GSbearcat

Hello - I have a 99 GS4 with 278k, overall in very good shape. For the past few months I was getting a chirp in the engine bay when I would decelerate, it did not seem to directly coincide with braking as I know some people have that issue. It sounds like a belt noise but it's only a brief chirp. I replaced the acc belt and also did the tensioner, hoping these were the culprits. No luck. Yesterday I was pulling into a parking spot and got the chirp right before I came to a stop. I then had a puff of white smoke come through the vents. As I drove home from this location I had a very strong oil smell every time I came to a stop. It seems like the chirping may have died down some but when I pop the hood I can see smoke coming from the rear of the engine on the passenger side.

I'm assuming I may need a valve cover gasket replacement and possibly spark plug seals but if anyone can connect the dots from the chirping to the oil that would be great. They may just be two separate issues.

Let me know if I left out any important details.

Thanks.

SpectraBlu

iTrader: (1)

Is it possible that it's your blower motor crapping out on you? I never heard of a bad valve cover gasket forcing a cloud of smoke through your vents. Your blower motor is on the passenger side, maybe it's coming through the firewall through a hole someone drilled for a power wire for a stereo or something and that's why you see it in the engine bay. IDK just throwing out ideas lol. Good luck

GSbearcat

Thanks - I just saw the white smoke briefly the one time. But it seems like the oil leak immediately started or intensified after that.

kevin3344

Actually I think you have two separate issues. The chirping could be due to the belt, and the oil leak due to valve cover gaskets. I fought a chirping sound for months and finally took the car to Lexus and they replaced the drive belt with an OEM belt and I haven't had a problem since. My indy replaced my alternator once and used a Toyota belt that worked on the 2GS but it wasn't a true OEM belt and that was it. I bet if you replace it with one from the dealer that will solve your issue. Anyway, the smoke on the passenger side can certainly be due to valve cover gaskets esp if you haven't had them done in a while.

GSbearcat

Thanks - I tried to do belt research and ended up getting a Continental. I'll look into the OEM belt.