Q: My car is making a grinding noise and smoking
After starting car, there is a grinding, whirring sound from engine. After a few minutes it begins to smoke some. Shutting engine off, smoking stops immediately. There are no puddles of any kind on the ground
My car has 112678 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
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Hi there - This sounds ominous. It’s difficult to tell from afar, but one culprit could be a failed alternator bearing, and the smoke is indicative of an electrical short, which is never a good thing. It could also be the accessory belt idler pulley. If it has seized, the smoke is coming from the belt itself, which is being forced to slide over a pulley that is no longer rotating. I would recommend having an inspection completed by a mobile, professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, who can come to your location, diagnose your noise and smoke problems, give you an accurate assessment of damage, and provide a cost estimate for repairs.
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