i got a squeak need help

[rngr4x4beast]

when i first start my truck it squeaks right when you it starts it has a sqeuak on cold start then it goes away just a quick squeak what could it be

 

[rngr4x4beast]

i just changed the belt about 4000 miles ago how do i tell if its the idler pulley or belt pulley

 

[cbxer55]

The key question here: where is the squeak coming from?
Front of the motor or back?

If its the back, which is likely as that would be the short lived squeak, its the Camshaft Position Synchronizer. They go bad due to a lack of lubrication.

If its the front, its more than likely the belt tensioner. The stock unit goes bad due to a bad spring design.

You need to determine where the squeak originates from so we can help you.


The Camshaft Position Sensor sits atop the synchronizer, held down by two 7/32 bolts. You can remove this unit easily, spill some oil down the thing, then re-install the sensor. The squeak may go away for awhile then. While the top is off, look for damage inside the housing. IT WILL BE OBVIOUS! If you see obvious damage, you will need to replace the unit. There are many threads on this forum you can look up for advice on replacing this.

If its the belt tensioner, get one from Auto Zone. Their spring design is far better than the stocker and will eliminate that problem. This is easy to replace, I did it myself in less than an hour.

How many miles on your truck? Since yours is a 99, its in the same "family" as my 98.

 

[rngr4x4beast]

its got 105000 on it it sounds more like the front

 

[cbxer55]

Lucky you!

I went through this nearer to 70,000 miles. When my tensioner went, it threw the belt in the middle of BFE. Started to overheat due to lack of water pump turning. Had to pull over, park it, and come back later and fix it on the side of the road.

Belt tensioner is pretty easy to replace. First things first. It is the pulley below your power steering pump. Is the belt pretty centered on the pulley? Or is it leanig off the front edge of the pulley? Mine was leaning off the front edge pretty bad when it went. No matter I guess, if its squealing you gotta replace it, the bearing is bad.

I tried all manner of "belt lubricants", etc. Nothing worked. It continually squealed, and all the lubricant did was cause the belt to come off the pulleys. So don't go there. Get a new pulley from Auto Zone and fix itonce-and-for-all!

As for the Cam thingamajig. Go ahead and remove the two 7/32 bolts, remove the sensor top (the bolts will stay on the top), drop some oil down there, and re-install the top. This thing will go bad eventually, and when it does it takes the oil pump with it!

This is located on top near the right rear valve cover, where a distributor used to be prior to 1997. Really it takes all of 10 minutes to do, and may save you a whole lot of grief later. Do this frequently, as in my case about once a month from here on out.

Preventative maintenance. Love it now or fix it later!

 

[fourwheelford]

The tensioner can be a bit of a bitch unless you take the fan off or you have installed an electric fan. I cussed that thing for 2 hours and busted the hell out of my knuckles and had to sit on the motor because the lift on my truck is just tall enough for me not to reach it, almost stripped out the old bolt because I couldn't get straight on with it but the new one has a torx head bolt so less chance of stripping it. I had to go get a vary small extension.

 

[Earl43P]

I remove the pulleys (15mm) and take the rubber dust covers off the bearings with a jewelers screwdriver (miniature version of removing a bike tire). Clean all the old grease out and relube. Reinstall rubber grease seals and sand the entire belt surface area of the pulleys with 120 grit (crosshatched). Takes about an hour, most of that time sitting down doing the bearings. Free. New belt every other year or so, got a gatorback this time, pretty pricey. Tensioner comes off for me, simply easier.

 

[rngr4x4beast]

alritey guys thanks alot helps out ill look into it tomorrow and when you say the right valva cover are you in the driver seat or infront of the motor basically driver or pass side

 

[rngr4x4beast]

alrite im gonna sound like a dum ass but were is the cam position sensor i looked and cant find it

 

[rngr4x4beast]

bump anybody

 

[creepinjeepster]

CPS can be hidden at times. Last one I changed, it was behind the harmonic balancer pulley. Had to take it off to get to it.

Was not on a Ranger though, but its somewhere you can check.

 

[kawasakiman27]

Behind the intake manifold. CLoser to the passenger side vavle cover. Where the distributer would be.