Squeaking/Chirping from front of engine

[MO502]

I think everyone has covered all the possible culprits but I would add one suggestion:

If it's an idler or a tensioner I highly recommend all of them while your at it. They aren't much money and you'll have the belts off anyway.

 

[jakefly1]

Sorry, I have another question. In the video I'm attaching, it looks like the bottom of the engine block is wet, near the water pump. Is this a leak or is it supposed to look like that? The sound has gotten noticeably louder the past day since i returned from my trip. Would a faulty water pump cause the check engine light to go on also? It was on previously because of the oxygen sensors but I could have sworn it has been off because it is REALLY bright now and stands out to me a lot more. It could just be the paranoia that something greater is wrong too. Thanks!!

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/8EAIoz0FYPw

I'm talking about the black metal piece of the engine below all of the belts and pulleys in the middle, that looks glossy.

 

[MO502]

Yep, it's wet... Can't tell if it's oil or coolant though. Any wet spots on the ground?

And no the water pump shouldn't make the engine light come on. Unless you are having temp issues.

 

[jakefly1]

Yep, it's wet... Can't tell if it's oil or coolant though. Any wet spots on the ground?

And no the water pump shouldn't make the engine light come on. Unless you are having temp issues.

I haven't seen any oil leaking recently and my temp seems to be at the same normal level as always. The coolant rarely needs refilling and I've been checking it pretty often. The only thing I usually see leaking from the car is the condensation from the a/c unit, which I assume is that because it drips under the dash in the passenger seat. I got my car washed the other day but I highly doubt the water left that one spot wet. I'm going to run it by autozone after work and borrow a scanner to make sure that the check engine light is still just the oxygen sensors. It was making a new sound while I was letting it warm up this morning.

 

[MO502]

The coolant rarely needs refilling and I've been checking it pretty often. The only thing I usually see leaking from the car is the condensation from the a/c unit, which I assume is that because it drips under the dash in the passenger seat. I got my car washed the other day but I highly doubt the water left that one spot wet. I'm going to run it by autozone after work and borrow a scanner to make sure that the check engine light is still just the oxygen sensors. It was making a new sound while I was letting it warm up this morning.

Well, I'm thinking a few things:
1) "Rarely" needing to fill the coolant is better than "often" but, normal operation would be "never" refilling it. Coolant can dissipate through the heating and cooling cycle over time. But that is typically a very, very long time.

2) I'm 99.9% sure getting the truck washed would not make that wet spot.

3) If by "drips under the dash in the passenger seat" you mean inside the floorboard of your truck. You could have a heater core issue. If you mean against the firewall, in the engine compartment on the passenger side, then you are right it is your A/C.

4) And finally: without seeing, hearing, or touching the vehicle. It sounds like your water pump is about to go out... but it's awfully hard to diagnose things through posts on a website.

Hope this helped

 

[jakefly1]

The squeaking was from the crankshaft pulley, or whatever pulley is connected to the alternator. I narrowed it down because the lights would be dimmed like it wasn't rotating fast enough and then it would make a grinding sound when the rpms went up and the lights would get bright again. The original alternator was replaced a couple of months ago. The rubber bushing that holds the pulley in was completely shot and the pulley was only held in place by the belt. The pulley had a lot of play in it so it was replaced and it sounds just like it did before that part went. Thank you guys for the help! And MO502, the last time I put coolant in it was almost a year ago and it still hasn't gone below the full line (I overfilled it a bit on accident). Hopefully that will keep on lasting like everything else in the 4Runner has this long

 

[Moonwidow]

Have an ‘03 and replaced the Master Cylinder. My mechanic (Toyota trained certified) indicated the noise is from the pump of the Master Cylinder.

Have an ‘08 GX470 and it too has this noise.