need help with engine squeal

edgerider2002 · Dec 10, 2013

Okay so I've had this problem once before and it went away after a week or so about a year ago. So today I go wash my truck and hose off the engine. It squeals and chirps like normal when getting wet but this time it didn't stop. I've managed to narrow down to where its coming from and its the pulley on the upper drive side of the motor. When I spray it with some water the squeak goes away and a minute later it returns. I've got a buddy that is going to give me a new belt and I also might change the idler pulley. But any input on what to do with this one? I'm posting from my phone so ill redownload the photobucket app and post a pic of which one it is making the noise in a few minutes. Also the belt has about 70-80k miles on it and cam synchro was changed almost three years ago and truck has 113k miles on it.

edgerider2002 · Dec 10, 2013

JT_STUD · Dec 10, 2013

thats the compressor which you already changed before i thought.

ab_slack · Dec 10, 2013

Yep that is the AC compressor.

While that may go away when you spray there, the water may get around onto other pulleys.

If the compressor is new you would hope it isn't squealing. I would wonder about the idler pulley to the left.

On my 2002 Explorer with 4.6L I recently had a squeal that wouldn't go away. Turned out one idler pulley was starting to seize and I had another idler pulley (or was it the tensioner?) where the bearing was shot and it was wobbling.

edgerider2002 · Dec 10, 2013

Ya I've never changed the compressor before. Thinking ill try the belt first and then the idler pulley. It squeals when it idles accelerating and cruising.

ab_slack · Dec 10, 2013

edgerider2002 said:
Ya I've never changed the compressor before. Thinking ill try the belt first and then the idler pulley. It squeals when it idles accelerating and cruising.

Get the belt off and turn all the idler and tensioner pulleys by hand. If they are as bad as mine, it will be very obvious they have problems. They'll be hard to turn, wobble or grind with just hand rotation. That isn't to say all will be obvious but it sure helps finding a problem and beats replacing a compressor.

Earl43P · Dec 11, 2013

If you are going to all the trouble of replacing the belt, spend $30 and buy both idler and tensioner pulleys. Replacing the tensioner pulley will also force you to check out the tensioner arm. I'd remove it and douche it out with some good lubricant spray and work it back and forth. A new tensioner is only ~$60 and comes with a new (plastic) pulley.

need help with engine squeal

edgerider2002

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