Squeal on startup

[TimV]

My 3.0 makes a very weird squeal on startup. It is worse when everything is completely cool, but it will also do it warm. It only lasts for about 2 seconds and then goes away. It doesn't come back until I have to start it up again. It sounds like it is coming from the front of the engine. I am thinking it is probably the fan clutch. Anyone have any input. It doesn't really bother me, but it has gotten a bit worse in the last month, and I don't need some catastrophic failure on the highway.

 

[TomB1269]

Most likely from what you have stated its the tensioner or idler pully squealling. It is a know issue. However, there is another more distructive squeal from the Syncronizer shaft known to be a problem as well. To check for syncro squeal, with engine cold, pull serpinitine belt and start engine for a minute. If it squeals its the syncro shaft and it needs replacement ASAP.

 

[fourwheelford]

sounds like a pretty standard belt squeal, the tensioner is more of a rotating chirping noise and the syncro has its own noise and generally squeals until the truck is warm not just for 2 seconds. My truck does a chirpy thing when it has been rainy and I know its one of the pullies, I have replaced the tensioner and the syncro so im guesing AC or alternator. But again sounds like standard belt squeal.

 

[TimV]

It doesn't sound like a standard belt squeal IMO. I used to have a belt squeal, but replaced the pullies and it went away. I have less than 20k on the pulleys. I think it might be the fan clutch, because now that it is getting warmer here, it is getting worse. When it was nice and cold during the winter, I never heard it because the fan clutch was always cold on startup and kept the fan engaged for 30 seconds or so until it warmed up.