Hey all

Got an 88 F150 5.8l when I'm cruising anywhere between 10-50 mph I hear the belt squealing, doesn't happen all the time.

When in park I can't seem to make it happen so its tough to tell were its coming from. My question is do you think its the waterpump goin south? What else would cause the belt to squeal?

Thanks
Bill

 

I doubt it's the water pump. If a pump was dragging that much I would think it would be leaking from the weep hole or have play in it.

Seems most squeals are caused by the power steering unit.

If this has a tensioner on it, it may need to be looked at.

My 2 cents.

 

I would only suspect the water pump if the back side of the belt is glazed. Take the belt off and see what pulley doesn't want to spin. I would also put my money on the ps pump, just because of the reputation they carry. Also, as has been suggested, check the tensioner. These go bad frequently.

 

I've personally never heard a belt squeal that didn't need to be replaced. You didn't say that you had recently replaced it and therefore new it was ok. I would take off the belt, feel the pulleys, replace the belt no matter what I felt, tension it correctly, and if it still squeeked, look for another cause.