Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

[matthewhighland77]

I have a 1998 OMC/Volvo Penta 3.0 GS
When I start the engine there is a horrible screeching sound that sometimes stays and sometimes goes away.
I sprayed belt spray and that didn't help, so I am not really suspecting the belts, this noise sounds worse than belts...
This problem has been there, but usually just went away after a few seconds, now it stays screeching until I turn off the engine. But... then sometimes it starts and doesn't screech...

I tried to use the stethoscope to hear the exact location, but it was too noisy, now my ear hurts. It seems to be loudest on the very front of the engine.

Please help!
Is this a bearing? a starter not disengaging? A squeeling timing belt? A bad water pump/fuel pump/power steering pump....
Is there anything at the very front of the engine that could screem like this?

Matt

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Does it stop if you take the belt off and run the engine? Only run the engine for a very very short period of time. Basically start it without the belt on and see if it does it then turn it back off.

Spin each pulley by hand and check for any noise with the belt off and the engine NOT running (KEY OUT OF IGNITION).

 

[gdeangel]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I tried to use the stethoscope to hear the exact location, but it was too noisy, now my ear hurts. It seems to be loudest on the very front of the engine.

Sorry to hear that - it must be pretty loud screeching. If its that loud, I'd immediately think "starter not disengaging" too. But the starter is usually on the back of engine. The starter sound has a particular metallic "grindy squeal" quality to it, so it's easy to recognize. FYI, your engine has a timing chain, not belt.

A bad water pump/fuel pump/power steering pump....

This stuff IS usually off the engine front. Power steering pumps can definitely squeal like that if you're low on fluid. Check the level in the power steering reservoir. But if was that, you'd expect the screech to be constant.

With normal impeller wear on the other stuff, you wouldn't really expect squealing as they should always be lubricated in fluid (sea water / fuel respectively). But you could have impeller that breaks apart, giving you a piece of rubber wedged between an impeller blade and the pump housing, which will give you a squeal as well. That would give you the kind of on-again, off-again squealing your describing. If you're steering fluid level is good, then go with Jeep's pulley by pulley POE.

 

[insttech1]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I'm addressing this exact issue right now.
For me, it's my alternator. The internal rear bearing is bad (I know, as I completely disassembled it, and it feels like crap).

It can be:
Bad belt/pulley alignment. Are they all lined up straight? Is the belt tension correct on every belt?
Bad pulleys (need repainting if they're all rusted).
Low fluid like gdeangel said.
Bad bearing in the water pump--is yours raw water pump mounted on the front of the engine, or bracket mounted to the left side?

I read of another trick while researching mine:
Drip some water on the belts as they spin. Noise goes away, it's the belt or pulleys.
Noise stays, then it's a bearing somewhere.

Spraying automotive belt spray on mine only made the noise worse.

The part where you say it "sometimes goes away" makes me lean toward your alternator, because as the current load lessens on the alternator, it becomes easier to spin (less electromagetic drain). Taking the belt off and spinning it by hand doesn't always let you know it's the alternator, though. I couldn't tell for sure until I took mine apart, but it had other issues anyway.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I have a 1998 OMC/Volvo Penta 3.0 GS
When I start the engine there is a horrible screeching sound that sometimes stays and sometimes goes away.
I sprayed belt spray and that didn't help, so I am not really suspecting the belts, this noise sounds worse than belts...
This problem has been there, but usually just went away after a few seconds, now it stays screeching until I turn off the engine. But... then sometimes it starts and doesn't screech...

I tried to use the stethoscope to hear the exact location, but it was too noisy, now my ear hurts. It seems to be loudest on the very front of the engine.

Please help!
Is this a bearing? a starter not disengaging? A squeeling timing belt? A bad water pump/fuel pump/power steering pump....
Is there anything at the very front of the engine that could screem like this?

Matt

Check your belt tension with a straight edge, most can be depressed 1/2 to 3/4 inch depending on length. Keep in mind this is with modest pressure , don't put your weight on it. If your belts are at the bottom of the pulley, the belt is wore out and tightening it will not fix it. They should be right at or near the top of the pulley.

If all your belts are at the top and in good shape, remove the belts and spin each component by had and check for play and roughness.

 

[matthewhighland77]

Can I replace Harmonic Balancer without lifting the engine out in volvo 3.0 GS 1998

Can I replace Harmonic Balancer without lifting the engine out in volvo 3.0 GS 1998

I have a 3.0 GS Omc/Volvo 1998.
I need to replace the harmonic balancer (aka crankshaft balancer).
The front engine mount appears to be in the way.
Is there anyway to support the front of the engine without removing the engine? I really am tired of renting the engine hoist.

Please help!

 

[matthewhighland77]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Does it stop if you take the belt off and run the engine? Only run the engine for a very very short period of time. Basically start it without the belt on and see if it does it then turn it back off.

Spin each pulley by hand and check for any noise with the belt off and the engine NOT running (KEY OUT OF IGNITION).

When I disconnected the belts, the squealing stopped.
I believe it is the harmonic balancer.
My new question: is it possible to remove a harmonic balancer without lifting the engine on a 3.0 ?
Seems like I should be able to build some sort of brace within the boat? I can't believe there isn't a thread on this... I'll start one as well.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

When I disconnected the belts, the squealing stopped.
I believe it is the harmonic balancer.My new question: is it possible to remove a harmonic balancer without lifting the engine on a 3.0 ?
Seems like I should be able to build some sort of brace within the boat? I can't believe there isn't a thread on this... I'll start one as well.

It may be something other then the belts but I would bet it is not the balancer.

