My 98 4cyl 2wd 5spd Ranger is trying to tell me something, only I don't speak Ranger. Two weeks ago I power washed the engine. Since then, I have an awful whining that sounds like its coming from the enging compartment. Some days are lounder than others, and it seems worse when cold. It changes with the RPM and is present when in gear or out, rolling and stopped. When looking in the engine compartment I seems to be coming from the left (passenger) side, but its hard to tell which component. (the belt-tensioner, alternator, fan, etc) How do I tell what's whining at me? I read a few posts about lousy transmissions. I'm praying its not that.

Thanks

 

Since you power washed it I would start by checking all the connectors under the hood to make sure none of them are loose or disconnected. Then double check your belts to ensure all of them are snug but not overly tight.

 

I would suspect you've washed the lube out of the idler or tensioner pulley bearings, hopefully not one of the expensive accessories like the alternator or power steering pump.

Have you checked the power steering pumps reservoir, to see if maybe you've driven water past the caps seal & have water in with the P/S fluid????

You could try using a broom handle or section of hose as a stehoscope, one end to your ear, the other touching the mounting bolts for the pully, or on the suspected accessory, to listen to it's bearings for the sound your hearing.

This should help localize the whine to a part.

Just be plenty careful doing it, so you don't get caught up in the belt, or you'll likely have TWO whining sounds!!!! lol

 

TWO whining noises, and a LOT of profanity if you get caught in a fan, its not pretty.

 

I have noticed a similar problem from time to time coming from my engine compartment, but it is a rarity, and not extremely loud when it does. I have sprayed a little WD-40 on the belt tensioner pulley when this occurs, and seems to eliminate the noise for a short period of time. I don't think that there is a lubrication fitting somewhere on or near the pulley, but I am unsure. I never really gave it consideration until reading this thread.

 

Hello, I had the same thing happen on my 98 4x4. Bought a new belt which fixed the problem for about 200 miles and the noise came back. I noticed that the tensioning pully was not moving with the belt vibration so I changed it out as well thinking that a constant pressure was not being applied to the belt. $ 40.0 at Autozone, which fixed the problem permanently. good Luck.