Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Ok here we go:
I'm from Hawaii and had a cummins (03/04 5. 9L) dropped into my F350. I flew in to Montana and picked up my truck. It drove fine into Idaho and then california. In California it developed a "chirping" sound when cold which went away when it was warmed up. It was identified as the idler pulley which no one could get at the time, I was told it would be fine until my next stop... 30 miles later on a Sunday the idler pulley bolt sheared off. Cost me 3 days of hotel a rental car and the repair.
I drove from California to Texas (through a lot of wind and dirt) about two hours out of Austin it developed a chirp again most noticeable as the rpms came up. Then it went away... arrived in Austin, next morning chirp is back once again most noticeable as rpms come up. Took it Pep boys spent hours trying to figure it out, they put the stethoscope on everything they could find they also replaced the alternator... chirp still there (by the way Pep boys let me keep the alternator and did not charge me a dime) as I had them checking one more the chirp went away again...
1) Has anyone had this experience and know what it might be?
2) I need a "knowledgable" "honest" shop that can take me in asap.
I'm stuck here far from home, too paranoid to drive on to Missouri, renting a room, on a schedule and spending a lot of money... can someone help?
Thank you
Marcus
I'm from Hawaii and had a cummins (03/04 5. 9L) dropped into my F350. I flew in to Montana and picked up my truck. It drove fine into Idaho and then california. In California it developed a "chirping" sound when cold which went away when it was warmed up. It was identified as the idler pulley which no one could get at the time, I was told it would be fine until my next stop... 30 miles later on a Sunday the idler pulley bolt sheared off. Cost me 3 days of hotel a rental car and the repair.
I drove from California to Texas (through a lot of wind and dirt) about two hours out of Austin it developed a chirp again most noticeable as the rpms came up. Then it went away... arrived in Austin, next morning chirp is back once again most noticeable as rpms come up. Took it Pep boys spent hours trying to figure it out, they put the stethoscope on everything they could find they also replaced the alternator... chirp still there (by the way Pep boys let me keep the alternator and did not charge me a dime) as I had them checking one more the chirp went away again...
1) Has anyone had this experience and know what it might be?
2) I need a "knowledgable" "honest" shop that can take me in asap.
I'm stuck here far from home, too paranoid to drive on to Missouri, renting a room, on a schedule and spending a lot of money... can someone help?
Thank you
Marcus
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