Any ideas??...car problems

[cally]

I go outside this morning and hear a horrible screech from my car. I go to start it and it goes away. It sounds like a car alarm but this car does not have an alarm

I took it to a long overdue mechanic check today. They did not find anything.

So, I was just woken up by what sounded like a car alarm. Maybe the horn. I couldn't get if off. I decided to drive it away from houses and leave it so I could get help in the morning. My daughter followed me and saw "lot's of white gas falling from the tail pipe."
Any ideas.

And I'm wondering if anyone will show up at my house tonight. I tried to take it away from people but it is very loud. :eyes:

[Wonk]

1. You could disconnect the battery cables until tomorrow. nt

[stevedeshazer]

2. What kind of car?

When you start it the noise goes away, but when you shut the ignition off it starts again? So it didn't do this for your mechanic?

The tail pipe gas, if white, was probably water vapor, no big deal. Is it cold where you are?

[cally]

4. 92 Mazda Protege

Well, that worked for about 10 minutes. The police came to my door and I just disabled the battery.

The sound did not go off when I drove it. I left it miles away

[ChoralScholar]

3. Do you have an electric antenna?

and is it successful in going down when you turn off the key?

If not, the electric motor will run trying to lower your antenna until it drains the battery. And it can make some pretty nasty noises when it binds up.

Thats the only electrical thing that would have power with the key off.

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. Your car is possessed.

Sure, it starts with "white gas falling from the tail pipe." Soon, though, it will advance to split pea soup falling from the tail pipe.

[beevul]

6. Whereabouts is the screeching sound coming from?

Is it possible the starter motor is stuck running with the solonoid disengaged?

Describe the screeching noise.

[cally]

7. Maybe

After fiddling with a sorry flashlight and the wrong tools, we stopped the screeching by moving the steering wheel. Yep.

I'm not sure where the noise is coming from. It's loud and nothing I've ever heard before. It sounds like a horn, but I an not sure.

[BiggJawn]

10. "we stopped the screeching by moving the steering wheel." BINGO!!!

It's the horn.
There is a sliding contact that goes to a wire that comes up the middle of the steering column than goes to the button that makes the "BEEP-BEEP" when you smack the middle of the steering wheel.
What has happened is that this wire has worn through it's insulation and is grounding out enough to sound the horn.

Go under the hood and pull the wire off the horn. Then take it back to "Mr. Badwrench" and tell him exactly what I told you and then tell him to wipe that snear off and fix the damn wire....

[cally]

11. Thanks all

After comments here at DU and talking to those with some knowledge of cars, I think it's a short in the horn. I'm deciding whether to disable it which I know is illegal or fix it.

Actually, my mechanic is not Mr Badwrench. He charges fairly and doesn't smirk or act like I'm an idiot. I've had too many of those.

DU is just amazing. I know many have said this, but folks offer great advice and share knowledge here. Thanks to all for your help.

[loftycity]

8. Have to call Click and Clack on NPR Saturday. n/t

Starter? That can run on it's own when it's about to go. Noise sounds like it's going to be expensive. Any special effects from cars....takes dollars and cents.

[pmbryant]

9. Wow. That sounds very strange.

It was making this sound when it wasn't running and no one was in it?

:wtf:

I am pretty ignorant about cars, so I cannot help. I hope you find out what this problem is. Sounds very frustrating.

--Peter