Grinding noise
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From: FL
Grinding noise
Hey everyone. So for about the last two weeks I have had a grinding noise that I hear at idle/low speeds that is really starting to bother me. I tried lubing up the fan belt and the wheel where the noise seems to be emanating from to no avail. Is this a bad bearing problem, and if so about how much would it cost me to fix? I am a law school student so I don't have a lot of money to spend fixing the truck all day lol. The engine is the 4.0 SOHC V6. I would attach a video of where the noise seems to be originating from, but it looks like mP4 files are not allowed.
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From: FL
I uploaded the video to YouTube. Hope that it helps to potentially identify the problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UReW...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UReW...ature=youtu.be
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From: WA
To me it sounds bearing oriented.
If you can find a long piece of 1/2" or 3/4" hose and being EXTREMELY CAREFUL while the engine is running put it up to your ear and the other end near the tensioner pulley, A/C compressor, water pump, fan clutch, alternator and etc to try and isolate the bad unit.
You can also do the same thing with a long piece of steel tube, long handled screw driver or pry bar.
Or with the engine off, you could remove the serpentine belt and spin and wiggle each one by hand to see if you feel or hear any grinding.
If you can find a long piece of 1/2" or 3/4" hose and being EXTREMELY CAREFUL while the engine is running put it up to your ear and the other end near the tensioner pulley, A/C compressor, water pump, fan clutch, alternator and etc to try and isolate the bad unit.
You can also do the same thing with a long piece of steel tube, long handled screw driver or pry bar.
Or with the engine off, you could remove the serpentine belt and spin and wiggle each one by hand to see if you feel or hear any grinding.
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From: FL
Do I have to take the belt off completely or can I go in a more piecemeal fashion to check one by one? And when I find where the grinding is coming from, do I need to fix it ASAP or can I wait until my next oil change (about 900 miles)?
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From: WA
Technically, if you've got the arm/hand strength you could just use the end of a 3/8" ratchet to hold the tensioner pulley arm back and while holding that in one hand, spin and wiggle each item that spins with the other hand. BUT...it's just waaaay easier to take the belt off so you can inspect each item thoroughly.
There's no way to know if what ever is making that sound will fail now or 900 miles from now. If it were my truck I'd probably be looking to replace it as soon as possible.
There's no way to know if what ever is making that sound will fail now or 900 miles from now. If it were my truck I'd probably be looking to replace it as soon as possible.
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From: FL
Okay. Is it relatively easy to replace bad bearings or does it depend on which one is the bad one? And potentially stupid question, do I need any specialized tool(s) to take the belt off, or will brute strength work?
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From: WA
You know, after watching your video on my 27" monitor it sure does look like the pulley/belt is shaking on your A/C compressor. I wonder if that's going bad?
Most vehicles with an tensioner pulley will have a 3/8" square hole in the arm to insert some sort of wrench into to help in removing tension from the arm so you can remove the belt. So you will at least need a long 3/8" ratchet wrench.
You might try setting up an account on Autozone.com and then using their online service guides to aid in what to look for when removing your serpentine belt.
Most vehicles with an tensioner pulley will have a 3/8" square hole in the arm to insert some sort of wrench into to help in removing tension from the arm so you can remove the belt. So you will at least need a long 3/8" ratchet wrench.
You might try setting up an account on Autozone.com and then using their online service guides to aid in what to look for when removing your serpentine belt.
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From: WA
The pulley wheel on it. It looked like it was intermittently shaking. I've replaced the clutch before on a Dodge A/C compressor but I don't know if the pulley can actually be replaced.
Once you get the belt off I would still check everything but I'd focus on that A/C pulley more. Just looked weird in the video.
Once you get the belt off I would still check everything but I'd focus on that A/C pulley more. Just looked weird in the video.
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From: FL
Well it's been a while since I posted on this thread. I decided to keep driving my truck and milk all that I could out of the A/C compressor. I finally had to take it in to get it replaced today. Definitely weird driving a quiet truck again.
).
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: down south
Unless someone chimes in different, you can pull the belt and start the truck for a very short period of time (preferably when its cold) to confirm its belt/pulley related. You can also rotate/feel the bearings of the pulleys at that time. From there the hose method works really well for isolating where its coming from.
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