 

[insttech1]

Re: Can I replace Harmonic Balancer without lifting the engine out in volvo 3.0 GS 19

Re: Can I replace Harmonic Balancer without lifting the engine out in volvo 3.0 GS 19

I highly doubt it unless you have a foot of open space in front of the engine mount.
However, read others' opinions on your other post about the squealing before you go after this component.

Your squealing probably went away when you removed your belts, because you were no longer driving the
bad part that was squealing in the first place.

Is the balancer wobbling?? If not, it's doubtful that's your problem, unless it needs to be painted, or that belt is worn.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Alternator. May have battery problems too. Spin the alternator by hand, listen. Probly sounds like gum rolled in gravel.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Why would removing the belts indicate that the problem is the harmonic balancer. :noidea:

Let's tighten the belts instead and see how that plays out.

 

[matthewhighland77]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I'm suspecting the harmonic balancer because all of the other pulleys seem smooth and the belts were very tight.
also, when I sprayed water on the belts trying to determine if that was the screech, the entire belt system suddenly stopped, then started again... without any pausing of the engine. Therefore, I believe the harmonic balancer got wet from my water spray and slipped on its outside rubber ring. I think the screeching noise I am hearing is a constant slip of the balancer on the outer rubber ring... Also the noise seems to be located in that area... and finally, the most difficult repair would be the balancer...

Even before this happened, the engine bounces around alot in idle... I thought it was just a dirty carb and poor timing... but also points at the balancer...

 

[alldodge]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

If your belts are at the bottom of the pulley, the belt is wore out and tightening it will not fix it. They should be right at or near the top of the pulley.

If all your belts are at the top and in good shape, remove the belts and spin each component by had and check for play and roughness.

I'm suspecting the harmonic balancer because all of the other pulleys seem smooth and the belts were very tight.also, when I sprayed water on the belts trying to determine if that was the screech, the entire belt system suddenly stopped, then started again... without any pausing of the engine. ...

If you wouldn't mind could you put your belts back on the engine and take a couple pictures, then post.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I'm suspecting the harmonic balancer because all of the other pulleys seem smooth and the belts were very tight.
also, when I sprayed water on the belts trying to determine if that was the screech, the entire belt system suddenly stopped, then started again... without any pausing of the engine. Therefore, I believe the harmonic balancer got wet from my water spray and slipped on its outside rubber ring. I think the screeching noise I am hearing is a constant slip of the balancer on the outer rubber ring... Also the noise seems to be located in that area... and finally, the most difficult repair would be the balancer...

Even before this happened, the engine bounces around alot in idle... I thought it was just a dirty carb and poor timing... but also points at the balancer...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Lets keep this issue in 1 thread, insteada many threads, Ok,..??

The crankshaft Pulley, is bolted to the Crankshaft,... Not the Balancer,...

Yer theory don't hold water,...

I'd sooner think the belt is worn out, 'n runnin' in the bottom of the pulley, insteada on the sides like it should be,...

Are the pulleys rusted,..??

 

[insttech1]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Bondo,
Actually, on these 3.0's, the pulley is mounted on the outside of the balancer, and it's not bolted.
It's pressed on, and keyed so you always have a timing mark in the right place.
You have to take them off w/ a puller.
If the rubber goes bad, it does affect the pulley.
I'm replacing mine right now because it wobbles; the rubber is worn out.

So that affects my belt wobbling over to my power steering pump.

But I still think you're correct--I doubt it's his balancer. And I also asked him if his pulleys were rusted.....no answer yet.

 

[insttech1]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Matthew,
When you say the "entire" belt system stopped, which one are you referring to??
You should have at least two, and three if you have power steering.

Did you actually SEE the harmonic dampener/pulley stop moving while the engine was running??

If that's the case, it should probably fly off....not good!! Or be wobbling like an SOB at the very least....

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I'm suspecting the harmonic balancer because all of the other pulleys seem smooth and the belts were very tight.
also, when I sprayed water on the belts trying to determine if that was the screech, the entire belt system suddenly stopped, then started again... without any pausing of the engine. Therefore, I believe the harmonic balancer got wet from my water spray and slipped on its outside rubber ring. I think the screeching noise I am hearing is a constant slip of the balancer on the outer rubber ring... Also the noise seems to be located in that area... and finally, the most difficult repair would be the balancer...

Even before this happened, the engine bounces around alot in idle... I thought it was just a dirty carb and poor timing... but also points at the balancer...

Wet V-belts slip - entirely normal an they also squeal as the water dries. Wetting a balancer won't cause it to slip. Every time I've had a balancer go bad the only noise was the belts getting torn up because the balancer walked off the hub.

 

[matthewhighland77]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

I'm smart enough to know that this forum is the usually better than the word of God, so I went back and checked every pulley... and I found that the raw water pump does have a squeak and probably more resistence than it should... hard to believe it would be the cause of such terrible sounds... but I am replacing it tomorrow.
I did put the belt on just the harmonic balancer to the water pump/steering pump just to see if it screamed and it did not (only ran the engine for a few moments).
So... hopefully tomorrow I will post that the raw water pump fixed my problem and thanks to everyone here for stopping me from replacing the balancer.... and I will be a happy boater once again.... and owe you all a beer, I hope.

 

[matthewhighland77]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

Here is a short video of the boat running before I took the belts off. The noise is so loud that I thought the neighbors would never let me work on the boat again... actually, I think they are working on a city ordinance to keep me from working on my boat... I think my wife is actually on the commity... anyways, here she is...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Horrible Screeching noise from front of engine

My friend's boat with the straight thru-hull exhausts is so much louder than that . . . his neighborhood is also forming a committee

Glad to hear that you are on track towards the solution.