First Ranger - Annoying Chirping from belt.

[Dave88]

Hey all,
I just purchased my first ranger last weekend! it's an 02, 4x4, ext. cab, auto, 4.0L, 108k.

Anyways it has a chirping noise that is driving me nuts. Of course it didn't start making the noise till the day after i bought it. I'm not entirely sure how to diagnose where it is coming from. The noise is pretty much constant at any engine temperature and it fluctuates with the rpms. I tried putting some belt dressing on but that proved to be a mistake cuz it just made it worse. I also sprayed some wd40 and that makes it stop temporarily. I'm not sure if i should try a new belt, tensioner, or what? I have a small suspicion the it could be the water pump, because if i watch the pulley the belt will oscilate from front to back very slightly.

Is there any good way to isolate a squeak like this?
Any thoughts or opinions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Dave

 

[exbass94]

Take a piece of rubber hose and touch it to each accessory as the engine is running, and put your ear to the other end. You'll be able to hear the squeak through the hose when you touch it to the offending part. That's how I diagnosed my bad water pump. Be careful not to get the hose tangled in the fan while you're doing this.

 

[Surrey]

Take a piece of rubber hose and touch it to each accessory as the engine is running, and put your ear to the other end. You'll be able to hear the squeak through the hose when you touch it to the offending part. That's how I diagnosed my bad water pump. Be careful not to get the hose tangled in the fan while you're doing this.

Yeah. If the pulley on the water pump isn't spinning evenly, there might be a problem there... If the belt has any cracks on it at all, replace it. If you are suspicious of the belt, replace it. Belts are cheap.

 

[adsm08]

Belt dressing is crap. Don't bother with it.

If you hit the belt with WD40 and it shuts up, your first step needs to be a new belt. Most FEAD items going bad will make a growl or grind noise before they squeal.

 

[Dave88]

Thanks Guys

I'll give those things a try and see what i can find. I'll check for play in all the pulleys when i change the belt as well.

 

[_@_]

I have essentially the same truck as you, and mines doing the same thing. I'm thinking its just the cold weather causin it.

 

[adsm08]

Cold weather will exacerbate an existing belt issue, but even in really cold weather a good belt shouldn't make any noise.

 

[02RangerXLT]

I'm in the same boat as ya'll, same truck same engine, and my belt or a pulley is making noise. My next service is in 300 miles, so I'm gonna have them look at it then.

 

[4.0B2]

NEVER ever NEVER ever use belt dressing....

 

[Dave88]

Yeah i learned my lesson on the belt dressing. its twice as loud now. Is there any way to clean that stuff off?

Also the cold might be a good explanation since it was warmer out the day that i test drove/bought it. Wouldn't the chirping go away once the belt gets warmed up if it was due to the cold though?

Again, thanks for all the advice!

 

[4.0B2]

your best bet is to spray each pulley with brake cleaner with that belt on it, do this several times a day for a few days. then take that belt off and wipe all pulleys clean with a rag, and if you can't get it all use a soft wire brush... no cleaners on this step. then replace belt with new one.

that's what i just did yesterday

 

[Earl43P]

Typical idler/tensioner pulley 6203 bearing problem is old grease, so they squeak.

I periodically remove the pulley bearing dust covers with a jeweler screwdriver, clean out the waxy goo and re-grease them with high temp wheel bearing grease. I do my neighbor's Taurus' too (3.0).

You could just replace the pulleys for about $18 each. I find myself with time on my hands, so I do it my way, plus it's almost free. Takes about 2 beers time, maybe 3.

The other issue is when the smooth backside of the belt rides on a smooth pulley surface. I crosshatch the smooth pulley surface with 120 grit. Another "cure" you'll find in the parts store is a tensioner with a PLASTIC pulley. They work fine. It's ALWAYS the bearing, not the pulley itself unless you wait too long and the bearing seizes up.

Others swear by the Goodyear Gatorback belt which is pretty expensive. I look for cracks in the ribs, no cracks = good enough belt, as long as the tensioner isn't maxed out from the belt being stretched.

Here is a photo of a 6303 bearing with new grease and the dust seal removed, it is the next size up from what is in the pulleys, 6203, available everywhere.

 

[4.0B2]

but he's gotta get that belt dressing cleaned out now... or the new belt will sqeak to

 

[Dave88]

alrighty i'll hit the belt with brake cleaner for a few days and then swap the belt out. where is the best auto parts store to buy a new belt? i don't know who carries what brands.

 

[4.0B2]

i shop at advanced usually, it cost more than autozone..but they pricematch!

check your idler pulleys while you have the belt off