Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) fan squeal

[dodge cummins]

when i turn on my 96 ctd there is aloud squealing noise coming from the fan area. what is it and how do i stop it?

 

[biggy238]

Mine started it yesterday and hasn't let up. I believe the cold front is the inderect cause of mine. . although not the cure.



Check your belt tension. . I'm worried my water pump is about to bite the dust.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Check all the pulleys, one might be locking up.

 

[PKemp]

Run to Autozone and get a Goodyear Gatorback serpentine belt. Yours is glazed. A gatorback is the answer.

 

[biggy238]

Mine is the idler pulley biting the dust... I didn't ask a price yet. . they hit it with some aerosol grease and it shut up. .

 

[PKemp]

You can get the idler pulley and auto tensioner assembly from NAPA at a reasonable price, $122. 00 USD... . The dealer price is really, really unrealistic... .....

 

[Willys]

Mine has started squealing again. It was doing it some last spring- I thought it might be the water pump so I replaced it. The (slight)squealing continued until warmer weather, and it disappeared during the summer. With the colder weather lately, its back again(and loud enough to hear going down the road). Its fairly constant while its happening, but skips days. Monday and Tuesday it squealed, but I didn't notice it any Wednesday. I'm thinking it might be the tensioner pulley. The belt is a gatorback, but is about 5 years(and 130k+ miles) old.



I checked prices at all the chains that have local stores- Autozone is the cheapest for the tensioner(Dayco), and according to the website is only available online. IIRC about 63 for the tensioner and about 33 for the belt(a gatorback), available at the stores. NAPA is the highest for the tensioner. I also checked O'Reilly and Advance. Sorry, I don't recall the prices offhand.



There are some related threads from the last several years, searching brought up some good info on replacement parts.

 

[BigPapa]

Mine did this and I thought it was a bearing on something, idler, A/C compressor, alternator, etc. Turned out to be the clutch on the A/C compressor. There are 3 little flat "springs" that hold the clutch face away from the pully when it is not engauged. Two of those springs had broken and the clutch was dragging on the pulley. Obviously you don't here it when the A/C is engauged but it also seemed temp related. I pulled the clutch face off until spring time. A new clutch fixed it.



Scott

 

[biggy238]

Reasonable ya say!?!? I was hoping they would just sell me the pulley for 30-40 bucks like they did on moms chrysler van... No point in paying for the whole assembly when there wasn't really anything wrong with the tensioner itself.

 

[Willys]

BigPapa, I have one broken tab on mine. My dad's truck has 2 broken tabs and is doing the same thing. Maybe I'll wait until he gets his fixed.



BUT, I've also noticed my brother's truck and my mom's each have only a broken tab each... theirs don't squeak.

 

[BigBadDodge]

I put the heavy duty idler on from Practical Solutions 6 years ago and haven't looked at it since works great along with the Gator back belt.



CLICK HERE







Its not plastic !!!!



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BBD

 

[biggy238]

Well... . Ofcourse I think your ride is the end all to be all, but if that thing and it's price (which I need to ask you) justified??? I mean, this pulley has lasted, what, ten years now?? I need to run to napa and check on the price and then look at that heavy duty one again.

 

[BigBadDodge]

The one above is $49. 00 good description on there web page link above under the price tab.



BBD

 

[biggy238]

Sweeeeet!!! Thanks Scott. Now to nurse this one until I can afford that.

 

[tp0d]

My tensioner failed 3 months after I bought my truck. The sleeve bushing on the engine side wore out and caused the belt to run off track and I almost threw a belt. Got the dayco replacement, went on easy. Paid 60 something from my local parts store. The tension spring inside it is rusting a bit now, throwing off some very light red powder. almost thought I lost a bearing in my alt.



Biggy, take off the belt and relax the tensioner to be sure the bushing is in good shape before you buy a new pulley. If you have 60+k on your current one, my guess is it probably could use a replacement. .



good luck



-j

 

[BigPapa]

J,



I'm still on my original tensioner with 214K. Other things are possible.



Scott

 

[biggy238]

J,



I'm still on my original tensioner with 214K. Other things are possible.



Scott

Other things???



Mine Is actually the tensioner pulley. . we toyed with it and filled it full of grease and the squeak is only intermittant now.



I agree totally that the original post (and other belt noises) could have been caused by any number of things. I just put mine up for reference. :-laf