Squeal!!!!

[jsor47]

Hey guys! First time posting so lets see how this goes.

I have a '98 3.0 2WD supercab with 120k on it. About three months ago the truck developed this annoying squeal. It would start in the morning, but go away once the engine warmed up. Then it got progressively worse, taking longer to go away or not going away at all. Now, it squeals so loud, I can wake the dead.

I've searched the forum (and others) and I'm guessing it could be the belt. Maybe. I say maybe because it will go away with revs, somewhat, indicative of misaligned pulleys, a tensioner, or an idler pulley. I'm asking what you guys think it would be before I go buying any unnecessary parts.

BTW, the belt was replaced at 106k, so could it still be that? No clue about the other two.

 

[michowski]

Its your belt. Purchase a new belt and while you have the old belt off check to make sure your belt tensioner is in working order also. Its a really simple change that can be done in a minute and only requires a breaker bar and a socket to do.

 

[2000fuelishdreams]

make sure that you dont skimp on it either, get a gatorback belt. Also, I'd replace the idler pully while your in there, they can cause a bad squeal too.

 

[Ozwynn]

make sure that you dont skimp on it either, get a gatorback belt. Also, I'd replace the idler pully while your in there, they can cause a bad squeal too.

not really necessary, I have found I get just as much mileage from a what ever belt from autozone as I get from an expensive one...... if you swap the idler pully then make sure you keep your metal pully ..... the only ones I have found lately have plastic pullies...........

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

Also, I recommend that if you replace your idler pulley, to check for movement on the tensioner. When the idler pulley bearing goes, it can slowly destroy the tensioner with it. If there's movement in the tensioner pulley, replace that too. It's not expensive and it takes a couple minutes.

 

[2000fuelishdreams]

Yes BDAB that is true but the gatorback carries a lifetime warranty on it so if you ever have to replace it, assuming you still have the vehicle, you don't have to pay for another belt, to me that just makes more sense.

 

[thegoat4]

Hey guys! First time posting so lets see how this goes.

I have a '98 3.0 2WD supercab with 120k on it. About three months ago the truck developed this annoying squeal. It would start in the morning, but go away once the engine warmed up. Then it got progressively worse, taking longer to go away or not going away at all. Now, it squeals so loud, I can wake the dead.

I've searched the forum (and others) and I'm guessing it could be the belt. Maybe. I say maybe because it will go away with revs, somewhat, indicative of misaligned pulleys, a tensioner, or an idler pulley. I'm asking what you guys think it would be before I go buying any unnecessary parts.

BTW, the belt was replaced at 106k, so could it still be that? No clue about the other two.

Take off the belt and run it for a few seconds. If the squeak went away, shut down and turn all the accessories manually. All of them should be fairly easy to rotate by hand. Anything with a squeak to it or anything that you can wiggle the pulley around on its bearings needs to be repaired. If everything seems to be OK, you have a weak tensioner spring causing the squeal.

If your belt looks glazed or is missing chunks, replace it. If it appears OK, I'd run it.

 

[jsor47]

Thanks for all the info guys. It helped a lot.

Ended up getting a belt that was too small (Gatorback!), so I returned it. Ran it without the belt and nothing squeaked. So I assumed it was the tensioner, but I already spent too much time running around so I decided to just leave that for another day and put the old belt back on.

I fire her up and....no squeal!!!! First time it had done that in a while. So, what the heck was it? My guess is that she'll be back in a few days, no problem.

 

[Kirk]

I went through the same thing. Pull the belt off and fire it up, if it doesn't squeak then you know it's a pulley or something. BUT, if it still does then 10 to 1 it's the cam synchronizer (not expensive).

 

[97ranger xlt]

if it's the idler pulley thats making the noise you can check the bearing in it. take the pulley off and carefully pry out the grease seal. mine was dry and making a squealing/whistling noise. repacked with grease=noise gone.