Squeal when accelerating...HELP

[lnbornde]

Hey guys,
I am new to this and really need help this is my last options since the "good" mechanic I thought I found just ripped me off. I had my car looked at because the noise had gotten so bad after 3 different mechanics told me the serpentine belt was fine (only like 1 year old... not generic one paid high price at NTB) and that it was just noisy but finally it had gotten way worse. The last guy told me that I needed to replace the Alternator, the pulley was going bad and my car would soon die. I had been noticing issues when starting up but didn't think much of it. After I paid for it to be fixed (way more then I needed to) the noise is back only 1 day later. It is mainly when I accelerate and I am wondering if I need to replace the actually belt now since the pulley issue is fixed or just go back and have him check the alignment and/or the tension. He said that I did not need a new belt though, when I asked him to check it out prior to the Alternator replacement.

Also I have a few other issues with this car..... If anyone wishes to chime in, then please do so. I am a broke college student and DO NOT have the option of a new car from the parents like many others out there.

Minor but still annoying-
The driver side door only opens from the inside how can I fix it?
The driver side seat power controls won't move forward or back the left side will move a little when you press the controls but it seem like its stuck and the lumbar support has no tension when you turn the knob to adjust it.

A little more concerning potentially serious issues-
when i make SHARP turns there is like a loud grinding pop ...wheel or bearing issue?
When I am idle the RPMs go from 1,500 then will drop to 1,000 then the 500 and makes me feel like it is just going to keep on going until it just dies out.
Leaking antifreeze around the thermostat housing and that it is possibly just a quick fix with new gaskets in like 3 or 4 places

The main one is the belt and the other concerning issues.

Before I waste the money that I DON'T already have to get these issues fixed is there anyone who can help me figure out the solutions on my own or what work is actually needed so that I don't get ripped off again.

I just moved to a new state and don't know of any good mechanics like I did where I am from. I have only had the benefit of dealing with dealerships due to my previous job but I tried the dealerships here and they are just as bad poor workmanship and made matters worse. They hear that I am a 22 year old girl who doesn't know anything about cars and majority of the time I can tell that they are ready to take full advantage of this since I think something is wrong and so I get a whole list of items that "need" to fixed. I have called my Dad who "knows" a lot more than I do and half of the stuff he has told me I didn't need. My Dad lives 2,000 miles away though and said he doesn't want to tell me anything without looking at it.

 

[OneLever]

First of all welcome to the forum!

I would like to thank you for being thorough but as a practical matter this is information overload. I understand you are stressed out from having a shop pull one over on you. Similar outrage got me started on becoming my own mechanic, but most of the problem solvers on here respond to narrow and detailed issues. General calls of distress lacking specificity tend to be overlooked.

I had my car looked at because the noise had gotten so bad

Can you describe this noise and the circumstances it arises under?

I had been noticing issues when starting up but didn't think much of it.

What issues had you been noticing prior to alternator replacement?

...It is mainly when I accelerate

Noises which are directly related to vehicle speed are usually related to the driveline (driveshaft, transfer case, differential, wheel bearing).

...have him check the alignment and/or the tension.

On my 1997 V8 Mountaineer the serpentine belt is automatically tensioned by a non-adjustable spring. I believe most of the second generation explorers are that way.

Minor but still annoying-
The driver side door only opens from the inside how can I fix it?
The driver side seat power controls won't move forward or back the left side will move a little when you press the controls but it seem like its stuck and the lumbar support has no tension when you turn the knob to adjust it.

Use the "search" feature of the forum to track down fixes to these problems. They have probably been well documented.

potentially serious issues-
when i make SHARP turns there is like a loud grinding pop ...wheel or bearing issue?
When I am idle the RPMs go from 1,500 then will drop to 1,000 then the 500 and makes me feel like it is just going to keep on going until it just dies out.
Leaking antifreeze around the thermostat housing and that it is possibly just a quick fix with new gaskets in like 3 or 4 places

You should research these problems individually for already existing fixes. If exhaustive forum searches fail to answer your questions then you should create individual threads for each major problem. Try to be as descriptive in both the title and thread as possible for that particular problem. Pictures of the problem help even more. You should also include the make, model, year, engine type, and transfer case type in your signature or sidebar profile. If you don't know these things people can help you figure out what you have.

...They hear that I am a 22 year old girl who doesn't know anything about cars and majority of the time I can tell that they are ready to take full advantage of this...

Sadly this is something which is hard to avoid unless you educate yourself on these issues. Of course, your opportunity cost to do so will likely be too high.