Belt noise?

[1st_runner]

I have an 04' SR5 V6 4x4 w/ 42,000 miles. In the last few days I have noticed that when I start it up in the morning or after it sitting all day at work, there is a noisethat sounds like a belt that needs tightening. But, after the engine warms up and I get to work or home (45mins - 1hr 36 mile drive), the noise is gone. Is this a loose belt or a belt going bad? Please help.

 

[jharris2]

I have an 04' SR5 V6 4x4 w/ 42,000 miles. In the last few days I have noticed that when I start it up in the morning or after it sitting all day at work, there is a noisethat sounds like a belt that needs tightening. But, after the engine warms up and I get to work or home (45mins - 1hr 36 mile drive), the noise is gone. Is this a loose belt or a belt going bad? Please help.

Some have had a slightly misaligned pulley that could be causing it. But I don't know a way to easily check it.

 

[jharris2]

Strangely, I had a loud squeaking noise this evening -- sounded like a pulley going bad. It was loud enough to hear over the radio while driving at city speeds, and much louder when slowing down. By the time I got home, it was gone.

So why mention this in your thread? Maybe there was a contaminant on the belt that wore off (darned if I know where it came from). Perhaps you have the same -- oil, grease, or antifreeze can cause it.

I'll have to check for the noise again in the morning when I move the truck.

Have you made any progress?

 

[jharris2]

I'll have to check for the noise again in the morning when I move the truck.

Checked this morning when I had to move the truck from the garage, and the squeal is back. Sounds very similar to your situation. My guess is that a pulley is going bad.

 

[1st_runner]

I've checked the last couple of days & have not heard the noise. I have no idea what's going on with it.

 

[jharris2]

I dropped mine off today. It made the noise first thing in the morning, then as I was leaving the gym. Since I am going to be out of town a couple of days, then that's a great time to let them work on a few things before the warranty expires at the end of the month.

The service manager thought it was a belt, but then got a very puzzled look on his face when I said it appeared out of nowhere on Saturday. I'll post with what we find out....but it will be end of the week before I can do that.

 

[spyderdoc]

There is a TSB I guess for a known pulley prob on the '03s. I had about 5k mi on mine, and it started making noise like a worn belt. I brought it in and they replaced a pulley/bracket and it never made noise since then.

 

[greasefingers]

Fan belts can loose some of their properties over time. My guess is that heat and tension can make they less flexible but perfectly fine to drive; just noisy. Belts and pulleys seem to last forever, these days. Pulleys bearings can go well over 150 k miles and belts can easily go 90 k miles. If you can, hold a screwdriver up to your ear and place it next to each bearing. This is not always easy to do as there is a lot of noise coming from the front of the engine. I have been successful at squirting some WD-40 at bearings to silence a bad one. Some bearings are contained and there is no way to get fluid on them. Belt dressing is not good and will wear off after one day. Good luck. Many times it is the idler pulley. Of course the worst situation is the A/C compressor bearing. That will be around a grand.

 

[jharris2]

Of course the worst situation is the A/C compressor bearing. That will be around a grand.

That's why I got it in before the warranty expires....

 

[kscott]

i just had a similar noise on my 04 4runner. i noticed it after i went off-roading up near mammoth (looking for hidden hot springs). anyways, it was a squealing or grinding type noise and you could tell it was something attached to the belt. took it to the dealer and they determined it was the idler bearing. although they said it was unlikely to have happened off-roading, because i would've had to submerge the bearing to dirty it. (i might have actually done that). $230 later it sounds fine ($70 part). at 45K miles, i'm out of the 3yr/36k warranty to cover it.

time to go try to f it up again!

 

[1st_runner]

Just an update......I've not heard the noise in about a week now. It runs just as sweet & smooth as ever. How is yours running John?

 

[jharris2]

Just an update......I've not heard the noise in about a week now. It runs just as sweet & smooth as ever. How is yours running John?

So far, so good. But have been buried at work and haven't driven it in the last couple of days.

 

[Borderfolle]

The serpentine belt on my '03 V-6 was making noise. I took it off and cleaned the pulleys with brake cleaner. Use plenty of rag. It's been quiet ever since. Might be a good idea to make a diagram of the belt routing first if you do this.

 

[greasefingers]

Yup that is a known issue and was suposed to have been dealt with

"11/18/2005 - 2003 Toyota 4Runner. On some 2003 model year 4Runner vehicles equipped with the 1GR

 

[jharris2]

Yup that is a known issue and was suposed to have been dealt with

"11/18/2005 - 2003 Toyota 4Runner. On some 2003 model year 4Runner vehicles equipped with the 1GR

 

[wowly]

New update on this thread?

I have a 03 4Runner V6. The noise has been on and off for more than two years. I sent it to two local TOYOTA dealers in bay area and, after the recent rain, the noise came back again. The dealers changed the pulley based upon TSB and nothing has improved.

Any suggestions?

 

[greasefingers]

John: go to the link below. Scroll down to the bottom and then look at the last article on the right hand side. You won

 

[jharris2]

John: go to the link below. Scroll down to the bottom and then look at the last article on the right hand side. You won