Help me diagnose this sound

[99yota4]

Hey guys, it's been a while since I posted and I feel bad that I am only posting to ask for MORE help. I hope to be able to contribute as time frees up after school.

So the other night it was a wet, semi-cold night (low 30's high 40's) and rain, I started the t4r up and everything was fine, until I get to the drive thru of McDonalds. I stopped at the window to pay for my food and all of a sudden this very strange, loud squeel and howling noise came from under the truck. I'm not exactly sure where it came from as it echoed right off the walls of the establishment. I put it in Park and then after a few seconds it went away. (The noise started while I was stopped, with foot on brake peddle, in Drive) A few seconds later it came back. I thought it was really strange and I turned off all climate control to hear it better. As I got my food it went away, but once I was moving, it started again for a short while and that was the last that I've heard it. Since then, the truck has been parked. I have searched but it is very difficult to diagnose a NOISE on a forum. But, based on the situation and environment, I was hoping someone would be able to point me in the right direction. ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[criera]

I'm no mechanic by any stretch but I would start with inspecting serpenitine belts and all the pulleys and maybe tranny fluid/coolant for burnt smell, or the dreaded milkshake.

 

[99yota4]

I'm pretty sure my belts were relatively dry, I didn't splash through any puddles or anything. My transmission is not slipping, but those are all good points to look at. Thanks for the reply. I hope this was just a random thing and it won't come back. I'll do more troubleshooting tomorrow.

 

[criera]

happy to help a fellow portlander out. on my second gen i had the bearings go out on my fan pulley. i didnt know what the sound was either for a while until the hole pulley gave way, it was pretty violent in that engine bay for a sec when the belt let go and the fan blade actually came loose. probably could have avoided it if i had checked the pulleys and such like i should have.

 

[99yota4]

Didn't realize you are in Portland! We should wheel some trails sometime. I started the truck up today and let it warm up and there was no noise, drove it to the gas station and filled her up, and still nothing. I guess it was a random noise. I hope!

 

[criera]

definately! Ive met a couple other local peeps on here that want to get together too. Im in hillsboro so browns camp is pretty easy for me. ive only been there a couple times and not in the winter so not sure about too many other places or any really, short of say usfs roads in the mountains but then you have to worry about treading lightly. One of the guys i met on here likes to go snow running up on larch mtn. i think thats out of vancouver somewhere but not sure. anyways let me know when you head out next time and i will do the same. maybe some snow fun in the next couple weeks?

 

[Jon]

As said, check all fluids and belt tension/condition.

Did the noise go away right when you turned the A/C off? That'd be compressor locking up.

Next time you hear it, if at a stop, try moving the steering wheel, shift to reverse, throw it in N and rev the engine. Anything to try and get the noise to change, stop, get louder or quieter.

If none of that, it may have been a cat wedged between the frame and headers. Noise should be gone now!:sobbing::flamethrwoer2::hungry:

Best of luck