Squeal at start up
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Squeal at start up
Hey everybody,
I have a '97 F150 with a 4.6 with 120,000 miles on it. When I start the engine, I have a momentary squeal and then it disappears. It only occurs at start up. Anyone have any idea what this could be?
Thanks so much,
Kyle Campbell
I have a '97 F150 with a 4.6 with 120,000 miles on it. When I start the engine, I have a momentary squeal and then it disappears. It only occurs at start up. Anyone have any idea what this could be?
Thanks so much,
Kyle Campbell
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From: "Garden State"
If this happens in real cold temps first thing in the morning it's the power steering pump. It's "normal" for our trucks. Try a synthetic Mercon ATF fluid. It might help in the cold temps. Otherwise your serpentine belt could be old and stretched to the point the tensioners can't keep it tight enough. Or they may be weakening themselves.
Whimsey
Whimsey
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From: St. Libory
I've never heard of the power steering pump thing.....A few months ago my truck would squeal on cold starts only. At first I thought it was my belt, but the belt was ok so then I changed the starter - end of squealing noise. If you can be without your truck for a day you could take your starter off and have it tested at your favorite parts place.
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What if I tried removing the serpentine belt and starting the engine? It always squeals after it has been sitting all night. If it is parked for a length of time during the day, it will also squeal.
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
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From: St. Libory
The only problem I see with that is that you won't have any accessories (ie power steering, AC, alt, water pump). The only things would be alt and water pump. With no alt you're not charging the battery, and with no water pump.....well you're not pumping water. I'm not sure how big of a deal it would be for just a few seconds (I've never done it before) but I'm sure that someone here will know.
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I figured a few seconds wouldn't hurt either. With no alternator, you've got 10-15 minutes and oddly enough, probably more with no water pump. Go figure. Does anyone see a problem with running no belt for a few seconds? If that doesn't cure it, I could go with jseim44's suggestion of testing the starter. It's not much harder to remove than the serpentine belt, thankfully.
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
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From: Chicago Area
No, you won't hurt anything by running without the belt for a short time.
For what it's worth, mine always squealed when shifting at high RPM (not at start up). When I replaced the belt at about 100,000 miles as preventitive maintenance, the squealing stopped. I used a Goodyear Gatorback belt. Maybe they are a little softer rubber or something.
For what it's worth, mine always squealed when shifting at high RPM (not at start up). When I replaced the belt at about 100,000 miles as preventitive maintenance, the squealing stopped. I used a Goodyear Gatorback belt. Maybe they are a little softer rubber or something.
Last edited by MrBSS; Nov 30, 2005 at 08:04 AM.
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If it is the power steering pump, is there any reason to change it or should I just let it go? In other words, does squealing indicate that it's going to fail soon? I've only had the truck over a year and my '93 didn't do this.
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
Thank you,
Kyle Campbell
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From: Southern Louisiana
Just curious, but what does the starter have to do with a squeel on a cold startup? How can a starter squeel? My 97 was squeeling on cold mornings and that went away as soon as I changed the belt.
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had the same problem on a car i had. the belt actually came off on the highway and i drove it back to the farm with no waterpump :X it was only 3 or 4 minutes. changed the belt and it was fine. besides, it was just a car, not my truck 
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