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'98 S70: Screeching when Reving at Cold Start

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70
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WhatAmIDoing
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'98 S70: Screeching when Reving at Cold Start

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

My 1998 S70 T5M has now hit 250+k miles. This summer, I started hearing a loud, low-pitched screeching noise (not high-pitched like a loose fan belt) whenever I would press on the accelerator. So I know the noise is RPM related, I think it might be a bad bearing, but I cannot trace the source. My best guess/hope is it's one of the pulleys on the serpentine belt. The noise would go away after the engine warmed up, sometimes quickly or sometimes slowly, so I wasn't too worried about it at the time and I was not doing much driving. The noise doesn't change whether in gear, in neutral, clutch engaged or disengaged. I think it is somewhat dependent on ambient temp: when its cold out it is quieter but takes a long time to go away, and when it's warm out it's much louder but goes away quickly. Some days I do not here it at all, and never hear it when my mechanic friend pays a visit (of course :roll: ). It can only be heard whenever I give the engine some gas, it is not apparent at idle or even when coasting in gear. Today it was extremely loud to the point where I could not hear the exhaust over the screeching, so parked it stays for now. I can't for the life of me figure out what the noise is and have been unable to get a usable recording of it.

The previous owner did a timing belt job (belt, tensioner, rollers, waterpump) sometime after 200k miles, so hopefully it's none of that. The serpentine belt looks good and isn't loose, but I do see a lot of microcracks forming on the friction side. Oil level is almost to the max line on the dipstick. Hoping it's not anything inside the engine or the turbo. I really have no clues at this point. tried searching the forum, but "screeching noise" is not a whole lot to go on. Was hoping one of you much more experienced members than I could provide some insight. If I can't make any headway, then I'm calling the mechanic down the road and kissing my paycheck goodbye for his "expert" opinion. This car is my only source of transportation, so I really need it to be in working order.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
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wizechatmgr
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Post by wizechatmgr »

If it were me I'd check the alternator, power steering pump and idlers/tensioners for play. Just remove the serpentine belt and wiggle them. Also try turning them to see if they're binding.
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1999 V70 XC AWD 2.4 T -- ~231k miles
1998 V70 2.4 NA -- ~184k miles
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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑02 Apr 2017, 15:15 If it were me I'd check the alternator, power steering pump and idlers/tensioners for play. Just remove the serpentine belt and wiggle them. Also try turning them to see if they're binding.
That's exactly what I was thinking. Just because the timing belt was done, doesn't mean it was done right or with the right parts. (And being that a "bargain basement" Rockauto timing belt kit is a 25k-35k stopgap.) I might be inclined to replace the timing belt (it shouldn't be developing any cracks) and all the idlers. But yes, before you do all that, take off the serpentine belt and see what they sound like and if they have any play.
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1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
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WhatAmIDoing
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Post by WhatAmIDoing »

The prev owner says it was a kit from IPD, but you never know. Was hoping to make it to at least 260K before thinking about a timing belt change. Unfortunately, I am away from home with only a set of Torx bits with me, so I'm going to have to make friends with a guy with tools. My original suspects were the power steering pump and alternator. I'll see if I can scrounge up something to get the serpentine belt off.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:
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theWIFES_S70
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

If you have a 1/2" ratchet/breaker bar and a couple of coins, you can take off the belt pretty easily. Good luck in troubleshooting the noise. You should grab a long screwdriver and stick it to your ear and place it near all the pulleys; it might be one of those, you never know!
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K
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WhatAmIDoing
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Post by WhatAmIDoing »

I have a small ratchet. Might pick up a long screwdriver. But if I can't find someone to work with me to step on the accelerator, might end up with the mechanic anyway. Wish I had a 10mm socket to get the timing belt cover off, just to make sure it isn't getting shredded due to a bad bearing. And it's not like I can drive to harbor freight....
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Get a piece of garden hose and use that to listen to your engine and isolate the noise. You do want to nail it down as to location
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101
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Post by 101 »

Those simple mechanics stethoscopes are relatively cheap and can really help!
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abscate
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Post by abscate »

..but when your neighbors see you walking around with hose stuck in your ear, they will never bother you again..
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1998v70xcbill
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Post by 1998v70xcbill »

I get this noise when cold sometimes. Goes away after warmup. I thought is was a bearing noise also. I still have the noise, and
I believe it is the oil thermostat for the oil cooler. I don't let it bother me anymore. But boy did it, when I didn't know what it was.
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