squeak noise?

[dream-TRD]

the other night, i pulled my car into my garage. i had my radio off, so i could hear the engine noise. then i noticed, when i shifted into first, there was this squeaking noise. i played around with my shifter, and everytime i put into first, and only first gear it goes squeak. anybody else have this?

[Blue Bomber]

Yup, you need to lube your shifter linkage. Just do a search for "shifter linkage grease" and you'll find details on how to do it.

[POISONLOTUS]

when my engine is cold I hear a squeaking noise when in gear. Do you think it is the same thing Blue?

[Blue Bomber]

Nah, the noise dream-TRD was referring to only happens when you move the shifter in and out of gear. Does your noise go away after the engine warms up? How's your belt tensioner?

[CelicaSport]

Blue, you seem to know everything about the celicas little problems. I want to ride in your car, just to see how fine tuned it is. I could make a list of all the problems mine is having, and I bet you could tell me how to fix everyone...me actually correcting the issues in the right manor, thats a different story tho, but I would try!

[POISONLOTUS]

Yeah, noise goes away when engine is warmed up. It sounds like a cricket chirping when it is cold.

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by CelicaSport
Blue, you seem to know everything about the celicas little problems. I want to ride in your car, just to see how fine tuned it is. I could make a list of all the problems mine is having, and I bet you could tell me how to fix everyone...me actually correcting the issues in the right manor, thats a different story tho, but I would try! LOL, my car isn't even working right now. ;) Besides that, the only other real problem I have is the trunk squeaking, which I'm working on resolving once the car is fixed.Originally posted by POISONLOTUS
Yeah, noise goes away when engine is warmed up. It sounds like a cricket chirping when it is cold. Definitely sounds like the belt tensioner. Try this: buy some Vinylex (at any automotive store) and the next time the car makes that noise, spray some on the drive belt (left side of the engine under the large plastic cover). If the noise goes away, you're tensioner is most likely shot, and you'll at least need a new belt. Get the 3rd gen belt from the dealership, or a Goodyear Gatorback belt to solve the squealing problem.

BTW, the Vinylex is GREAT for cleaning the interior plastics and maintaining all of the weatherstripping.

[POISONLOTUS]

Great, so I don't want the noise to go away when I spray it... That sounds kinda funny. What would happen if I did not replace the tensioner or belt (assuming it is the tensioner). The reason I'm asking is because it does not seem to affect anything when the engine is warmed up.

[Blue Bomber]

I haven't heard of any problems associated with it besides lots of noise. I'm sure the belt's lifespan will be reduced, but I've got 100k on my car (original tensioner and belt) and the belt doesn't show any abnormal wear.

[POISONLOTUS]

cool.... Thanks again Blue, as always much appreciated!

[100to5]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
the only other real problem I have is the trunk squeaking, which I'm working on resolving once the car is fixed.

You are talking about the creaking when you right rear goes over a bump at an angle? Have you even found out exactly what is making that noise?

[Blue Bomber]

Originally posted by 100to5
You are talking about the creaking when you right rear goes over a bump at an angle? Have you even found out exactly what is making that noise? It happens on harder bumps, especially when the car is really cold or it's cold and humid outside. It's a misweld in the C pillar. I'm getting all the trunk seams welded up to see of that will reduce the noise.

[100to5]

Originally posted by Blue Bomber
It happens on harder bumps, especially when the car is really cold or it's cold and humid outside. It's a misweld in the C pillar. I'm getting all the trunk seams welded up to see of that will reduce the noise.

So there really is no way to find the exact location of the misweld? Doesn't seem like its worth the time to re-weld all of the trunk seams when it's just one that went bad.

[Blue Bomber]

Well, the misweld is somewhere inside the frame, and it would weaken the frame if you started cutting into it searching for the problem. The trunk panels are only spot welded, so by welding all their seams (mainly the area around the struts and the center floor), the stiffness of the rear will be increased. This would lessen the twisting that makes the two pieces in the C pillar rub together, which causes the squeaking. My Hypermotive 3pt strut bar has already decreased some of the noise, so hopefully this will get rid of the rest. :)