My car's been making some odd noises, probably due to belts, based on some online research.
It makes a slight "ticking" noise when the engine's running, and the speed increases with the RPMs.
And, I get a horrible squealing noise when I turn my steering wheel when the car's freshly started. This only started after I came to Erie - it's really humid as hell here, and I hear a lot of cars squealing like this.
My belts are only a few months old (assuming the mechanic was honest and actually replaced them), but I read that they might not be tight enough, or maybe they're glazed, or maybe my power steering fluid is low.
But anyway, the service manual - my uncle went this route after being screwed over repeatedly by mechanics. Now he does almost all of the work himself, and he says he bought a service manual.
I found somewhere online for service manuals, but it's a digital copy only. I'd like something printed, mainly because I don't feel like carting a PC outside so that I can work on my car.
I'm also new to the area, so I don't know which places are good and which ones would try to sell me "blinker fluid."
So, question: Where might I be able to buy a print version of a service manual for my car?
'97 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan
I haven't done much with cars - I never tried to learn, because engines are dirty, and I never liked getting dirty. I never even liked playing in mud puddles as a kid. But I think I can forgo that, and try to at least learn the basics. I'm good at disassembling things and putting them back together correctly. A car engine doesn't strike me as being all that bad. Just dirty.
Update: My supervisor knows a little bit about cars, or at least he says he does and he had a look at the old rustbucket today. He pointed out a few things. But here's what I've got:
Pics folder
The engine, with each belt labeled, this includes a previously unseen belt, labeled #3.
Belt 1 goes to the alternator. As you can see in this fuzzy picture, all the printing is still well intact on it; it's quite new, as is belt #2. Visible above the alternator is a rusted bolt, which I turned to try to tighten the alternator's belt. This was what made the squealing a bit worse, oddly enough.
Belt 3 is one I didn't see before. It looks quite glazed, at least on the visible part, and my supervisor said it looks like it's getting a bit of dry rot. Apparently when I tell the mechanic, "The belts are old, replace them all," I need to use a more encompassing word. I wish I had the receipt so I could see what I was charged for. This belt may not be so new though.
Finally, he pointed out that my shocks don't look like they're in such great shape. Is that cracking just cosmetic damage, or are my shocks about to die?
And then there's that oil around the engine itself. What's up with that?
I really need this thing to give me two more years of service. After that, I hope to finally have a net positive income - with tuition and rent bills right now, my income is net negative, by a few thousand a year.
If this car needs repairs, I'm looking at another part time job to pay for it, but I guess if that's what it takes....
"The things you own end up owning you."
So then, oh great car folk, how long does my car have to live?
I want to get a hitch installed too, so I might just wind up making out a list of everything that needs doing to this hunk of junk, and take it back to the place I bought it from. I know the guy, and trust him not to rip me off. (He's not the mechanic I took the car to for the belt replacements.)
Update #2, Nov 19th: Got the car worked on. Got two new front tires (they were getting close to being smooth), and they checked the belts. They said that the tension wasn't set nearly tight enough. What exactly they tensioned, I don't know, but the car was quiet during the trip home. Let's see how long it holds up.
It makes a slight "ticking" noise when the engine's running, and the speed increases with the RPMs.
And, I get a horrible squealing noise when I turn my steering wheel when the car's freshly started. This only started after I came to Erie - it's really humid as hell here, and I hear a lot of cars squealing like this.
My belts are only a few months old (assuming the mechanic was honest and actually replaced them), but I read that they might not be tight enough, or maybe they're glazed, or maybe my power steering fluid is low.
But anyway, the service manual - my uncle went this route after being screwed over repeatedly by mechanics. Now he does almost all of the work himself, and he says he bought a service manual.
I found somewhere online for service manuals, but it's a digital copy only. I'd like something printed, mainly because I don't feel like carting a PC outside so that I can work on my car.
I'm also new to the area, so I don't know which places are good and which ones would try to sell me "blinker fluid."
So, question: Where might I be able to buy a print version of a service manual for my car?
'97 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan
I haven't done much with cars - I never tried to learn, because engines are dirty, and I never liked getting dirty. I never even liked playing in mud puddles as a kid. But I think I can forgo that, and try to at least learn the basics. I'm good at disassembling things and putting them back together correctly. A car engine doesn't strike me as being all that bad. Just dirty.
Update: My supervisor knows a little bit about cars, or at least he says he does and he had a look at the old rustbucket today. He pointed out a few things. But here's what I've got:
Pics folder
The engine, with each belt labeled, this includes a previously unseen belt, labeled #3.
Belt 1 goes to the alternator. As you can see in this fuzzy picture, all the printing is still well intact on it; it's quite new, as is belt #2. Visible above the alternator is a rusted bolt, which I turned to try to tighten the alternator's belt. This was what made the squealing a bit worse, oddly enough.
Belt 3 is one I didn't see before. It looks quite glazed, at least on the visible part, and my supervisor said it looks like it's getting a bit of dry rot. Apparently when I tell the mechanic, "The belts are old, replace them all," I need to use a more encompassing word. I wish I had the receipt so I could see what I was charged for. This belt may not be so new though.
Finally, he pointed out that my shocks don't look like they're in such great shape. Is that cracking just cosmetic damage, or are my shocks about to die?
And then there's that oil around the engine itself. What's up with that?
I really need this thing to give me two more years of service. After that, I hope to finally have a net positive income - with tuition and rent bills right now, my income is net negative, by a few thousand a year.
If this car needs repairs, I'm looking at another part time job to pay for it, but I guess if that's what it takes....
"The things you own end up owning you."
So then, oh great car folk, how long does my car have to live?
I want to get a hitch installed too, so I might just wind up making out a list of everything that needs doing to this hunk of junk, and take it back to the place I bought it from. I know the guy, and trust him not to rip me off. (He's not the mechanic I took the car to for the belt replacements.)
Update #2, Nov 19th: Got the car worked on. Got two new front tires (they were getting close to being smooth), and they checked the belts. They said that the tension wasn't set nearly tight enough. What exactly they tensioned, I don't know, but the car was quiet during the trip home. Let's see how long it holds up.