So, she calls by cell to say she started up with a squeeling noise in 'park' SRS, antilock came on and all the electrical would not work (blinkers, windows sunroof, radio etc.) - why she kept on with her drive and, instead calls me via cell phone is a mystery but, not the issue. She drives it home (about 10 miles) and when taking it out of 'D' it makes the same squeeling noise. She hops out, leaving in neutral and idleing in the driveway and fetches me. I put in park (horrible squeeling noise and, I shut off the ignition.
I wait a couple of seconds and start up.

No syptoms, like nothing happened, all functioning normal. What the heck is going on?
Belts? transmission? computer?
Any ideas?

TIA,

a quick off-the-wall quess..... The front pulley is failing so the outer portion is not spinning. In other words, the inner part, on the crank, is spinning but the outer part is dragging (thus causing the squeal). And also causing low voltage since the alternator's not spinning.
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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Is that what you mean? If the key is on then the electrical would work off the battery, right.

Yep, the harmonic balancer is what I meant. Sooooo, if yours is new, then it's probably not defective.

"If the key is on then the electrical would work off the battery, right."

Not sure what you mean by this statement/question.

If the key is on but the engine's not running, then the battery supplies power to the car. But if the engine's running and the alternator is spinning and works, then it should supply the car's electrical needs with a little left over to charge the battery.

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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Sorry, I ment to say:

"If the key is on (and, engine running) then, the electrical would work (anyway, even if the charging system is not functioning, by running) off the battery, right?"

The alt. light never came on during the entire episode, so the statement/question is moot.

Upon questioning my wife about what happened, she mentioned that she may have started the car in neutral. I don't think that is possible, is it?
If so, maybe some mechanical lockout function was making all the racket and, squeeling. Simply restarting the car in park solved the problem.

Has me worried, as transmission work is not very cheap.

Thanks

John McA

"If the key is on (and, engine running) then, the electrical would work (anyway, even if the charging system is not functioning, by running) off the battery, right?"

Right, providing the battery has sufficient charge to run stuff. It has been my experience (as recently as a few weeks ago when the alternator brushes in my '90 failed) that the engine is the last thing to quit. At the stop lights. Middle of town.

"...she may have started the car in neutral. I don't think that is possible, is it?"

Yes, it is. With an automatic, the "neutral safety switch" permits you to energize the starter in park and neutral.

"...maybe some mechanical lockout function was making all the racket and, squeeling..."

Have you looked under the hood and tried to localize the racket? (Are the neighbors missing a cat?)
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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Gonna check the transmission fluid level and, bring it in to the shop, see if they can i.d. the 'mysterious noise'

Guess its halloween...

thanks for the help.