Squeak from engine compartment

[Kung]

Have searched on this, and I've seen a million people with supposedly the same issue, but not sure if there's a 'common' solution.

Symptoms:

- cricket-like 'chirp' sound
- worse when it's cold
- does it whether sitting still or moving, in any gear
- when at speed, it pretty much disappears when the engine is under load (foot on the gas) above about 1800 rpm, and comes right back when you let off the gas
- sprayed a bit of water on the belts with no effect
- water pump replaced @ 40K, all belts @ 90K (both by dealer)

I'm leaning towards a tensioner/idler pulley. So my three questions are:

- any suggestions other than that? I'm obviously going to plan on having them look @ the water pump as well.
- even though belts were replaced @ 90K, should I replace them as well?
- with the belts & pulley, are using non-OEM (e.g., O'Reilly or NAPA) parts OK?

Any assistance is appreciated.

 

[Buckaroo]

So this sounds like a loose belt. Don't know the current mileage but you had them all replaced at 90M. Not unusual to have them loosen a bit after install but you would think the dealer folks would have accounted for that and tightened them sufficiently. Check the deflection on the three belts and tighten all. If you don't feel good about doing this yourself, take it back to the dealership (which might be the right answer in any case as they installed them to begin with - depends on interval since install). Suggest you don't overthink this - the likely cause is a loose belt.

 

[Bishard]

Try adjusting the belts. Look it up super easy. Try taking off a/c belt first esp this time of year.

 

[shadow247]

Nope it won't be the belts. I have been battling this noise for the last 4 months.

First replaced belts. Squeak remained. Double checked tightness and it remained. Replace A/C Idler puller, squeak remains. Removed ALL drive belts, squeak remains.

It is the Timing Belt Tensioner Pulley. I sprayed some teflon lube on the backside of the tensioner pulley and the noise stopped for about 2 weeks, now it is back again. I am going to tear into it again this weekend, all I have to do is remove the 6 or so bolts holding the top timing cover on, remove the clamp for the upper rad hose, and slide the cover off.

It is not necessary to remove the top hose, just move the clamp down the rad hose and you can move the timing belt cover enough to get access to the belt tensioner. I am going to try using my CLP gun lube and see if that does the trick. If not, it's going to be a PITA because in order to change that tensioner you must remove the lower timing cover, which means removing the crank pulley. I do not have the tool to do that in my home garage, so I will have to tackle it at work sometime in the future.

 

[Buckaroo]

Yes - I admit it could be something else besides loose drive belts. But, tightening the belts is really easy. Smart to look at the easy solutions first. Good Luck.

 

[Kung]

Sorry - I should have mentioned two things that would've been REALLY pertinent here:

- belts were tightened about 2 weeks ago
- the belts were installed by a dealership in Illinois @ 90K; I live in Missouri. LOL

Sorry guys - should have been more clear. That being said, I'm taking a look @ it tomorrow and will ensure that I check it.

 

[IanV]

Try either the power steering pulley tensioner or the ac one. They unbolt out of there to be replaced. You keep the tensioner bracket, new pulley should be about 30. It may be the bearings going out in those.

 

[Kung]

I did buy a pulley ahead of time; will be looking @ that @ lunchtime. Don't think it's the A/C pulley simply because turning the heat or A/C on (or off) has no effect.

 

[shadow247]

Try either the power steering pulley tensioner or the ac one. They unbolt out of there to be replaced. You keep the tensioner bracket, new pulley should be about 30. It may be the bearings going out in those.

There is not a replaceable tensioner pulley for the power steering, only the A/C. The Power Steering drive belt is tensioned by moving the power steering pump itself. I'm afraid he is going to find out the same issue that I've got, which is the timing belt tensioner.

 

[Kung]

Went out and futzed around with it, and it was/is indeed the tensioner pulley.

Replaced it, and the mice are gone.

 

[shadow247]

Went out and futzed around with it, and it was/is indeed the tensioner pulley.

Replaced it, and the mice are gone.

Lucky bas****!

 

[Kung]

Lol!

 

[IanV]

V6 is probably different, I have an actual tensioner on my 2.7. Three separate belts and three separate tensioners. Glad he got if fixed though.

There is not a replaceable tensioner pulley for the power steering, only the A/C. The Power Steering drive belt is tensioned by moving the power steering pump itself. I'm afraid he is going to find out the same issue that I've got, which is the timing belt tensioner.

 

[madbomber08]

Hey Kung, did you get the tensioner from the dealer or elsewhere? Just for future reference.

 

[Kung]

I got one from Oreilly's as I needed one fairly quickly; didn't think it was crucial to have an OEM tensioner pulley. That being said, if I'm mistaken in this it's fairly easy to fix.