I took my 2013 F150 V8 to a chain repair shop for an intermittent squealing sound from the engine. They said they identified the problem, charged me $400, and nothing changed at all.
The exact same sound remains.

Before taking it to the shop I popped the hood and listened and tried to see where the sound was coming from.
It's not super loud and is more of an annoyance, but its embarrassing for my neighbors to hear it as I pull up and park or going through drive thrus.

There is no check engine light and it runs fine. It seems like a belt or pulley is making the sound. If I was handy myself it might be as simple as tightening something down.

Is there a way to upload an audio clip of the sound to this post or thread? Or I guess that would probably be pointless as you can't ID a problem just by the sound.

The chain shop which shall remain nameless replaced the drive belt and tensioner. But again, this did nothing and honestly I have no idea if they even did what they say they did.
What is a layman idiot like me supposed to do when I don't have a shop I can trust. I won't go back to that same one or that company ever again, but not sure who I can trust.
Will just get ripped off again.

I thought of taking it to a 15 minute oil change chain, paying for a tire rotation or oil change, and just offering them like $50 cash to help me at least figure out which component is emitting the sound.
Feeling down after getting ripped off. I'm not a rich man.

 

Its either a belt that got coated with something, a tensioner and or a water pump, alternator or AC compressor.

 

Thanks for your reply. It happens even when the a/c and fan are not on. So probably not the AC compressor?

 

Maybe but, there is still a part on the AC that has to turn when it is off!

 

The last thing I would do is let a 15 minute lube tech try to diagnose something. You paid $400 for nothing and I would take it back.

Me, I would remove each or the one belt on a cold engine, start it briefly and see if the noise disapears. That would atleast verify it's something on the belt path and go from there.