Screaming Vehicle...

I'm curious about something...

Last night, after dark, I heard this god-awful sound coming down the road in front of my house. I went outside and first of all, a horrid smell of something burning hit me, don't know it it was related to the noise or not. It was an acrid sort of burning smell.
Anyway, the noise got closer and then I saw it drive by, about the size of a dump truck, or ambulance, it was higher than a car, or regular pick-up truck, and it had a few lights on the side.

This noise was like nothing I have ever heard in my life! So loud and like a screeching kind of scream.
As it passed, I could still hear it about three miles down the road.

What would cause a vehicle to make such a noise?

 

Ford Diesel cranked up with the exhaust that sounds like an old skool blower whining in the "Road Warrior"?

 

I don't know what that means... but if you mean like this video, not even close. The one I heard had the decibel level of a space shuttle launch.

 

I dunno a few days ago was next to a rusted out excursion diesel that sounds more like a rocket launch then the vid. Am sure the kid had more into the exhaust then the truck/utility was worth.

 

Post me a Youtube video of what you're talking about and I'll let you know if that's what I heard.

 

This is what he's talking about.

 

Nope. Not it.

 

Could it have been loud enough to have been an alternator going out? I've heard some loud ones over the years. Other than that, I don't know.

 

I've heard power steering pumps make loud screams and smelled that wierd burnt oily metallic smell they make on their deathbed.

 

No smell, but for the past 8-9 months a chevy pu truck has been going by the house 2x day with the rear end gears just howling. I'm surprised it i still moving!

 

This sounds like the best guess yet...

 

Maybe it was an old 2 stroke Jimmy.

 

Maybe a serpentine belt along with some bearings out on one of the pulleys? I know my belt in my Suburban would scream like crazy before I replaced it an the idler pulley.

Belts wills scream real loud, and if one of the pulleys is slow because the bearings are seizing up, it's going to burn and smell bad. They typically don't last long if one of the pulleys is slow though, they snap rather quickly.

 

I found a video that sounds very similar to what I heard... the one I heard was a lot louder.
You just have to listen to the first 30 seconds...

 

LMAO! That would do it.

 

Hmm........an alternator issue! Who would have thought.............

 

I know a guy (Jason) who causes his passengers to do a lot a screaming.

So you get your car fixed? Hopefully you only needed a new belt. If a new alternator, less than a few hundred.

 

Not my vehicle... but thanks for asking

 

Nothing like that Ford squeal, from the V-belt era. Especially on a cold morning.