FORD RANGER 4.0 MOTOR SQUEAL UNDER LOAD

[Longnlow]

Hi All my Son and I are new to the site and have a question. My son has a 2002 Ranger with a 4.0 motor that has developed a squeal of some type.
Happens when under load. We replaced the belt, belt tensioner and idler pulley. I also just replaced the Camshaft portion sensor. Looking online in a pile
Of sites they seem to say camshaft synchronizer but when I called the Ford parts department they tell me my Sons 2002 4.0 does not have that.( not sure if I got
The right parts guy). When I got home I looked on the back side of the motor and through all the wires,hoses and such I could not see anything. I shone a light back
There and felt around but could not seem to find anything. Could some body help us or point us in a direction. Thank you for the help.

 

[4.0blue98]

2002 would be the SOHC 4.0L so no cam synchronizers in that one. Only the OHV motors (3.0 and 4.0L) would have the synchronizer.

BTW, did you spin all the other pulleys in the belt drive to see if any where stiff or binding? Could be any one of them causing that squeal. Does it get worse with the AC or defrost on?

 

[Longnlow]

I did spin the alt pulley, idler pulley, tensioner pulley yes. The one thing I did notice on the power steering pump seemed to have some odd in and out movement. Wondering if the bearing in it is toast.. Tomorrow night I'm going to pull the belt off and see if the squeal will go away.

 

[adsm08]

It is actually normal for that PS pump shaft to have a bit of in and out play. IIRC up to a 1/4 inch of total movement is acceptable.

Look at your crank pulley. If you need to make a line that goes from the hole for the bolt to the outside, get it to squeal, and see if your line is still lined up. There is a rubber damper in those pullies that will come apart after so many years, and it makes a squeal when the two parts slip.

 

[Longnlow]

Okay so we pulled the belt off tonight and took it for a spin and still squealed the same amount. We jacked it up and spun the front wheels with no abnormal sounds noted. I had rebuilt most of the front end two summers ago myself replaced the hubs, rotors, brake pads,calipers and both cv axles.plus a new transmission last summer. So not sure where to turn now. Starting to think it's a driveline issue some where but no sure where to start. I'm at a loss . Back to the drawing board now lol.

 

[4.0blue98]

So this is a 4wd since you said you changed the CV axles. Is it different at all when in 4wd?

Are the Diffs full?

 

[Longnlow]

Oh yes diff's are full we did did an oil change and grease service and pulled the plugs on the diff's to check fluids and GEAR oil did spill out a bit so they are full. I will check tomorrow on if the sounds changes or goes away in 4wd.

 

[G8orFord]

plus a new transmission last summer

Makes me wonder about flex plate/TC problem, since you've eliminated a problem with the belt driven items and you say it only does it under load.
Also, not terribly probable since it would make the noise pretty much all of the time, but a camshaft lobe could be starved of oil from a clogged oil tube.

A recording of the sound might help.

 

[Uncle Gump]

This may not be relevant... but then again it might be.

I know in the colder temps... my truck... until fully at operating temps... has a higher pitched howl/whine when under load. I believe it is an exhaust resonance. I say that because I can accelerate past it or decelerate below it. It only does it when all the boxes are checked... when at operating temp... it's none existent.

 

[cbxer55]

My 98 3.0 with an aftermarket intake and large cone filter, squeals horribly when driven cold. And like said above, it is only at a certain load and throttle position. A little more or less throttle, and it goes away. I didn't have the stock intake on the truck for long after buying it, and lived in CA in a relatively warm climate. Once I got to Oklahoma and exposed it to cold winters, and drove it while it was still warming up, I heard it. My thought is something in the intake is doing it on my truck. Maybe possibly the IAC screaming bloody murder trying to keep things going in very cold temperatures. Once warmed up, it completely goes away. If I let it warm up just a few minutes longer, it never happens.