Help Finding the Source of Squeeling/Squeeking in Engine

[acleme1]

I have been listening to a squeeling/chirping noise in the front of my engine for a few months now. I can't take it anymore. If I have to listen to this thing squeel much longer, I am going to lose my mind.

I looked under the hood to try and find the source of the problem (on several occasions). Believe it or not, I can't pinpoint the source. It's loud enough that it sounds like it could be coming from anywhere along the Serpentine Belt.

I took it by a Ford Shop today, and they are going to charge me $95 to figure it out for me...No thanks. I would like to figure this one out myself.

Can someone help me pinpoint where this noise is coming from? Here are some facts that will hopefully help identify the problem.

1. I just replaced the idler arm and serpentine belt about 6 months ago. Unless I did something wrong there, I don't think that's what it is.

2. The screech is louder and more consistent when the engine is cold, and when it is raining/wet outside.

3. Once the engine warms-up, the sound is just every now and again. Not constant.

4. The sound speeds-up while revving the engine or going at high speeds (I know...the serpentine belt is turning faster, so the sound is faster).

5. I don't think it's leaking any water, so I'm pretty sure it's not the Water Pump.

6. The weather here is about 60 degrees right now, so I can't tell whether the air conditioner is working or not...thus I can't rule out the A/C Compressor yet.

Any help identifying the source of this sound so I can get in there and fix it would be greatly appreciated. AC.

 

[jmsmith76]

i had a squeal in mine that only happened when it was raining or wet outside. it sounded like it was coming from the idler arm, i replaced the belt and it went away. but that might not help yours since you replaced the belt 6 months ago

 

[TomB1269]

Try removing the belt and run the engine. The squeal may not be all belt, it may be the syncro shaft. Are you also noticing any hickups/slight knocks under load? Signs of syncro problems, very common at 70,000 and up milage.

 

[acleme1]

tom - just had the mainshaft replaced because a needle bearing had torn-up the end of it. had to pull the entire tranny apart. don't think it's the syncro shaft, but maybe. sound is coming more from the top.

 

[rustybolt]

I had the same problem with my 99 3.0L. Replaced the idler and tension pulleys but that didn't solve the problem. TomB1269 has a very good suggestion which will help localize the noise. If it's not the cam position sensor then it's the serpentine belt. I've read that the goodyear gaitorback belt is a good choice to eliminate the screech. I purchased one, installed it and the noise went away. No guarantee that will be a long term fix but it's worked for me so far. BTW, I was able to pin point the noise on my truck. The serpentine belt was slipping on the crank shaft pulley when it was real cold outside or very humid / rainy.

There's a theory that the crankshaft pulley for the serpentine belt will actually wear on the sides of the surface where the belt makes contact. Over time the belt could actually start grabbing only the tips of the crankshaft pulley ribs instead of the sides. Less surface area for the belt means greater chance of belt slip.

Just a theory. I haven't proven it yet but I think a harmless experiment would be to carefully file down the pulley rib tips to allow the serpentine belt to better engage the sides of the pulley ribs. If that makes sense...

 

[Toms01PSD]

I had the same problem with my 99 3.0L. Replaced the idler and tension pulleys but that didn't solve the problem. TomB1269 has a very good suggestion which will help localize the noise. If it's not the cam position sensor then it's the serpentine belt. I've read that the goodyear gaitorback belt is a good choice to eliminate the screech. I purchased one, installed it and the noise went away. No guarantee that will be a long term fix but it's worked for me so far. BTW, I was able to pin point the noise on my truck. The serpentine belt was slipping on the crank shaft pulley when it was real cold outside or very humid / rainy.

There's a theory that the crankshaft pulley for the serpentine belt will actually wear on the sides of the surface where the belt makes contact. Over time the belt could actually start grabbing only the tips of the crankshaft pulley ribs instead of the sides. Less surface area for the belt means greater chance of belt slip.

Just a theory. I haven't proven it yet but I think a harmless experiment would be to carefully file down the pulley rib tips to allow the serpentine belt to better engage the sides of the pulley ribs. If that makes sense...

I replaced my belt almost a year ago and i'm having the same problem he's having. You say the goodyear gatorback stopped it? Well hell, it's worth a try!

 

[rustybolt]

I installed the goodyear gatorback four months ago and the engine has been quite since. The gatorback design looks a bit different then the stock belt too. They even print on the packaging that it's designed to run quite so maybe they're addressing the screech problem with this new design.

 

[Ranger Rod]

Assuming you have checked the power steering fluid level and the reservoir is not about dry?

 

[Kdawg532]

cam syncro sensor would be my best guess, get this checked out IMMEDIATLY as it can greatly damage your engine

 

[dorman68]

Try removing the belt and run the engine. The squeal may not be all belt, it may be the syncro shaft. Are you also noticing any hickups/slight knocks under load? Signs of syncro problems, very common at 70,000 and up milage.

X2

 

[TomB1269]

Alceme1, It is not the syncro shaft in the trans. It is the cam position sensor shaft on the left rear of the engine. It is what replaced the ditributor on the direct ignition system engines..............

 

[Toms01PSD]

Alceme1, It is not the syncro shaft in the trans. It is the cam position sensor shaft on the left rear of the engine. It is what replaced the ditributor on the direct ignition system engines..............

It's on the passenger side rear of the engine.

 

[4x4fun]

if you feel its comming from the belt, try and narrow it down and hit that pully wiht wd40 if it stopes then its that one.. if not go to the next one if you feel its a tracking squeel

 

[wally]

http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35642

This might help. I changed my belt just for maintenance and then developed your same symptoms a month later. I changed both my idler and tensioner and still had a squeal. I guess the bad pulleys ruined my new belt, cause I had to change my belt again to make it stop.

 

[graff104]

A bearing in one of the pulleys might be going out. Could be alt powerstearing pump ect. Get a stethoscope or something to use as one (I use a 2 foot long 1X2) My alternator started making a similar terrible noise with the same symptoms it was worse when cold/wet and would stop after driving for awhile then come back. You can try regreasing the bearing in whatever is going out that might help.