95 Metro very hard to start, squealing noise until warmed up...

[mkuti]

Please help... My 95 Metro has been tough to start the last couple of days. It doesn't want to turn over, and when I give it gas it stays at close to 0 rpms. Even after it finally starts the rpms are very low and I need to continue holding the gas for a long time. There is also a belt squealing sound that continues until after the car is finally warmed up. I got my oil changed yesterday, and they said it needed to be flushed/cleaned. Anyway, tons of black smoke came out for quite some time (they were even surprised). The mechanic said that my problem was probably over. Unfortunately, I had a very hard time starting my car again today--it was just as hard, and I'm afraid it's just going to get worse.
Once my car has started, it seems to start just fine again later--only a problem if it has been a while since starting.

Any ideas would be hugely appreciated!! Thanks!

[movin2stereo]

Battery,Alternator,Tune up,Fuel filter,Air filter.

[mkuti]

Thanks! The battery is brand new, and the air filter is pretty new. Could the other problems cause the squealing?

[MatLax]

The squealing problem might be your alternator belt, you might need to change it OR to tight it

[SeanMurphy]

Metros are pretty well known for having the cold start squeal. If you replace the belt and tighten it properly, and it still does it, check to make sure the pulleys on the crankshaft and alternator are aligned. I've heard reports of the alternator needing to be shimmed to align the pulleys. Other than that, If the belt still squeals for a few seconds until it warms up, but it doesn't seem to wear or smoke, you can try putting some belt dressing on the belt for the winter months. It won't stop the initial slippage, but it will make the annoying noise go away. Some problems are so insignifigant yet difficult to fix that it's just as well to mask them as it is to remedy them.

As to your black smoke, I'd suggest new plugs and O2 sensor. That will probably fix the lope and hard idling, too. A compression test probably wouldn't hurt either. You should see near 180psi on each cylinder.

I'd definately do as suggested above though and change all your air and gas filters.

[normalicy]

Also consider your idler pully (though it usually doesn't stop squealing after warmup).

[110578]

Alternator belt is probably loose.

[mkuti]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post!! Here is the weird thing. The problem just went away on its own. Maybe I'm mistaken and it's something that will come back, or maybe it needed to circulate whatever they put in there when they flushed it, who knows. I know I need to really watch, but for now I'm ecstatic that it's been starting without a problem!!!

[crazyinkc]

A rich mixture could also be a bad CTS. Check the wiring to it and make sure it is making a clean connection. It might be soaked with oil.