3rd gen 3.4L belt squeal and sputter. Scared to drive it home.

[airbag]

Quick post since I am at work right now..

My 1999 3Rd gen 3.4L has had a little belt squeal thing going on for a few weeks. tried using the CRC cleaner stuff but doesn't seem to improve for long.

Today i noticed that when I am turning the truck hesitates and nearly dies. No lights come up, no CEL on

So for example, I'm turning out of the parking lot and a belt starts to lightly squeal and the truck sputters and it FEELS like i lose power steering for a moment. It does not die completely and will catch itself after a few seconds and run normally (and the squeal stops)

My question is, can a dying belt cause the truck to sputter out like this? I am afraid to drive it home (30mi) so I am leaving it at the office for tonight but tomorrow I want to come back and figure this out. Safe to say start at the belts or do i have a bigger problem? which belt/belts should I replace if so? Additionally, my fuel gauge seems to be going back and forth between 1/4 and 1/8ish today. I know I'm low, but its historically been pretty accurate.

Thanks for any help. i am in a tough situation right now!

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Drive it home. Power steering belt has too much slack in it, no biggie. As far as the sputtering, put gas in it. If its that low, the pump may be having a hard time picking up fuel from the tank.

 

[airbag]

So are you saying the squeal/loss of power steering and sputter are different issues? one being low on fuel the other being a loose belt?

 

[Snowy21]

X2 on the PS belt being loose, quite a few members rigs do this when its cold out including mine

 

[Drcoffee]

Drive slowly. It could also be the LBJ failing. Just before these ball joints let go, it causes a notchy steering feeling, and then WAMMO! Your wheel is pointing in a whole other direction taking the fender with it.

Just me thinking out loud but if the belt was loose, it wouldn't cause the engine to load up and die. It sounds like it is fighting the ball joint.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm thinking. Either that or possibly your alternator belt is slipping too and the sputtering is from a weak signal to the ECU and/or fuel pump. Put some fuel in it and see if the problem persists.

 

[airbag]

it may help to mention that when the truck is running and idle and I turn the wheel all the way in each direction it doesn't replicate the issue (sputter/reduced power steering response)

 

[ALBPM]

Make sure there is enough power Steering fluid in the reservoir. If low it will make noises as well.

 

[airbag]

Ill check belt tension and PS fluid. Best way to check LBJs?

 

[airbag]

And fuel of course

 

[airbag]

Went outside and tried again turning the wheel kind of made it hesitate but then the thing started hesitating without the wheel turning at all (all this was done while idle) it wanted to die but wouldn't. Turned t off and back on and it fires but revs real low again. Gas light not on anymore. Maybe I have a bummed out gauge and the squeaking is more of a coincidence? Back at my desk now, only had 10 mins to test.

 

[Mguilicutty]

Sounds like the alt belt has been loose a while and not charging the battery. That would explain the sputtering, low revs and such. Likely if it is squealing like that the belt is moving faster than whatever it is trying to rotate. So either the belt is just loose, or your alternator is about to crap out and is resisting rotation, especially right after you've started it up.

Or it could be something completely different...

Check the tension of all your belts, if one is noticeably more loose than the others you probably have your culprit and all you have to do is tighten it up. If that doesn't help, have someone start it up while you watch the pulleys and see if you can see it happening.