Squeaking/Chirping from front of engine

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SilverRidgeRunner1 said:
Almost seems like the bearing in the water pump making that noise WOULD def like to isolate it more with a automotive stethoscope
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Mine sounds kind of like that at 171k, and I just had the TB/WP replaced 3k mi ago.

Not saying it couldn't be, but I'm interested in possible causes as well.
 
I should add, it doesn't appear do it when the engine is cold and seems to go away when it's throttled up. The sound is most pronounced when at idle <1000 rpms and after the engine is warm.
 
My gx470 just started doing this and acts the same exact way. Haven't had time to check the belt though. Let me know what you find.
 
It is hard to tell, but I have a method I've used with great success at narrowing down these serpentine belt accessory squeaks.
Remove both belts and verify it is serpentine accessory related. Start the vehicle and check for the noise. It won't hurt it to idle for under a minute or so without the belts. If there is no noise, then move on to next step.

Place the inner belt on and check the same way. You will either have the noise or not. If no noise, then you know it is the outer belt drive accessories.

I see you have new belts. The other simple items to replace would be idler pulleys or belt tensioners if equipped. Worn accessory drive pulleys can cause these noises as well. The water pump as already mentioned can also squeak when cold. The shaft bearings or bushings get worn and they begin to squeak or leak.

Like I said, my method usually pin points the problem. Good luck and report back with the results.
 
Probably a timing belt pulley. I replaced all the pulleys and the hydraulic tensioner when I did mine a few thousand miles ago. If you did not change out the hydraulic tensioner and the pulley it attaches to, that is probably your problem.
 
The timing belt was changed at ~85k miles and it has 166,600 miles right now. I don't have any records from the previous owner though so I don't know if the tensioner was replaced or not. I haven't replaced the belts in the 3 years I've owned it but they still look pretty good. I'll get a stethoscope on Monday and see what I can find. Maybe I'll be doing the timing belt water pump sooner than I wanted to.
 
I had a squeak these last couple of weeks too. It's one of the belts, prob due to the seasonal temp/humidity changes.
 
Had I known the belts were aged, that would have been my very first suggestion. Even if the belts don't show signs of cracking, the rubber gets hard and squeaks like yours appear and go away as the pulleys heat up softening the belt rubber. Change the belts first. You can do my belt elimination method as you remove the belts one at a time before you install the new belts.
 
shadow247 said:
Probably a timing belt pulley. I replaced all the pulleys and the hydraulic tensioner when I did mine a few thousand miles ago. If you did not change out the hydraulic tensioner and the pulley it attaches to, that is probably your problem.
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Let me correct my self, it's the pulley that the fan clutch,PS and Alt belt mount on. It's held by three 14mm bolts and you have to remove PS pump to get it off.

You have to remove all belts and fan & fan clutch

But that's your problem for sure.

Easy way to check is remove everything except your PS pump. and turn the pulley by hand and you'll hear the grinding.
 
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MattAK said:
Hey all. I'm looking for some opinions. I have this sound coming from my engine and I'm not quite sure where it's coming from. I've tried the screwdriver to the ear thing but I still can't tell. Any ideas?

https://youtu.be/iP2Id_mR4nU
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bdb3a89ef9811e5e5b78a12e98f60364.jpg
62169e75b2166ac1c4a3b0f8f4dff552.jpg
https://vimeo.com/150107452
 
Mellemel said:
I had a squeak these last couple of weeks too. It's one of the belts, prob due to the seasonal temp/humidity changes.
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I'd think so, except it's been doing it for a while. It wasn't doing it when I first bought it but it's been doing it since earlier this year.

Copp4 said:
Had I known the belts were aged, that would have been my very first suggestion. Even if the belts don't show signs of cracking, the rubber gets hard and squeaks like yours appear and go away as the pulleys heat up softening the belt rubber. Change the belts first. You can do my belt elimination method as you remove the belts one at a time before you install the new belts.
Click to expand...

It might be the belts but I'm not sure. It doesn't do it when it's cold and is most pronounced at an idle after the engine is warm. I'll pick up some belts though to be sure.

4Runnermex said:
Let me correct my self, it's the pulley that the fan clutch,PS and Alt belt mount on. It's held by three 14mm bolts and you have to remove PS pump to get it off.

You have to remove all belts and fan & fan clutch

But that's your problem for sure.

Easy way to check is remove everything except your PS pump. and turn the pulley by hand and you'll hear the grinding.
Click to expand...

Think I could spray some lube back behind that pulley?
 
MattAK said:
I'd think so, except it's been doing it for a while. It wasn't doing it when I first bought it but it's been doing it since earlier this year.







It might be the belts but I'm not sure. It doesn't do it when it's cold and is most pronounced at an idle after the engine is warm. I'll pick up some belts though to be sure.







Think I could spray some lube back behind that pulley?
Click to expand...


Nope!! It has to be replaced. Yours sound it's ready to go, you need to trouble shoot it. Had it happen a couple of times. I have a couple of extras. Let me know if you get to it and turn it with your hand and you'll hear the grinding. Not suppose to hear anything.
 
I had a very similar sound and it turned to be my water pump. It had been replaced with a very cheap aftermarket pump. It started with a very small coolant leak, so small it never dripped on the ground. I would notice when I did my oil changes that the coolant would be down about a 1" in the overflow. I never could isolate the sound even with my stethoscope. I finally dove in once the leak increased and the sound got worse, I could hear a low grinding when I was in the drivers seat.

Good luck!
 
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This could be the issue. If not you might as well dive into the water pump. It's easy to check but you need to have the PS,FAN CLUTCH and ALT BELT OFF. since this are the two belts the pull tension front this pulley.

If you want the removal steps let me know I can give them to you.
 
hambob said:
I had a very similar sound and it turned to be my water pump. It had been replaced with a very cheap aftermarket pump. It started with a very small coolant leak, so small it never dripped on the ground. I would notice when I did my oil changes that the coolant would be down about a 1" in the overflow. I never could isolate the sound even with my stethoscope. I finally dove in once the leak increased and the sound got worse, I could hear a low grinding when I was in the drivers seat.

Good luck!
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That's a good point. It has been losing a little bit of coolant between oil changes but I've never seen a drop underneath the truck.

4Runnermex said:
This could be the issue. If not you might as well dive into the water pump. It's easy to check but you need to have the PS,FAN CLUTCH and ALT BELT OFF. since this are the two belts the pull tension front this pulley.

If you want the removal steps let me know I can give them to you.
Click to expand...

I think I've got the idea. I'll check it out this weekend when I'll have time/access to a garage to work on it. Thanks for the help!
 
Hi, I'm having a similar sound with my 1998 4 cylinder 4runner. It has 291k miles and has been running like a champ for the 14 years my family has owned the car. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what it could be? Its been going on for a while and I just got back from a 500 mile trip and its making the sound at an even higher rpm than before. Its most prevalent when idling but I can hear it at <1000 rpm. It only starts when I put it in drive and continues in park, neutral, or drive agter that. I just had all the belts replaced 2 weeks ago and the mechanic said he checked the pulleys.

Here is a clip of the sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToDa1oWmyt8

Thank you!
 
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