Hey guys,

Went to go start up the truck yesterday after sitting for maybe a week and it had a little high pitch noise in the front somewhere by the engine. I let it warm up for about 10 minutes then as its idling it will kick in for maybe 5 seconds and it will start to have a small high pitch/whine from the front again then after kicks back in and goes away. Any idea what it is? I'm guessing maybe it's the belt letting me know early it needs to be changed?

Hope you guys can help!
Thanks.

 

Forgot to add as well it's a 1999 F250 with a 5.4L engine.

 

probally the belt tensioner, could be the idle pulley bearing, or the alt bearing, or the power steering. My 5.4 does it in the winter when its cold outside, start it up in the morning and i have a high pitch wine, a mile or two later it goes away and its nice and quiet. Been doing this for two years now but I'm going to replace the tensioner and idle pulley because i cant stand hearing that wine makes me feel like a have a piece of crap fifty year old beater truck!

 

Could be those three things you mentioned but its definitely not the power steering. It isn't the same type of whine as a power steering issue. Its almost like a high pitch noise.

 

then id go and just replace the belt tensioner and idle pulley, ive seen the tensioner spring break and cause the belt to go flying and the idle pulley is like 15-20 bucks from a Ford dealer. One thing i would not go after market i picked up a idle pulley from advanced and it was loose after i put it on the bearing wasa 1/2mm slimmer and the bolt wouldnt tighten it down proper. So i just ordered a Ford one at the dealer

 

That was the cause of my truck's whine noise about 2 years ago.

 

Any idea on the price of a belt tensioner?

Any sources online that I can order an oem belt tensioner from? My dealer here I don't deal with cause they are money hungry.

 

Check out places like autozone, napa, etc. They should carry it. I think when I did mine a couple years ago, it was around 40 bucks.

 

My truck does this when it is cold. I always thought it was the alternator, but others on the forum have told me it is probably the power steering pump.

Either way, I will live with it until it breaks.