Okay im new here but ive been reading posts here and learning about my car with you guys' help for the past 5 months. I have a 2002 SS 3.8 with about 170,000 on the dash. Just recently her cooling system has started acting funny. I noticed that I was losing lots of coolant throughout the day and one day there was a loud moan or growl (like a small motor accelerating and decelerating as I do so) coming from the engine compartment when I accelerate but was obsolete at idle that has continued. One day as I was driving my serpentine belt started to squeal i thought maybe there was just moisture on it so i gave her gas and the squeal only got louder. I noticed my temp gauge easing up. I crept my car back home and when I popped the hood there was coolant everywhere and my belt was lodged behind the water pump pulley (the pulley wasnt rotating). So, I changed the water pump and replaced the coolant along with the serpentine belt. The cooling system still doesnt seem to be right. The gauge goes down as I drive and goes up at idle not reaching normal operating temp. The moan is still present in the engine compartment but I cant pin point where it is coming from because its only audible as I drive and not at idle. Can someone please help me as this is very annoying. I have a P0440 and P0141 code reading as well

 

EVAP System and Oxygen Sensor are those OBDII codes.

Sounds like you could have really screwed something up by hearing a noise with your belt and adding stress. Maybe you blew the thermostat open, they like to stick open for safety...

IDK This could be numerous things

 

I had the codes before the belt slipped and the noise was present before the belt incident as well.

 

Well just by replacing your front O2 sensor the codes could go away, so I would probably start with that.

Maybe the tensioner is starting to go?

 

Is it possible that your power steering pump is making the groaning/ Whine noise? Mine made a whine when it went out. Just a thought.

 

Where is the coolant going? Check your thermostat, water pump, and under the car for leaking coolant. If there is none, your LIM gasket is likely shot.

 

there was a leak until I replaced the water pump, I believe it was the gasket that was leaking. The noise was present before I change the pump out though. Although I solved the leak issue the noise is still there. I had a mechanic listen as I drove and he say it may be my wheel hub assembly. Could that be it? Or a freeze plug maybe? Would the thermostat being stuck open cause a groaning? Im still sorta convinced it may be the power steering pump idk

 

If you can, get a mechanic stethoscope and listen around the engine bay, specially where the pulleys are.