damn squeal at startup
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 185
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From: Pleasant Hill
damn squeal at startup
I have an 04 f150 5.4 4x4. on startup when its cold and especialy when it rains there is a loud squeal like the belt slipping. first thought was to change the belt but that didnt fix the problem. so i tried to listen while it was squealing and it sounds like its coming from the power steering pump. the squeal is on the left side of the engine so i dont think its the idler or tensioner pully. has this happend to anybody on these 5.4's??
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 37
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From: Staunton, VA
Had the same problem with my '04. Ditch whatever type of belt you have, and install a Motorcraft. Since putting on OEM belt, no more noise at all. I thought it was the power steering pump pulley, too.
j
j
New User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21
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I have the same exact truck and year, I had the same problem at start up and then one day my battery which was the original from the factory died, after I replaced it about 3 weeks ago I have not heard a chirp at start up, I dont know if that has anything to do with it but its the only thing that I have changed and since then I havent heard a thing.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
that's funny, almost everyone that has the belt squeal is due to the factory Ford (motorcraft) belt. Switching to the Goodyear Gatorback belt has solved this issue for many, including myself.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Pleasant Hill
well i tried the wd-40/ belt dressing already and the squeal got louder. i even sprayed some lps on the power steering pully where the bearing would be and it didnt seem to help. i think im gonna try a gatorback belt
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 508
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From: Loveland, CO
I use water in a squirt bottle to isolate belt noise. It will get rid of the noise for 20-30 seconds if it's the belt, without leaving a residue like silicone, or WD-40. It simply dries up, and goes away.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I had the squeal and the dealer replaced it under warranty, another Motorcraft belt of course. It was fine for another 20k miles, but then the noise came back. This time I switched to the Gatorback and no problems in a few thousand miles so far.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 508
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From: Loveland, CO
Ok, I'll try this again...I got flamed when I first joined this board for saying it. I had a 2003 Sport-Trac. Belt would squeal all the time. Took it to the dealer. Over a 4 month period they replaced the belt twice, idler pulley, water pump pulley, alternator, and cursed whenever they'd see me pulling into the lot, I'm sure.
After the last trip there, I was trying to figure out what the noise was, and knocked over a glass of water into the engine compartment. Water everywhere, flying off the fan, pulleys, etc. Noise disappeared. Noise came back about 2 minutes later, and louder. I got a squirt bottle, and sprayed the outside of the belt...Noise stayed. I then squited the spline side of the belt, and the noise was gone. Hmmm. I then got a paintbrush, and CAREFULLY (as the engine was running) cleaned the splines with a little water and the brush running on the splines. All kinds of dirt came off that belt, and the noise was gone. For good. Almost. Any time I'd go through an automated car wash, and the thing sprayed the bottom of the trucklet pulling in, I'd have to repeat the procedure when I'd get home.
Call it crazy, call me full of *****, call it a waste of time. Try it; it works.
After the last trip there, I was trying to figure out what the noise was, and knocked over a glass of water into the engine compartment. Water everywhere, flying off the fan, pulleys, etc. Noise disappeared. Noise came back about 2 minutes later, and louder. I got a squirt bottle, and sprayed the outside of the belt...Noise stayed. I then squited the spline side of the belt, and the noise was gone. Hmmm. I then got a paintbrush, and CAREFULLY (as the engine was running) cleaned the splines with a little water and the brush running on the splines. All kinds of dirt came off that belt, and the noise was gone. For good. Almost. Any time I'd go through an automated car wash, and the thing sprayed the bottom of the trucklet pulling in, I'd have to repeat the procedure when I'd get home.
Call it crazy, call me full of *****, call it a waste of time. Try it; it works.
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