By Brett Barton (Brett) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 08:13 am: Edit

I need to ask you all for more help. I had a squealing sound from the front of the engine at idle. If I give the truck some gas, the squealing stops. After reading posts and using the recommended 6ft. screwdriver, I deduced that it was the idler tension pulley. I replaced that bearing over the weekend. It needed replacement, as it had a lot of play in it, but the squeal remains. I went back to the screwdriver and it is either the water pump or the fan clutch. How do I figure out which one it is?

By Scott Kopiec (Skopiec) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 10:12 am: Edit

When I had that noise (sounded exactly like yours), it was my water pump. The noise wasn't apparent, even using the long screwdriver trick until I checked right behind the water pump pulley where the bearing is (be careful!). It was then obvious where the noise was coming from.

The pump was 65 + ship from roverconnection.

Scott

By Brett Barton (Brett) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 10:29 am: Edit

Thank you Scott! Can you tell me how difficult it is to replace? What steps need to be taken? Are there any special tricks?
Many thanks!

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 11:45 am: Edit

Once you get the fan clutch off, the water pump's a breeze. For the fan clutch you'll need to stick a fairly beefy screwdriver between the bolts on the back of the water pump drive pulley to keep it from turning. Then you'll need to loosen the clutch nut, which is about a 30mm nut and I had a terrible time gettin' that bitch loose. The longer the handle on your wrench, the better. If you can loosen the clutch nut and keep the aforementioned screwdriver from moving all at the same time, you deserve a big hunk of steak and a nice cold beer LOL

And of course, remember to get a new water pump gasket for your new pump

By Brett Barton (Brett) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 03:45 pm: Edit

Thank you to everyone. I guess that it is going to be the water pump. I will probably fix it next week. There is always something...

By Kent Westbrook on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 11:00 pm: Edit

Can somebody point me to the thread that divulges the "long screwdriver trick"? Sounds interesting and I'm hearing a noise myself, but not like the one described above. Is this trick some means of isolating a noise?

Thanks

Kent

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 02:02 am: Edit

Not quite. You're thinking of taking a long piece of hollow tube (about 1/2" dia or so) and using it as a "mechanic's stethescope." The screwdriver trick here is a method used to hold the water pump pulley from rotating while you're loosening the fan clutch nut.

By Bill Bettridge (Billb) on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 02:11 am: Edit

Nope - actually a long screwdriver also works as a substitute mecahnics stethascope. Not as well as the real thing, but it does work to help isolate noises. Not saying that tubing doesn't, but sometimes it is easier to get a long screwdriver into a tough spot.

Brett - sorry to hear that you have more noises besides the idler pulley - hope that at least all went well in changing that bearing. Let me know what you find in tracking down your new noise (I've now got one appearing also )

Bill

By Brett Barton (Brett) on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 02:36 am: Edit

Bill, thanks for the note. I will let you know what I find. No noise at all today. This thing will drive me crazy if I let it...

By Tom Hogan (Tgh008) on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 04:53 pm: Edit

I had the same noise problem and yes it was the water pump. I lucked out and the dealer had it for 68.00. It took approx 45 min to replace and I am not too mechanically inclined. Brett you shouldnt have too much trouble. Just getting the fan back on, tested my patience. Eveyone have a good one...