Squeal only when accelerating

[techwave]

Since getting my TB I've noticed a squeal only when its accelerating. It doesn't happen when it's idle but rather then accelerating. The truck has had both the Water Pump and Fan Clutch replaced back around Sept/12. so 1.5yrs ago. From what I've read I've heard that the idler pully can make a squeal but don't know if that is it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[Playsinsnow]

Take the belt off and turn each pulley by hand and feel for any resistance.

My idler pulley started squealing around 30k. No problems and almost 132k now.

 

[Hypnotoad]

Since getting my TB I've noticed a squeal only when its accelerating. It doesn't happen when it's idle but rather then accelerating. The truck has had both the Water Pump and Fan Clutch replaced back around Sept/12. so 1.5yrs ago. From what I've read I've heard that the idler pully can make a squeal but don't know if that is it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

Quit hitting the accelerator so hard! You're gonna wear your tires out!

 

[dmanns67]

My idler pulley made an annoying squeal, but I think it made the noise all the time, no just when accelerating. It went shortly after replacing my fan clutch, little over 100k miles. You could hear the bearing was bad with a stethoscope.

 

[Robbabob]

From what I've read I've heard that the idler pully can make a squeal but don't know if that is it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

At 11 years, you may just want to go ahead and change the Idler Arm, Pulley and belt. The belt may not be too old as it was probably replaced with the pump and clutch; inspect and decide.

Good luck!

 

[The_Roadie]

There are two possible cheap pulleys in there - the idler pulley (fixed location, doesn't move) and the tensioner pulley (mounted to a spring-loaded arm). The idler pulley seems to fail 3-4X as often as the tensioner, I'm guessing because the bearings get more impulse shock loads because of the fixed axle. The tensioner is protected from shocks by the arm. They sell replacement arms, but unless your spring is obviously shot, there's no need to change anything but the pulley.

 

[IllogicTC]

There are two possible cheap pulleys in there - the idler pulley (fixed location, doesn't move) and the tensioner pulley (mounted to a spring-loaded arm). The idler pulley seems to fail 3-4X as often as the tensioner, I'm guessing because the bearings get more impulse shock loads because of the fixed axle. The tensioner is protected from shocks by the arm. They sell replacement arms, but unless your spring is obviously shot, there's no need to change anything but the pulley.

Very likely. I'm not sure if it's possible to really see on a "small" scale like in the engine bay, but working on large machinery you'll see some interesting stuff.

There rubber conveyor belts with pneumatic tensioners - you would see the tensioner get pulled back as the conveyor was accelerating or as considerable load was applied (this tensioner was before the drive). It appears that as loads change, or the system is accelerating, it applies extra force to the pulleys all around, really, which is probably at least partially instigated by the belt's resistance to stretching. In the sorter system with aluminum slats and a catenary tensioner after the drive pulley, there was a noticeable slack during the same acceleration or load application, which also leads me to this same conclusion.

The tensioner may get some protection by its very nature indeed. It may also be noticed when revving the motor or turning on the A/C or something, the tensioner might make a noticeable change, likely just a flinch or maybe it'll stay in that spot. It's knowledge of this kind of behavior in belts (and also chains to some extent) that helps understand why it's doing what it does

 

[Droid]

not sure if you got this issue fixed yet or not, but i'll tell ya i just replaced a starter motor in mine due to squeal/knock on acceleration. one of the rods broke and was hitting the flex plate! never heard of this happening with a starter motor before so i was suspicious, but i popped a new one in from a local wrecker and its working flawlessly now! if the pulley isn't the problem, or if it DOES NOT happen off the ground ( mine wouldn't knock or squeal on a lift) check the starter! Good luck