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1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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CFry
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Mar 9, 2010, 2:02 PM
Post #1 of 7
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1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Hi, I drive a 91 dodge colt which I have been having problems with. Last November I started to have a problem with a belt squeaking at startup, and getting worse with acceleration, or the heat being turned on. It subsides after a minute or 2. Besides the noise the car still ran ok. Soon after my car won't start. So I jump start it and it runs fine. It had a few moments over a 2 month period that it wouldn't start, but the rest of the time it started and ran fine. 2 months later I'm Having the same problem, and finding myself having to jump the car twice a day for the last couple of days (keeping in mind it has also held enough charge for upto 6 hours to start again). So I jump it in the morning, drive fine all day w/o a problem, then at like 7 oclock it won't start again, after starting fine at 4.
Long story short I feel like when I crank the engine, a stuck belt causes my battery power to drain quikly. When hooked up to another car battery it takes only a second to jump. Could a belt be the problem?
Perhaps a small drain?
I don't know I feel like it isn't the battery or alternator.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
-Cody Fry
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 9, 2010, 4:16 PM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Cody,
For whatever reason, the belt probably isn't tight enough and the squeal is the alternator working hard but slipping. That needs looking at and correcting. Bet that battery is no good now as they don't last long being low on charge and all that jumping necessary to start it. You could have the battery checked at a parts outlet usually free but best to charge it up with a charger first for that.
Check how tight the belt is. If too loose it probably needs a new one after slipping even if you can adjust that one. Some are self adjusted and some aren't - don't know for sure with this one,
T
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CFry
New User
Mar 9, 2010, 5:00 PM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Tom,
So it's the alternator squealing and not the belt itself? And by running my car without fixing the sqealing it's killing my battery? Sounds logical.
-Cody
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 10, 2010, 4:05 AM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Right. I think you are hearing the belt slipping as alternator works hard which would be right after starting up as starter takes out some juice fast and headlights, blowers, also use a fair amount of amps so alternator is supposed to cover that and keep battery stabil at full charge while running and it is obviously challenged to keep up.
Alternator and battery are dependent on each other in many ways. When one is in trouble it can hurt the other. Charging battery with a charger takes the stress off of the alternator if it needed a jump to start the battery was likely way below half original ability and alternator is trying to "fill it back up" as fast as it can which hurts both!
In hand an alternator just spins free as it isn't burdened with working but installed it's a load on the engine and belt that is surprisingly substantial.
The common battery doesn't like to be low and shortens its life unlike special batteries for some marine/rv use or expected to run down and tolerate that.
If belt was tight enough for a low battery and alternator strong, it would get VERY hot doing its thing and can self destruct from that,
T
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CFry
New User
Mar 16, 2010, 12:21 PM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Problem turned out to be extremely low anti-freeze. Filled it up and the problem is gone! Thanks for the help though.
-Cody
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2010, 2:04 PM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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Cody,
If that low on coolant you have a problem as it doesn't generally get stolen. You need to know where it leaks, anything that contains it is possible and it really shouldn't be a noise factor unless overheating was spraying some on the belt - then it would all make some logical order of events,
T
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2010, 4:54 PM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: 1991 dodge colt: squeals; occasionally won't start
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>>Filled it up and the problem is gone<<
Hold on to that thought.
Loren
SW Washington
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