Squeaking and clattering from belt area

For some months now there has been an intermittent squeaking noise coming (I presume) from the belt area. Sometimes it goes away, then returns. I thought perhaps it was simply a rusty wheel or something. Now I have a clacking noise from the same area. Almost like a piece of metal may have broken off inside the alternator for example and is being flung around inside the housing. I have no warning lights (whatever happened to gauges anyways?), and I don't know what it could be. I'm tired of getting ripped off by the local Pontiac dealer, but I don't know of any trustworthy mechanics either. Anyone have any ideas? Was the squeaking due to something that has now broken? I just replaced the mass airflow sensor about a month or two ago. The damn dealer wanted almost $450 for the part and more than $100 for labor. My Dad sent me the part from Canada for CAN$127 and I changed it in a little over 5 minutes. I can't trust these thieving scum, I hope someone can help me.

sounds like a water pump, idler/tensioner pulley or alternator bearing to me. Take the serp belt off and spin the different pulleys by hand. Any that feel gritty are probably the source of your squeak. When you check the water pump, look for leakage around the two holes in the casting behind the pulley. They are commonly known as "weep holes" and will show signs of coolant leaking when the water pump fails.

For some months now there has been an intermittent squeaking noise coming (I presume) from the belt area. Sometimes it goes away, then returns. I thought perhaps it was simply a rusty wheel or something. Now I have a clacking noise from the same area. Almost like a piece of metal may have broken off inside the alternator for example and is being flung around inside the housing. I have no warning lights (whatever happened to gauges anyways?), and I don't know what it could be. I'm tired of getting ripped off by the local Pontiac dealer, but I don't know of any trustworthy mechanics either. Anyone have any ideas? Was the squeaking due to something that has now broken? I just replaced the mass airflow sensor about a month or two ago. The damn dealer wanted almost $450 for the part and more than $100 for labor. My Dad sent me the part from Canada for CAN$127 and I changed it in a little over 5 minutes. I can't trust these thieving scum, I hope someone can help me.





I ALSO HAVE A 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE, I HAD A SQUEALING NOISE AS WELL, AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS, THEY CHECKED EVERY THING FROM THE BELT TO THE TENSIONER PULLER TO THE ALTINATOR, TO THE WATER PUMP, EVERY THING. UNTIL THE MECHANIC TOOK OFF THE OIL CAP WHILE THE CAR WAS SQUEALING AND THE NOISE HAD STOPPED, HE SAID IT WAS SOME COMPRESSION PROBLEM, COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE PCV VALVE THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, THESE CARS HAVE RUBBER GASGET ON THE PCV, IF AIR EXCAPES THROUGH IT IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL AS WELL, I WOULD TRY THAT FIRST.

I just went through the same little squeaking noise. Did it for a long time until one day the whole front of the AC clutch came apart.