Recently my ESI (109,xxx) has been getting some intermittent bad smoke out the exhaust, it's bluish so I assume that it's oil. Also, oil has forever been leaking out from somewhere by the valve cover but I guess it wouldn't be a true 2gnt if it wasn't.

Anyways the other night driving around I smelled some burning coolant, and after shutting the car off discovered that I was smoking from my belts/coolant overflow tank area. Car never overheated and the overflow was still full so I assumed it might just be a slow, isolated leak, still drivable to the nearby shop.

Fast forward to today as I was getting ready to bring it in, I turn the car on, hear a horrendous squeal, followed by a loud pop, and then the engine died. Tried restarting her again with no success, the engine turned over but was not catching at all.

So does anybody have any clues as to what may have just happened? It doesn't seem like any of these three problems are related at all, which terrifies me. I just spent over a grand a few months ago having my entire cooling system replaced, and am uninterested in having to dish out that sum once again for a car that's probably only worth like $2500 max at this point. Might it be time to say goodbye?

a squeel, a pop, then no start. hmmm.

check your plugs
compression test
leakdown test maybe
check for hydrocarbons
check electrical
i could keep going...

if you're motor's screwed, i have a good one for u. $700 plus ship or pick it up :)

first thing I'd do is pull the timing inspection cover, make sure the belt isn't loose or nonexistant. after that check your other belts and make sure they didn't pop and take out something else (I know it's unlikely, but I've had it happen) like the crank sensor harness.

after that start checking the normal stuff like spark and fuel, compression...

does anything look out of place?

Originally posted by RoninEclipse2G
first thing I'd do is pull the timing inspection cover, make sure the belt isn't loose or nonexistant.

Are you still on the original timing belt? I hope not. Definitely check that.

Nothing looks out of place at all, that's the strange thing. Power steering and alt. belts both on their pulleys. Timing belt is not the original, but I did check anyways and it is still intact.

I tried turning the car on again and this time it did start, though it took some effort, and immediately the squealing continued and the burning coolant smell returned. Idle was rough also.

Still not sure if the burning coolant and this other problem have anything to do with one another?

you're gonna have to isolate the squealing sound but the burning coolant/squealing is making me think waterpump pulley bearing failure.

don't take my judgement for fact. check it yourself to find where the sound is coming from.

Originally posted by RoninEclipse2G
the burning coolant/squealing is making me think waterpump pulley bearing failure.

this is the very first thing I thought of too. it's in the proper location of the leak, and when it seizes can causes all the timing related issues that may cause a no start.