Noise after replacing radiator

[cccxyz]

I have a 94 Camry Wagon (1mz-fe) with 140k miles. A leak on the radiator suddenly became serious last night while I was driving home. The engine temperature went to the red zone for two seconds before I stopped the car. I was so near my apartment, so after the temperature dropped down, I drove it back home.

I replaced the radiator this morning. When I was flushing the new radiator (only radiator), I started to hear some high-pitching noise (higher than the engine) from the passenger side. During the second drain and fill, I drove the car to the grocery (1.5 miles away) ... because I saw the engine temperature reading was really low. After I came back, a loud noise appeared whenever I turned the steering wheels.

Now, even after I fill in coolant, these noises are still there. I don't think I can safely drive it any more. Did the driving belt go bad because of overheating? The engine seems doing fine. I am really puzzled ......

Help!

[71Corolla]

Check your drive belts, maybe you got coolant on them. Also check your power steering fluid level.

[cccxyz]

Yes, I did drop some coolant on the drive belts (1mz-fe's radiator cap is right above the drive belt). Will it make noise? How can I clean it? Will it just vapor upon heating?

Interesting, my power steering fluid is a few millimeter below min. Can it make such a big difference? I only remember losing some fluid when unplug the radiator fan. Does it use power steering fluid?

[fenixus]

there is coolant and transmission ATF going through radiator.
power steering fluid is not going through radiator.

You can try hosing the coolant off from drive belts, letting it dry and then checking tension on them. if they are loose and old, just replace both of them. if they are new they may need re-tightening.

[cccxyz]

Is it really possible that the coolant can damage the drive belt? My drive belts are not new. They did start developing cracks on them, but is it really a coincidence the problem became serious right after I changed the radiator?

Then how is my power steering wheel affected? It seems the fluid did not change? Is it possible it was damaged when I was driving on water cooling?

[fenixus]

if they are older than 30k miles or 3 years, I would just replace both of them with good brands, like Mitsuboshi, Dayco, Bando (those three you can also get when buying OEM belts from dealer) or Good year.

stay away from all el cheapo brands like Valucraft or other shit like that.

it's just rubber, the older the worse and stretched (loose).

[71Corolla]

Coolant on the drive belts is not a good thing. You should just replace the belts, or at the very least, spray them with a mild soap and then rinse them down as much as you can. Avoid the alternator as much as possible, or cover it with a plastic bag.

The radiator fan uses the power steering pump, so you lost some of that fluid when you pulled the hydraulic fan.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

The radiator fan uses the power steering pump, so you lost some of that fluid when you pulled the hydraulic fan.

ah my bad, sorry I forgot about this on gen3, i'm a gen4 guy kinda...

[cccxyz]

Thanks!

@71Corolla, that makes sense how I lost the power steering fluid!

I guess I will try to rinse them down first to see if it works, then get to the dealer to get some good replacements. Hope it won't crack on my way there ...

[71Corolla]

Modern belts rarely break, it takes a heck of a lot before they finally give it up. When you replace the belts, clean off the various pulleys as much as you can, brake cleaner will work here, or plain old alcohol will work well enough.

[71Corolla]

If you're really ambitious, take the opportunity to flush the power steering system. On your car it's especially important because of the hydraulic fan, metal particles tend to damage them. It's easy to flush, either get a turkey baster and use that to draw out and replace fluid, or you can jack the front wheels off the ground, hook up the appropriate hoses to a container, and just turn the steering wheel lock to lock. This will pump out fluid. Careful never to let the fluid get too low in the reservoir. Here's a couple of pics on how I do it, I use a funnel (for cooling systems) and a PS cap that I drilled a hole into.

[fenixus]

71corolla, have you tried to start the engine and use the power of pump to force fluid quickly (few seconds) flush out in the amount of reservoir? just refill, start again for a few secs, then again. bleed on the end by turning steering wheel lock to lock (on shut engine). it works in minutes.

[71Corolla]

Yes I've done that, but the fluid comes out fast! If I don't feel like jacking up the car I'll do that. But I love having the large funnel on there, put in 2-3 liters of fluid and flush, get's all the bad stuff out in a hurry. That cap fits both Gen3 and Gen4 Camry's BTW, maybe even newer Camry's (pic is actually of an ES300, same cap).

[cccxyz]

Originally Posted by 71Corolla

Modern belts rarely break, it takes a heck of a lot before they finally give it up. When you replace the belts, clean off the various pulleys as much as you can, brake cleaner will work here, or plain old alcohol will work well enough.

I just poured soap water over the belts. The problem is still. I guess I need to replace them. I am surprised that few posts here and online videos give warning not to drop coolant on drive belts...

[71Corolla]

Did you top off the PS fluid? That noise you describe could be the sound of the power steering pump in distress. Remove the alternator belt and start the car (it's an easy belt to remove) to see if that belt is causing the problem.