Just want some backup here. I have a squeak squeak squeak that has gotten worse. Used to be only when first starting up. Now its most of the time. Does stop under acceleration. I have tried using a hose to my ear to find the squeak and had NO LUCK at tracking down the damn thing. Its driving me crazy!!!!

Sound like a good guess? Belt is only about 6 months old.

 

Get the belt wet then see if the squeak is still there....

 

Check cam shaft position sensor, sounds just like a belt squealing before it fails.

 

Would this go away after driving for some time? The chirping sound eventually stops after a bit of driving (not 5 min more like 20 min)

I took a short video (more for the audio) this morning. Will upload in time.

 

I have a 97 3.0 with 310,00 miles and have had to change the cam shaft postion sensor twice, both times it sounded like a belt. I could only hear it at idle, and it did not go away after warm up.

 

This is audible at speed for the first 15 min of driving that seems to get better as it warms up. Got the pully today. Does it require a puller to change?

 

Well was able to track down that it IS the belts/pulleys by using the "water method". Just a little on the alternator pulley/belt made it go away immediately. Replaced the idler pull and the tensioner pulley and no change. Figured, hey put some belt treatment on there....that made it worse. determined its the groved side that is giving me problems. Cleaned with a toothbrush brake cleaner the belt (while running) and the groved pulleys I could get to. Still didnt fix it. Tried flushing the pulleys/belts with water, fixed it until the belts dried. Tensioner seems to have plenty of "pull" in it. Do new belts go bad? I am at a loss.

UG.....

 

Well was able to track down that it IS the belts/pulleys by using the "water method". Just a little on the alternator pulley/belt made it go away immediately. Replaced the idler pull and the tensioner pulley and no change. Figured, hey put some belt treatment on there....that made it worse. determined its the groved side that is giving me problems. Cleaned with a toothbrush brake cleaner the belt (while running) and the groved pulleys I could get to. Still didnt fix it. Tried flushing the pulleys/belts with water, fixed it until the belts dried. Tensioner seems to have plenty of "pull" in it. Do new belts go bad? I am at a loss.

UG.....

btw, the changing of the pulleys was REALLY easy. 15 mm offset wrench and a 15mm ratcheting wrench are advised. You dont have to take the belt off or the fan to get to them (its a bit close in there). No puller needed, they just slip off and new ones slip on.

 

did you try a different belt? i have been using a gates belt which has been quiet sofar. others here have had success with gatorback belts if others failed to stop the chirp/squealing sound.

 

the belt is a dayco (made in the us) belt.

 

well i'll say this.. the belt i replaced was of a different brand than gates (i forget what brand exactly) and 'looked' good but still squealed. maybe you can try a new one and see. worst case you have a spare.

 

This belt is fairly low mileage. As in replaced in the last year to year and a half. Maybe I will have to throw down the gauntlet and throw another belt at it. As this engine is almost a 300k motor, the new pulleys are not really wasted money. But yeah, tired of that damn squeak.

 

I just bought a 98 Ranger about a month ago. Got a new motor for it, and the guy I had put it back together put a new cheap generic brand belt on it; and even brand new, it squeaked. I've heard that if you go too cheap, you'll sometimes get a new belt that will squeak right off the shelf. I went out and got a Gates one last week and that solved the problem. Also, I used degreaser, a rag and a wood shim to meticulously clean any rubber residue off the pulleys prior to installing a new belt. Could have been a combination of both, but no squeaks!

 

Picked up a new belt today at napa (their in house brand is made by gates). Will give that a try the next day I have off.

 

well, squeak is gone. New belt and cleaned the top pulleys per glorric, done know if it helped or not, but there were bits of rubber down in some of the groves.

Good news, found it is possible to change the belt without removing the fan (wasnt sure) and moreover to do it in less than 10 minutes in the dark. I used the fanblade to pull the old belt out and to put the new belt in. Real easy that way.

Will have to see if I can get a new belt under warranty to use as a backup. Thanks guys!