haha, its me again... my engine is making a loud screaching noise

[92BMW318is]

Well it's been doing this : Youtube video----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqay5rQJCf4

Sounds loud as hell only does it in first gear or in neutral , but doesn't always do it, it does it when its cold or wet, it happens speratically. If I rev the engine up to about 3 rpms it stops for a while.....

When it does happen lights dim, and flicker. They seem to be flickering more often the whole time i drive now. Also the engine light blinks speratically threw out the driving, (it will turn on, off, on off stay on then turn off, then turn on and soo on and so on)....

Today all my odomiters like speed and Rpms went all the way down at the same time. Then went back up, it did this twice.

Dash board lights flashed too like turned off then on  did this like 3-4 times.

  I'm thinking its the alternator belt is loose or a barring on one of the belt wheels. I don't think its the starter catching the fly wheel but it could possibly be....

I'm having a hard time with this one.
 

    You guys have any ideas?
                                           Also thanks for all your guy's help.

[92BMW318is]

any ideas guys???

[carlos318is]

Mate that sounds like the power steering wheel or the alternator wheel take the aux belt off and run it up but dont run it for long as you will have no water pump. come to think of it it could also be that

[quinn11m20]

That sounds like metal to metal. Check your water pump, the pulley could be sitting on the edge of the crankshaft pulley. They are close together. Also you might want to remove your alternator and go get it checked. If you car is doing all that and its electrical....well start with the alternator. Good luck.

[92BMW318is]

Mate that sounds like the power steering wheel or the alternator wheel take the aux belt off and run it up but dont run it for long as you will have no water pump. come to think of it it could also be that

like i said tho the noise happens spontaneously

[nickmpower]

how tight are the belts?

[nickmpower]

Oh i just saw the lights diming, yeah bet its a belt

[DesktopDave]

Could be alternator bearings, they go occasionally.  That'd make for quite the screeching.  Older BMWs had trouble with the alternator bushings too, but I haven't heard of that in our cars.

[92BMW318is]

Could be alternator bearings, they go occasionally.  That'd make for quite the screeching.  Older BMWs had trouble with the alternator bushings too, but I haven't heard of that in our cars.

should i just buy a whole new alternator if thats the case?

Where is the DME board at agian? im going to try and see if ts getting wet

[carlos318is]

A brand new alternator will be loads of money you will probably get a deal on a refurbished one and give your old one to them

[92BMW318is]

A brand new alternator will be loads of money you will probably get a deal on a refurbished one and give your old one to them
__________________


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4DpIw8DEJE

   well i found a couple for $140.00-200.00 but idk i uploaded a new video.
link is above soo check it out it shows the engine light flashing and head lights dimming
idk, if this helps any more or less.

at 1:39. i tryed to go up a hill and slid back down. haha i had to put the phone down to shift thats why it goes black, sorry for the shitty camra and angles

3:24 its probally the best part


ALSO: how long do you think it would take the change the alt belt out for a fresh one.
i know you have to take off a water pump belt off first, i just want a estimation.
it winter here and if its a long job then im going to have to find a garage

[nickmpower]

you might not need a new belt you may just need to tighten it

[92BMW318is]

you might not need a new belt you may just need to tighten it

i already bought a new belt, im unsure of how i would go about tighting it

[DesktopDave]

Not sure about the e36, but the e30 has individual belts.  I'm thinking you don't have a serpentine belt, they self-adjust.  I already pulled my P/S belt so it's an easy one for me.

If you didn't find the loud squeal yet, pull the belt first then start the engine.  Don't run it too long because that's hard on the battery.  That way you can isolate the noise.  I'm not sure if you bought a new alt or not.

Anyway, on my '91 motor I loosen the alt mount bolt a bit, then I go to the adjuster arm and loosen the nut on back a single turn.  Don't make it too loose, or else the adjuster gear will strip.  Then I twist the bigger (17mm?) geared nut on the front to carefully to tighten the belt.

Don't over-tighten it (not to nag but I stripped those Mickey Mouse stamped gears on the mounting arm & I'd like to save you that fun)...you'll have maybe 1/2" deflection when you push hard with your thumb in the middle of the long span when it's right.  You might have to go back in a week or two to re-tighten the belt, sometimes they stretch a bit or tighten into the pulley grooves.

[92BMW318is]

well i fixed the screaching noise it was the belt.

now the lights still flicker.
i think it might be the alternator but im not sure im going to take it to auto zone and have them test it.

if its not the alternator i dont know what it could be would anyone have any ideas?

what would cause lights to flicker and engine light to turn on and off speractically.