoscope for about $20 from PepBoys. Your not doing yourself any favor by waiting for a potential breakdown on the road. Waiting may end up being a big mistake. My idler pulley bearings burned out on the way home from work and the serpentine belt fell off. Lucky for me I was near an auto parts store and the attendant was nice enough to help me find a short enough belt to bypass the pulley. I was able to make it home without a tow. If your idler pulley is shot you might as well spend the $16-20 now rather than getting stuck. Best thing to do is to locate the noise and take care of the problem A.S.A.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurlee Posted March 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2006 Your not doing yourself any favor by waiting for a potential breakdown on the road. Waiting may end up being a big mistake. You're right, of course, I'm just ticked off at not ever having my tools with me during the work week when I'm away from home. I have a stethiscope there too...ARRGH. Scott 1996 El Dorado 2006 STS 2000 Corvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaddyChris Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 My idler pulley went and I managed to make it home 10 miles without the car dying, I pulled it into the driveway and it wouldn't start back up. It was an interesting drive with no power steering, and trying to use as little accessories as possible. Christopher Petro 94 sts 67 coupe de Ville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurlee Posted March 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 I think my problem has turned out to be a water pump thats going. Scott 1996 El Dorado 2006 STS 2000 Corvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted March 3, 2006 Report Share Posted March 3, 2006 I think my problem has turned out to be a water pump thats going. Spurlee, if you have the NS (which you do), the water pump is on the drive side of the engine, it would nothing to do with the serp belt on the passenger side of the engine, Mike 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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