1999 ranger screaming at start cold

[sahmadi]

Hi again my ranger friends. My 99 ranger , 3.0 with 235,000 miles on it makes a load screaming noise when I start it in the morning. It seems to do this only in the morning where the engine is cold. The noise goes aways as soon as it turns on. I am thinking that its my starter. Your help is greatly appreciated. What do you think it is?
Thank you

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Could you discribe the noise more accurately? Like my 99 3.0L will make a kind of finger across crystal glassware sound for a bit on a cold start then goes away, and sometimes the belt squeals as well when its really cold and frost built up on the belt.

When did this start? and where does the sound eminate from?

 

[Mark_88]

Welcome to TRS~!

Sounds like your alternator...mine does it some times...my zuki did it every time the battery was under load...replacing the alternator may help, but not necessarily...when the alternator is under load (usually after sitting and the battery drains a bit) it will scream...horrible, loud screaming that sounds like it is being attacked...

Mine did it for two years without any problems...when I replaced the alternator with a new remanufactured one it still screamed...that's why I say it may or may not matter...

You can check the belt tension to make sure that it is charging properly...but refer to your manual or a trained mechanic because some need to be tight...some need to have slack...and if it is not correct then you can damage both the charging system and your water pump seal (as I learned from my zuki)...