Screeching noise when attempting to start truck

[White_4x4Ranger]

Hello, I have a 2003 Ranger with 189k miles and the 4.0 SOHC. It was having some problems related to power loss (3rd/4th catalytic converters clogged) so I got those fixed. The power problem was fixed but now it's having some mild starting issues. Sometimes it fires up right away, other times I have to let off the starter and then try again. It always goes 2nd try but it gets worse. Every now and then when I go to start it it makes a loud screeching sound, almost like the belt is just rubbing something. It doesn't sound like metal-on-metal contact. When I hear the sound, I let off, wait a few seconds, then try again. It never does it the 2nd time. Any ideas as to what might be making that sound? It had the alternator replaced last December and the serpentine belt done last August, if I remember correctly. The months might be the other way around but that doesn't matter.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That noise is usually associated with improper meshing of the starter drive gear teeth into the flywheel/flex plate teeth.

I would suggest pulling the starter out and having a look at things.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

Ok. Could it have anything to do with a bad battery? It got REAL cold where I live last month. It was down in the -10* daily for 2 weeks.

 

[cbxer55]

A bad belt can cause a nasty screeching sound as well. Believe me, I went through that on a 4.0 mustang. Ended up being the belt tensioner was getting weak, hence the belt wasn't tight enough. I sold it to a friend's son, and he started getting the screech as well. Ended up buying a tensioner with a larger pulley. That fixed it right up, never screeched again.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

He did say he replaced the belt, but that doesn't mean that one of the pulleys didn't go bad since.

 

[cbxer55]

When it happened to me, it took three different belts before i found one that didn't screech. That was when I figured out there was something wrong with the tensioner. The one I bought ended up having too small a pulley on it. Friend's son found one with a larger pulley, hence that made the belt even tighter. No more screech.

 

[cbxer55]

Don't know what it is with the pulleys man? I've changed the alternator on my 98 Ranger twice in 26 years. Both had different sized pulleys. The first was considerably smaller than the original. The second is half way between the small one and the original. Other than that, they both worked fine.

 

[White_4x4Ranger]

He did say he replaced the belt, but that doesn't mean that one of the pulleys didn't go bad since.

I plan on checking it out tomorrow. I did notice some grooves on the top of the belt that don't look like they are supposed to be there

 

[cbxer55]

Grooves on top of the belt would indicate that one of the items with a smooth pulley may be at fault.

 

[sgtsandman]

If there are grooves on the wrong side of the belt, that sounds like the belt was routed incorrectly. Smooth pulleys should have the back/smooth side of the belt against them and grooved pulleys should have the grooved part of the belt against them. There should be a diagram on the radiator support.

If that all looks ok. Have someone start it while you are looking in the engine bay so you can better isolate where the sound is from.

 

[cbxer55]

Yeah, that could be as well. Just think, if the back of the belt is riding on the grooves, whatever that item is would be turning backwards. Maybe the reason for the screech?

Anything with grooves turns the same direction as the crank. Anything smooth turns opposite the crank. Routing is very important.

 

[Broosedamoose]

Could be the harmonic balancer. I just had the same issue. For about two weeks the belt was sqeeking. I replaced the belt, the tentioner and the idler pulley to no avail. Then it started barking (for lack of a better word) when it started. Two days after that the harmonic balancer completely seperated.