any idea's on my engine noise?

[paulnola]

Wounded squirrel sound is cam syncro?!?

ZigZag, if you started the engine withthe belt off and still had noise then it is not the pump (pump is turned by belt), or any other pulley driven unit (powersteering, Alternator, idler pullies Etc.) is the nosie sound as if it is coming more from the passenger side back toward the trans, almost as if is coming from under the truck? This is also a sign of SYNCRO Failure. Remember that little b@$t@rd spins and if the sensor is making contact with the inside then you very close to catistrophic failure (syncro failure = cam gear shear = oil starvation & the Outcome is NEW engine).

TomB1269,

That is the noise my 2004 started making about a week & a half ago, getting a little louder and more regular as time has passed. How hard is this to fix? I'm no serious mechanic, but I have successfully replaced the heads on my old 90 Ranger 2.9. Should I stop driving it until I get it fixed? This has me concerned now. Any advice will be extremely appreciated.