adanvjr

Good morning yall,

In the past few days, I've been noticing my truck has been making a squealing noise during a cold startup. The squealing is high-pitched and kind of erratic (not rhythmic). It's also not really loud. I didn't notice it until I turned it on and got out of the truck to get something out of the house.

This only happens during cold startup. My commute to work is on average 40 minutes. After 20 mins of driving and the motor temp reaching normal operating temp, the squealing is gone. Same thing happens when I leave work for the day (squealing during cold startup, gone after about 20 mins).


Do I have a bad belt? or is it something else?
FYI I haven't changed the belt for about 50,000 miles now.

My truck is a 2005 F-150 V8 5.4L
Current mileage is around 200,300 miles as of today.

If it's any help, these past few days we've been having temps finally reaching the lower 30s. I'm not sure if the cold weather is a contributor to the problem.

I've recorded a video of it, I'll see if I have a way to upload it.


Thanks,

Dirttracker18

Pull the belt and check all the the pulleys by spinning them over. They should spin smooth and free without much noise at all. Should you have one going bad you will notice the difference in both how it spins and the sound it makes.

Instead of changing the pulley, if you have access to a press or even a bench vise you can change just the bearing itself. It is far cheaper than the entire pulley and a fairly simple job.

If you choose to go that route, I'd change all the bearings in all the pulleys. Purchasing all the bearings will be cheaper than purchasing one pulley.

While you are at it put a new belt in too and be sure to check the PS pump for movement in the shaft (bad bearing) and the alternator for the same.

adanvjr

Thanks for the prompt response.

If I have a bad bearing, would special tools would I need & how long will it take to fix? I don't get home until dark.

I also only carry the basic tools (sockets, wrenches, etc).


Let me know if yall can see this video:
http://vid207.photobucket.com/albums...pspqyhgazd.mp4


It was recorded this morning about a couple of seconds after I first started it up.

Martian

Personally even if I had the tools I'd just get new pulleys. You can easily get new idler pulleys for $10-11 each and I bet they'll work just fine. Even a new tensioner (AC Delco) is only like $30, whereas Motorcraft is over $50.

adanvjr

Okay, thanks.
Not an expensive part.


I've been checking through youtube on other vehicles having the same issue.
Often it's the idle pulley, but I will check them all.

Either way, since it's been already 50k miles, I'm going to need the belt replaced at the least.


I'll follow up with an update.

Martian

Don't get Dorman pulleys.

Dirttracker18

IIRC you will need snap ring pliers to get the bearing out and at least a bench vise to press out and in the bearings.

screamineagle

Unless money is extremely tight, get new pulleys. I replaced my idlers a few weeks ago and they were around $12 each for Duralast. You could save $20 or so with just replacing the bearings but, if your time is valuable like mine it's not worth it.

Dirttracker18

While I agree changing bearings is not for everyone I can change a bearing in a pulley in a couple minutes so time is not really an issue.

Let us know what you find. I have to dig back into mine soon. Although I think my issue is my PS pump now

screamineagle

I thought my PS pump was shot. Turned out to be an idler pulley. Hopefully you will get lucky like I did!