Ok, so I am new this whole forum thing...I just joined today. So I bought my 1997 30th Ann. Z28 afew weeks ago...and I am already in trouble. On top of the fact that the head gasket just decided to take a dump on me, my battery indicator(when it ran) would drop drastically down to the red and then my car would sound like a jet enigne getting ready to launch and the gauge would go back up to the center. I have noticed that the belt had been squealing, could that be the cause or is there somethnig else going on? Would apperciate any thoughts...

 

When the head gasket was taking a dump, did it happen to be dumping antifreeze out the front and onto the belt? Antifreeze and belts don't mix well for performance. It could also be a couple other things. Your serpentine belt could be worn/glazed. Check the belt where you can see the inside (grooves) on the curve of a pulley. If you see a lot of cracks, get a new one. I like the Goodyear Gatorback belts. Or your alternator could be on it's way out, with the bearings going bad and starting to lock up.

 

Good advice. I would check out the belt odds are it has seen better days. When the head gasket gave the car probaly sat around and the belt cracked and dried out. Its cheap and easy to replace and its better then being stuck on the side of the road when you get her runing again.

 

Well, the car wasn't sitting before that...the belt had been squealing like that before the head gsk went...I am just going to replace the belt and alt. anyway when I tear it apart just to be on the safe side...the guy I bought the car from brought me the receipt from where he replace the belt three months ago, so it is fairly new...I am about to give up and give it back to him...all this trouble and I have only had it three weeks...grrrrrr

 

I know your frustration! I switched from mustang to camarow just to see what the grass was like! I have had mine for two months and have had some issues! Mine does that too! When I am at idle It drops and eaven my lights dim a lil bit but when I give her gas it goes back up! I have never had a problem yet with belts or dead batteries so???? Mine idles low so maybe I could turn it up a lil bit ? On yours I would recomend a new belt cause they are cheap and wouldnt hurt .....and probally a alternator! Unless it has underdrives????