Squeaky Serpentine (Under Load)
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Sep 2022
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Squeaky Serpentine (Under Load)
Hello, New User here.
I have an old 2008 F250 with 5.4L
Used to be a State of TN Road Maintenance Truck, Flashing Lights, etc.
A few months back it developed a hell of a squeak, thought it was going to pop my
serpentine belt, so I parked it, just got around to working on it the last few weeks.
Replaced Tensioner and Idler Pulley, no change.
Replaced Water Pump & Pulley, no change.
Replaced Serpentine with pretty good AutoZone belt, no change.
Took it in to a shop, they said A/C Clutch
Replaced A/C Clutch Pulley bearing, Gap'd the clutch, still.... no change.
Issue happens usually above 1200-1500 RPMs
Happens with A/C On or Off
Happens more going up hill and with higher RPMs.
If I keep the RPMs as low as I can, I can get around the neighborhood,
to the store, and hear minimal squeaking.
I took the alternator off and had it tested at auto zone, they said it was good,
and it did NOT squeak at all when they tested it.
This issue is driving me out of my mind. I guess I could replace the Tensioner ANDIdler Pulley --again-- but I really don't want to.
Again.... A/C works fine. Nice and Cold.
Would the Compressor Squeak with higher RPMs, and be a separate problem even after replacing A/C Clutch bearing, All while A/C works just fine??
Thanks very much for any help
Charlie
I have an old 2008 F250 with 5.4L
Used to be a State of TN Road Maintenance Truck, Flashing Lights, etc.
A few months back it developed a hell of a squeak, thought it was going to pop my
serpentine belt, so I parked it, just got around to working on it the last few weeks.
Replaced Tensioner and Idler Pulley, no change.
Replaced Water Pump & Pulley, no change.
Replaced Serpentine with pretty good AutoZone belt, no change.
Took it in to a shop, they said A/C Clutch
Replaced A/C Clutch Pulley bearing, Gap'd the clutch, still.... no change.
Issue happens usually above 1200-1500 RPMs
Happens with A/C On or Off
Happens more going up hill and with higher RPMs.
If I keep the RPMs as low as I can, I can get around the neighborhood,
to the store, and hear minimal squeaking.
I took the alternator off and had it tested at auto zone, they said it was good,
and it did NOT squeak at all when they tested it.
This issue is driving me out of my mind. I guess I could replace the Tensioner ANDIdler Pulley --again-- but I really don't want to.
Again.... A/C works fine. Nice and Cold.
Would the Compressor Squeak with higher RPMs, and be a separate problem even after replacing A/C Clutch bearing, All while A/C works just fine??
Thanks very much for any help
Charlie
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Pull your belt off and rotate all pulleys by hand. They should all turn smoothly with possibly some resistance. If you find one that feels rough or gritty you found your issue.
Don't forget about your alternator, water pump and power steering pump.
Don't forget about your alternator, water pump and power steering pump.
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 11
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Thanks, I'm heading outside to take a look in a little bit, will let you know....
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 503
Team TFI wanted to make the belt routing as convoluted as possible. They did a good job.
If you have steel idlers you can also just press in new bearings:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19297785
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 503
Also OP this vid is great. He talks about chatty pulleys and anything pertaining to the engine will pertain to your SuperDuty:
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Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 11
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Hi,
I checked the diagrams I could find (as I don't have a Haynes manual yet), and the 5.4l
with 2 Idlers looks different than mine. When leaning over radiator, I just have the
one idler above the tensioner & Compressor, not the one on the right as is shown in
some super duty serpentine diagrams. I did try taking the belt off, and starting engine
for 15 secs, seems like squeak is still there!!! Is it possible the cranks harmonic balancer?
Charlie
I checked the diagrams I could find (as I don't have a Haynes manual yet), and the 5.4l
with 2 Idlers looks different than mine. When leaning over radiator, I just have the
one idler above the tensioner & Compressor, not the one on the right as is shown in
some super duty serpentine diagrams. I did try taking the belt off, and starting engine
for 15 secs, seems like squeak is still there!!! Is it possible the cranks harmonic balancer?
Charlie
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 503
If you're truly still getting the squeak with no belt it's obviously not the belt drive....
Scary version is something in the timing set. I would think a chain eating thru the timing cover would be more of a grinding sound.
Has anyone experienced a squeak from the timing set? If you had a DIS Cologne motor I'd say camshaft synchronizer but that doesn't apply to the Tritons...
How many miles on the vehicle?
Scary version is something in the timing set. I would think a chain eating thru the timing cover would be more of a grinding sound.
Has anyone experienced a squeak from the timing set? If you had a DIS Cologne motor I'd say camshaft synchronizer but that doesn't apply to the Tritons...
How many miles on the vehicle?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 893
Likes: 255
From: San Diego, CA
Are you able to recreate it while in the driveway while in park while you open the throttle? (Or have someone press the accelerator pedal?)
I've always used a hose or spray bottle set on jet and applied water on each pulley until the squeak goes away. It usually will point to the culprit. Not sure how easy it will be to get in there on the Ford with the fan and shroud there limiting your access though. How's your power steering fluid level and fluid quality looking?
I've always used a hose or spray bottle set on jet and applied water on each pulley until the squeak goes away. It usually will point to the culprit. Not sure how easy it will be to get in there on the Ford with the fan and shroud there limiting your access though. How's your power steering fluid level and fluid quality looking?
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 11
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Because of a test I did earlier today, I found out it is squeaking even with the Serpentine Belt off.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Because of a test I did earlier today, I found out it is squeaking even with the Serpentine Belt off.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
Could be timing chains, cam phasers, or maybe the VVT solenoid. Hard to say. You might need a stethoscope to pinpoint.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 503
Because of a test I did earlier today, I found out it is squeaking even with the Serpentine Belt off.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
I tried it for 15-20 seconds (with engine cold), and at higher RPMs it is squeaking.
Only thing turning is the crank pulley at this point. (No belt)
Is it possible it can be a Harmonic Balancer issue? or would it most likely be
something inside? It is 1/4 qt low on oil, but I wouldn't think that's the issue.
It also makes sense he might only get his squeak "under load" as the rubber in the balancer might struggle more to maintain shape under load and/or at higher RPM's
I am NOT saying this definitely is his problem, but I AM saying this is a check he can do visually in ~10 seconds. Fast and free: the best kind of troubleshooting. And way less scary or expensive than timing set issues.
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4wd Low
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
WWR,
Just saw your recent msg. I just picked up a Harmonic Balancer from O'Reilly, and have an OEM brand HB puller coming from Amazon tomorrow. Not sure if the noise that I hear, even with the belt off, is coming from the HB or possibly something that the failed HB has damaged, or...... something that was damaged causing HB to fail. I just hope that this HB fixes the issue.
Just saw your recent msg. I just picked up a Harmonic Balancer from O'Reilly, and have an OEM brand HB puller coming from Amazon tomorrow. Not sure if the noise that I hear, even with the belt off, is coming from the HB or possibly something that the failed HB has damaged, or...... something that was damaged causing HB to fail. I just hope that this HB fixes the issue.