Tick-Tick

[Buggyman]

Just put a 2000 3.0 motor into my 98 Ranger and trying to fix a few annoying noises... Right now I am getting a squeak coming from my motor, it does it at idle and tends to change pitch with the RPM's of the motor. I have not had a chance to yank the serpentine belt off yet to see if its something on the front. My uncle listened to it and thought it was coming from the right valve cover and thought it might be a problem with the motor oiling that side. Any ideas? The motor I put in it sat outside for a good month or longer. I put clean oil and filter in it after swapping the motor and have put about 400 miles on it, I plan on changing the oil at about 500 miles to clean out any gunk in it.

Thanks for any ideas

 

[triumphrider-1]

I would pull the belt and make sure its not just a bearing. If it sounds like the right valve cover it could be the cam synchro.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62313

 

[Jspafford]

First thing I thought of was a belt tensioner.

 

[cbxer55]

I had the belt tensioner squeal two years ago. Eventually the tensioner tossed the belt, as it was WAY out of alignment. I gather the stocker has a bad spring design that allows the pulley to go out of alignment, causing the belt to roll further and further off the front until it tosses. Mine did that. Bought a new tensioner at Auto Zone and it fixed the problem right up. I also understand the AZ unit has a better spring that does not go ut of alignment.

If the belt is not centered on the tensioner pulley, but is more towards the front edge, replace it before it throws the belt, stranding you in the boondocks as mine did.

But if that noise is coming from the right valve cover area, you got a bad cam synchronizer. It is also a DIY fix, I have not had to do it yet, but am aware of the issue and watching for it to happen since my engine just turned 100,000 miles.

 

[Beef52751]

could be a lifter or rocker tick if your CPS is fine.