2000 DII, 106k miles. I am trying to track down a squeal. I did several searches here but am still confused, so I took some videos and hopefully someone can help identify the source.

Video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkQ3IpTS1RE

I started the truck in the morning , and the squealing becomes more noticeable after 2-3 minutes. Overnight temperature is about 46°F / 8°C. If I give the engine some gas, the squeal goes away. Seems like the squealing only happens at idle. After about 5-6 minutes the squeal quiet down at idle, but when I pump the throttle, the squealing comes back and then goes away.

The 80mm idler pulley has play so I am going to replace it, the 70mm pulley has some spots on it (see photo) but no play. Do I need to replace that too? I also have a new Dayco serpentine belt (Italy) from British Pacific so I will also replace the belt... Do I need a genuine belt?

The belt tensioner seems like the original one. If I am replacing the belt and the idler pulley, should I also replace it given the mileage?

How do I check the water pump and fan clutch? Just check for resistance and waggle the pulley?




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The serp belt that you baought is just fine.
I would replace that and see if it still squeals. If it does I would replace your belt tensioner.
As for the fan clutch, after the engine has ran for about 10 min shut it off and then try and spin the fan, if it spins freely then the fan clutch is fine.
If it is hard to spin then the fan clutch is bad.

 

Hard to tell from the audio but this is what I would do
[ul][*]Spray belt lubricanton belt to see if squeal goes away. Spray the groove and flat side of the belt.This will tell you if it's the belt or an external pulley[*]Use a long pry bar, extension or stestoscope to try and pin point exact location of squeal. This will tell you if it's an internal bearing[/ul]
If I was a gambling man, I would say it sounds like the H2O pump bearing that's squealing.

 

A word to the wise, never spray anything on a belt to check for a squeak, all you will do is coat the pulleys and have a long term belt issue untill you remove the belt and clean the glazed from all the pullies.

As for the above issue, replace both idler pulleys, belt and the belt tensioner and your noise will go away.

 

I don't know if any belt dressing was used before, but the pulleys do look shiny.

What should I use to clean the pulley?

Thanks,

 

I have a very similar issue with my 2001 Disco 2 that I have not been able to find. It only does it when it is cold and with the heater on. After it warms up, maybe ten minutes of driving or so it will go away unless it is really cold outside. It is similar to your problem in regards to when I give the vehicle gas it goes away and then comes back. It seems like the colder the temp the longer it lasts and the louder it is. I have had the tension pulleys replaced and had the dealer listen to it and they couldn't ever confirm it. The seemed to think that it was the heater motor, but I'm not sure, I figured it would do that when the A/C was on also. Please update the post if you find something that works. Mine has been like that since I have owned it, three years, and it hasn't caused any other issues other than annoyance yet.

 

scubaman-the easiest way to scuff up a pully is to take a paint stir stick and some sand paper, staple the sandpaper to the stick. With the engine running rub the sand paper on the smooth pully, it will scratch thehell out of it and help the belt get grip.

jpperry-your water pump is going bad. When the engine is cold the fluid inside the viscous clutch for the engine fan is thick and not very fluid, worse in cold weather because it take longer for that fluid to become fluid, make sense so far?
Because the fluid is not fluid the fan clutch is locked up, meaning that the engine fan is turning at the same rate as the engine, the fan runs off the waterpump, with the waterpump bearings going out the extra strain on them makes them squeal or growl. Once the fan clutch releases then no more strain on the water pump and the noise goes away.
Whenever you replace the water pump you should also replace the fan clutch.
My truck did the exact same thing starting last Dec. Now my fan clutch is completly bad and locked up all the time, so the water pump makes noise, the engine runs cold and I get worse MPG. Once I fix it all will be good.
Yours will get worse, so at the first chance you get have the waterpump and the viscous fan clutch replaced.
It doesnt do it in hot weather because the fluid inside the fan clutch is already warm and thinner than when it is cold.

 

You have already mentioned yours look old and one was loose, I believe. Don't worry about cleaning them, replace them as well as the belt and belttensioner to get rid of you noise. Rovers have been know for this problem and the need for replacing the pullies and tensioner once in awhile.

 

Update:

Just replaced the belt and the pulleys and the engine is nice and quiet now. Thanks guys!