Engine Squealing

[btq96r]

Since I'm not a car guy at all, I was hoping some of you can help me out here. 

 

My truck has some kind of squealing for lack of a better word every time it rains.  No idea what it is, what needs to be done, or how much it's going to cost me.  Any input would be appreciated.

[Wingshooter]

Only when it rains?

Sounds like it might be a belt slipping when it gets wet. Maybe check the tension and condition of the belts.

That's my best guess anyway

[nightrunner]

Probably belt related or maybe one of the belt driven accessories. Alternator possibly.

If it's only when it rains though it's the belt. Either needs tightened up or replaced. Could be the tensioner getting weak as well.

[RED333]

I bet a dollar it is the belt, when was the last time it was replaced?

I have a good shop(not mine, I used to work for him) here in Mt Juliet

that we use, fair and honest.

Get on an Autozone web site, look up you car for the belt, it will give a cost of the belt.

Labor, about an hour, I believe the going rate is close to 90 dollars a hour.

Belts are not to hard to change, just depends on what car or truck you have.

[enfield]

Belt

[Grayfox54]

I agree. Belt or tensioner. But don't go to Auto Zone, their belts are junk. Go with OEM or Gates. 

[quedz]

What they said. For a quick temporary fix rub a bar of soap on the pulley side of the belt. If you do this with the engine running be Very careful!

Edited December 3, 2015 by hughd

[peejman]

Worn belt or bad pulley bearing.  When you take the belt off, check every pulley for movement.  There should be zero side movement and should spin very smoothly. 

[LagerHead]

I'm going to go out on a limb and disagree with everyone else. I think it's a belt.

[K191145]

I agree. Belt or tensioner. But don't go to Auto Zone, their belts are junk. Go with OEM or Gates. 

 

Bought cheapo A.Z. belts a couple of years ago only to have them replaced with Gates a year later because of stretching. The extra money is worth it in the long run.

[monkeylizard]

I can't believe nobody has said belt yet. That's likely the problem.

[GlockSpock]

Does your car have anything that looks like this?

If not, belt:)

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

Does your car have anything that looks like this?

If not, belt:)

It's not fair to be that funny this early in the morning.

[btq96r]

I bet a dollar it is the belt, when was the last time it was replaced?

I have a good shop(not mine, I used to work for him) here in Mt Juliet

that we use, fair and honest.

Get on an Autozone web site, look up you car for the belt, it will give a cost of the belt.

Labor, about an hour, I believe the going rate is close to 90 dollars a hour.

Belts are not to hard to change, just depends on what car or truck you have.

 

Replaced?  Umm...unless that comes with an oil change, I'll guess never.  It's a 2002 Ford Ranger, and I'm closing on 80,000 miles if that helps assess the situation.

 

So, at a decent repair shop, I'm looking at what, $120-$150?

[RED333]

Should not be much more.

[bersaguy]

Replaced?  Umm...unless that comes with an oil change, I'll guess never.  It's a 2002 Ford Ranger, and I'm closing on 80,000 miles if that helps assess the situation.

 

So, at a decent repair shop, I'm looking at what, $120-$150?

If you pay that kind of money your getting ripped off. Belt should cost about $35.00 at best for a Gates or Dayco and labor should run about 30 bucks. That is what it would cost at my sons shop but he is in Kingston Springs.

[monkeylizard]

Most shops have a 1 hour labor min. charge, even though the belt will only take them about 15-20 minutes to replace. So yeah, you'll probably be paying $100-150 when the actual value is closer to $60-75.

 

There are loads of YouTube videos on how to do it. Maybe you can watch one and decide for yourself if you think you can DIY. It's a trade off of time v. money. DIY also gives you the satisfaction of having done it yourself but at a shop you get the satisfaction that someone else busted his knuckles instead of you.

Edited December 3, 2015 by monkeylizard

[btq96r]

If you pay that kind of money your getting ripped off. Belt should cost about $35.00 at best for a Gates or Dayco and labor should run about 30 bucks. That is what it would cost at my sons shop but he is in Kingston Springs.

 

I'd give your son my business if I was close, but I'd be looking to get this fixed in the Murfreesboro/Smyrna area.

[raildog]

btq96r PM me i live in Blackman and work in South Nashville been turning wrenches on heavy equipment and class 8 trucks for to long i can help you out after work

[jgradyc]

It's probably the belt, but you shouldn't try to change it yourself. Yes, it's an easy job, but you don't sound like you know your way around an engine. It can also be a knuckle buster for a novice. Just call around and find someone to change a belt for you. You'll need to have the tensioners checked as well.

[gregintenn]

Replaced?  Umm...unless that comes with an oil change, I'll guess never.  It's a 2002 Ford Ranger, and I'm closing on 80,000 miles if that helps assess the situation.

 

So, at a decent repair shop, I'm looking at what, $120-$150?

All you need is a wrench of socket and ratchet to move the tension pulley so you can remove and replace the offending belt.

 

Looks more like $25-$35 of you do it yourself.

 

There should be a serpentine belt routing diagram under the hood. If not, they can be found online, or worst case, make a cell phone pic before you remove the old one.

 

If that doesn't fix it, anything the belt turns could be the culprit. Since you aren't too confident in your mechanical abilities, you might consider taking it to a local garage at this point.

Edited December 3, 2015 by gregintenn

[bersaguy]

If you lived closer I would just have you come by here and I would put it on for you and check all the other pully's  to make sure they are good. It can't be more than 20 minute fix for any experienced mechanic which I was and can still do simple stuff... :up:

[btq96r]

All you need is a wrench of socket and ratchet to move the tension pulley so you can remove and replace the offending belt.

 

Looks more like $25-$35 of you do it yourself.

 

There should be a serpentine belt routing diagram under the hood. If not, they can be found online, or worst case, make a cell phone pic before you remove the old one.

 

If that doesn't fix it, anything the belt turns could be the culprit. Since you aren't too confident in your mechanical abilities, you might consider taking it to a local garage at this point.

 

I'm not thinking this is something I can take on with my lack of knowledge.  That belt looks like it's in there pretty good.  My truck is the 3.0L...I think.

 

 

[Omega]

I'm not thinking this is something I can take on with my lack of knowledge.  That belt looks like it's in there pretty good.  My truck is the 3.0L...I think.

 

 

It's easier than you think, most have one of the pulleys that actually provide the tension.  That pulley may have one or two bolts which need to be loosened, then replace the belt according to your corresponding diagram, using a tire iron or the like to put tension on the belt then tighten.  When finished you should have about one inch of deflection when you press on the belt.

 

Edit: it may be your alternator which provides the tension, look for a half circle bracket with a slot in it which has a bolt in the slot.

Edited December 4, 2015 by Omega

[btq96r]

It's easier than you think, most have one of the pulleys that actually provide the tension.  That pulley may have one or two bolts which need to be loosened, then replace the belt according to your corresponding diagram, using a tire iron or the like to put tension on the belt then tighten.  When finished you should have about one inch of deflection when you press on the belt.

 

Dude, you're talking to the guy who would buy a mechanic lunch on days I was stuck at the motorpool because our unit required a vehicle operator to be on hand whenever it was in the bay.  :)