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High pitched squeel

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Old Feb 9, 2010 | 11:31 PM
  #1  
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High pitched squeel

So, If you don't know, I just recently purchased my first Ford truck (which has brought me here!)

I just noticed today that there is a very high pitched (and sort of quite) squeeling coming from what seems like the tire area when I am going approximatley 10-30MPH. I can't hear it passed that, I don't know if it stops making the noise, or the engine noise just over-powers it.

Any help on what this could be? I drive a 1999 Ranger 4x4 3.0L
 
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Old Feb 10, 2010 | 10:14 AM
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Does it make the noise when accelerating and decelerating through that speed? Does it make the noise when turning? Does the noise come from the front or rear tires? There is not many things that make noise near tires, except wheel bearings and you would probably feel a shake more than hear a noise. My guess would be that the noise is engine noise that you hear, possibly front end accessory drive whine. One of my cars does this when it is really cold and damp and I traced it to moisture that freezes inside the belt tensioner idler pulley. My noise goes away when the outside temp is above 10F. It also goes away once I drive a few miles and it warms up enough to dry out the moisture. Does your noise ease up as you let up on the throttle and the RPMs drop or does it do it in all gears at that speed? If it was warmer outside, I would probably jack up each wheel and spin the tire as fast as you can to make sure it was not a wheel bearing.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2010 | 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ranger pat
Does it make the noise when accelerating and decelerating through that speed? Does it make the noise when turning? Does the noise come from the front or rear tires? There is not many things that make noise near tires, except wheel bearings and you would probably feel a shake more than hear a noise. My guess would be that the noise is engine noise that you hear, possibly front end accessory drive whine. One of my cars does this when it is really cold and damp and I traced it to moisture that freezes inside the belt tensioner idler pulley. My noise goes away when the outside temp is above 10F. It also goes away once I drive a few miles and it warms up enough to dry out the moisture. Does your noise ease up as you let up on the throttle and the RPMs drop or does it do it in all gears at that speed? If it was warmer outside, I would probably jack up each wheel and spin the tire as fast as you can to make sure it was not a wheel bearing.
I listened again today.. it makes the noise, while accelerating, and decelerating, and when i just go a constant speed as well. And after i listened again, i am not so sure its from the wheels, but it is from the front of the truck.. maybe a belt?

It sounds like this (if you say it kinda fast) haha
weee-o wee-o weee-o weee-o

The tempature in this area hasn't been dramatic either.. about 35-50 degrees or so.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2010 | 05:12 PM
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Brake pads make that noise when they get to the end of their life. I can't remember the name of that piece that sticks out from the pad and squeals when the pads are almost done. Do a quick check of your pads to eliminate them as the cause.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2010 | 06:28 AM
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check your alternator. dry bearings can cause the sound you describe. take off the belt and turn it by hand...
 
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Old Feb 13, 2010 | 09:39 AM
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2001 XLT 3.0 same noise

My 2001 Ranger has the same noise described as happening only during cold / damp conditions. I changed both idler pulleys, serp. belt, and water pump which stopped it for a while, but seems to be coming back every once in a while. Only stopped after the serp. belt replacement - kept up even after pulleys and waterpump.
Glad to hear the opinion that it could be water frozed inside pulleys, etc.

Just had a fender bender in the snow/ice so may be looking for rf fender and related parts - what year range fits this truck??

Thanks - Jay Self
 
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Old Feb 15, 2010 | 10:45 PM
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I tried everything, and finally just took it to Midas. Turns out that the person who owned it before me JUST changed the brakes right before I bought it, and they did not turn the rotors.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 08:18 AM
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Is it a 3.0 V6? Better change your camshaft syncro before you toast your motor...

Chirping and squealing 3.0
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 04:28 PM
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3.0 V6 cam shaft syncro

Is changing the cam shaft syncro a regular maintenance item after a certain number of miles? What does it take to replace it - special tools or regular tools the home mechanic will probably have? How much time involved?
Thanks - Jay
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 04:31 PM
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Yeah, I have read up on it, and it doesn't sound easy to do. The part is $95, but how much labor would be involved?
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 4Ranger4
I tried everything, and finally just took it to Midas. Turns out that the person who owned it before me JUST changed the brakes right before I bought it, and they did not turn the rotors.
I assume that fixed the squeal??
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Greenbike
My 2001 Ranger has the same noise described as happening only during cold / damp conditions. I changed both idler pulleys, serp. belt, and water pump which stopped it for a while, but seems to be coming back every once in a while. Only stopped after the serp. belt replacement - kept up even after pulleys and waterpump.
Glad to hear the opinion that it could be water frozed inside pulleys, etc.
Thanks - Jay Self
It will be back.....The only thing that stopped the chirping belt noise on my 2000 3.0 was a tensioner. Even tho it was in specs, it had just enough wear to it that it cocked the belt up against the water pump pulley. When I first started it in cold/damp weather it would chirp for the first couple of miles, then quit. Finally after, chasing the noise around and replacing the serp belt and 2 idler pulleys only the tensioner was left. I should've started with it but didn't want to cough up $60. Ah, all is quiet again.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 4Ranger4
Yeah, I have read up on it, and it doesn't sound easy to do. The part is $95, but how much labor would be involved?
It's not that hard...took me about 20-30mins to do it.
 
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Old Feb 16, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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Really? Awesome! Do you, or anyone else know where I can find instructions for the procedure? I am unfamiliar with the camshaft syncronizer.

Thanks guys for all the help
 
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Old Feb 17, 2010 | 03:56 AM
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Here ya go...

Method one...
Replacing the Cam Sync

Method two...
Replacing the Cam Sync part 2

If you have ever replaced a distributor, the method is very similar.

One last word of advice...don't use any other part but a OEM Motorcraft...the others have had early failure rates. O'Reillys is where I got mine...it was cheaper than the "stealership".
 
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