Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) gear noise from engine!!!

[CFast]

The past couple of months i've noticed a new noise in the truck. It has 170,000 miles on it, and I bought it with 120,000 miles on it. The noise is loudest when the engine is cold and seems to go away when it warms up. it sounds like gear noise. You can't hear it at idle, but when you rev it up while sitting in the cab you can hear it at all rpms off idle. It makes the noise while increasing and decreasing rpm. It does it with the trans in neutral or in gear. With the clutch pedal up or down. I don't think it's the transmission. It runs the same as always, and I've checked the oil for metal and haven't found any. Something else happend about the same time though. the oil pressure gauge used to work off the oil pressure. Now it will climb to 90 psi with just the key on engine off. It never did that before. It works more like a switch than a gauge. I've never had it reflashed, so why would it do this? as far as the gear noise, could it be the p/s pump-acc drive? ANY HELP would be nice. I know new noise's aren't usually a good thing. Thanks.

 

[paulb]

The noise you are describing sounds like the power steering. Check to see if the power steering fluild smells burnt. If it is then flush it with clean fluid and refill it with a synthetic power steering fluid.

 

[Graphic man]

check the PS level, it don't take much to be low to start making noise,... as far as the oil pressure, it sounds like a sending unit... .common on these trucks

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The geartrain in the timing case makes a fair amount of noise (camshaft, oil pump & PS/vac pump gears). It's not as noticeable on 24-valves due to the clatter, but it's quite noticeable on my '98 12v and on my '03 I used to have. I think it sounds cool

 

[CFast]

this is a new noise, if it had been there when I got the truck, i wouldn't be worried. i added p/s fluid and it still sounds the same. It wasn't real low to begin with. I'm just guessing but I think it's the p/s pump. I should be able to pull it off the accesory drive and run the engine right? that would at least eliminate that possibilty.

 

[WyattEarp]

this one sounds like trial and error, thats what i do alot of times, with the engine noise its very hard to detect but if your around this truck long enough you will get to where you can stand and listen and hear any new click, tick or ping coming from the engine, i can always hear stuff and don't ask me how, dad says he can't hear a damn thing with it running lol. .

 

[Graphic man]

when you start it up and you hear the noise turn the wheel back and forth and the sound will change if it is the PS pump.

 

[CFast]

yes, graphic man. I should have guessed that. DUH on me. I'll try that.