So my Disco II is making a strange squealing but only when in 3/4th gear and only between 1000 and 2000 rpm (with 1500rpm being a sweet spot where the sound lasts as long as I'm hovering around there). My assumption was the belt because I know I've never changed it in 45k miles, but I wanted to make sure. I was able to get an audio recording of the noise but it may be hard to hear since I have to get it while I'm driving with a window open. Otherwise, it's hard to hear with the windows rolled up.

Does this sound like a belt problem? I know there's a small leak in my water pump (gasket erosion?) that my mechanic told me about, could that leak be causing the sound?

If you'd prefer not to download the audio files you can listen to the sound here -->

 

Are you sure the WP jsnt leaking from the weep hole which would indicate the the wp is about to fail completely, At any rate if the pump is leaking from anywhere it needs to be replaced asap. And you can replace the belt at the same time,

 

I’m not positive about the spot of the leak. The mechanic used a term that I had never heard before, but I remember it being tied to the water pump. He wrote it down, but that was 6 months ago and I have no clue where the estimate is. I remember that the cost was a little over $400 for parts and labor which seems to fit with a water pump replacement.

Does the squeal sound like a belt issue? I’ve hear louder squeals when a car is started or accelerates from a dead stop, but I’ve never heard it like this before. I’ll end up replacing the belt and pump either way, I just want to know what it is so I can get better at diagnosing these issues.

 

$400 parts and labor for a shop to do a waterpump is a steal. I would run back in and have it done if they will still honor that.

Does the squeal only happen when driving? Can you film under the hood and look for the noise source while someone revs the engine? How does the belt look?

A picture is worth a thousand words...

 

Once I get the cash together I’ll have the pump replaced. It may have been closer to the $500 end, but I remember it being a pretty good deal. My biggest concern was whether I was getting a new pump as the mechanic has a lot of parts cars and the price felt “too good to be true”.

As for the noise, it only happens when I’m in 3rd or 4th gear and only between 1,000 and 2,000 RPM. I’ve tried to coax the noise out in park and in neutral, but it never happens. It is definitely coming from the engine bay. As best as I can hear, it sounds like it’s coming from the middle to passenger side. The belt isn’t the horror show that I’ve seen when I Google “bad serpentine belt”, but I know I haven’t changed it in 40k miles so I know that it’s due up for replacement.

 

Dont used a used WP....Not even a reman IMO. Get a new one. $100 to $120 new.

 

I wouldn't dream of using a used WP. I was just saying that my assumption for the low cost to replace the WP with that mechanic was because he could be using a used WP. Either way, the WP isn't such a hard job that I can't do it myself (even if it takes me a few more hours than a mechanic).