1996 4.0 Ranger chirping/squealing

[kerrsauto]

where do you find the cam sensor hall effect style sensor and drive unit? no one seems to carry it any more. everyone has discontinued it. only used from 93-96 4.0L. used also in madza pickup with 4.0L and dealership no longer carry also.

 

[almostclueless]

Ford is getting really lame about obsoleting parts.....


rockauto.com

 

[explorertrevor]

I have a 96 explorer with a similar problem. I guess explorers are pretty similar to Rangers. When the serpintine belt is removed from the front it still chirps. It chirps when at idle or even when driving. The chirp is comming from the front. Is it possible that this could be a timing chain and not the cam shaft? I hope it won't be a pricey repair but I suspect will be.

 

[BP014x4]

My 01 was giving off a chirp as well, turned out to be a leaky fitting on the high pressure side of the power stering pump, a rebuilt pump and a new set of hoses fixed er.

 

[bignic81]

chirp chirp

Hey i guys i had this problem last summer, the chirping got really loud, and it sounds exactlly like what your all explaining, happened right after an oil change. At first it sounded like a belt, an alternator, pump, or compressor but we chased it to the transmission just like you said. So since it got worse we thought maybe a cracked flexplate, so i pulled it down, checked the flex plate, replaced, threw in a new torque converter for the hell of it while i was down there, (it had 120,000 at the time). So none of that worked took it up to a tansm. shop, my buddies checked it out an they actually saw the problem once before. Turns out the oil i used was a bit to heavy and it was building up crank pressure and chirping my the grommet on the PCV valve, ,weird huhhhh, so its just a thought but that was deffinitlly the prob i had, so i changed the oil, and through a new pcv valve an grommet in.

 

[dorman68]

If you have the 4.0L pushrod engine not the DOHC version the culprit is most likely the camshaft synchronizer. I suggest run your engine only for a very brief time (less then one minute) without the fan belt and see if the noise is there. If the noise is still there then its most likely the camshaft synchronizer.

 

[donsor]

I got the same chirping like noise in my '99 Ford Ranger 4.0L engine. The noise was periodic in nature and can be heard mostly when I first start in the AM. After a couple of days driving I started to hear the chirp/squeak noise more often but not during freeway speeds. Then the Check Engine Light came on but the vehicle seemed to be running fine. The code was P1309 (Misfire Detection Monitor Disabled). So I suspect a malfunctioning camshaft sensor as the main culprit with possible wiring or ECM problem.

 

[trader007]

I've had my 1996 4.0L V6 for four years and no problems, but about 2 months ago it started making this chirping noise which to me sounded just like a belt going out; it was right after i had my oil changed. It makes this noise in park or when driving. So I replaced the belt, tensioner, and idler, with all brand new. Still made the same noise. So I took it to the mechanic and we kicked the tires for a while and he said the bearings were going on the alternator or the waterpump. I let him replace the waterpump and flush the coolant and it was still making the noise. So i replaced the alternator, and still now luck. So now I actually started hunting this noise down, and I find it is louded under my truck, I'm guessing around the tranny.

So I replaced the automatic transmission filter, the gasket, cleaned up the pan and the magnet and put in good new ATF. Still doesnt fix it.

Okay, so it only makes this noise at lower RPM (under 2k) and usually only when idling, and even this it is intermittent. It is very audible when it does make it though. if i rev the engine and then let it back down to idle it usually goes away for a while. I have not experienced any performace changes. no odd smells, and all fluids are holding.

Any Ideas? I'm going to college in three days, do you guys think this truck will survive another year of driving? Please holler if I left out any important info. Thanks all.

My truck was notorious for this. I replaced a few parts and never found the problem until I realized the belt squeaks because of dirt on a pulley. The fact this happened after an oil change is likely because the mechanic spilled oil on a pulley or even just touched a pulley.

The only way I have fixed this was to spray all the pulleys on the engine with brake cleaner, soak them good. You will probably use a whole can just to get everything really wet. It will sound horrible, the motor will bog. The key is you are trying to get all of the oils off the pulleys, grooves and all. The belt is acting like a sponge.

After a minute or two, the belt and everything will be dry again. Now, I have never been able to clean a belt... once they start squeaking they never stop. Just buy a new belt or return the one you just bought for an exchange. So after you soak the pulleys and everything is dry, replace the belt. Give it about 100 miles or so for everything to settle in, and rubber to properly seat, and you should have a quiet ride for dozens of thousands of miles so long as you keep the belt and pulleys clean. Don't touch them!