Happy New Year everyone!

Haven't had any issues recently until about a week ago when I thought I heard a bit of a whirring noise from under the hood especially at start up. Definitely a new noise and seems to be a bit worse after a few days of driving and especially when the engine is cold, the noise is there but less as it reaches operating temperature.

So today I removed the belt cover over the AC pulley and the upper radiator shroud under the upper hose assembly. I ran the engine and attempted to locate the source with a stethoscope but mostly just heard a lot of noise being transmitted to my ears. The noise does seem to be more noticeable on the driver's side of the engine than the passenger side which makes me wonder about the idler pulley or the PS pump bearing.

I loosened the tensioner and slipped the belt off of the driver's side pulley and the PS pump pulley and spun them by hand and wiggled them but they seem to move fine and no apparent wiggles or noise that might indicate a bad bearing. So I put back on the belt and tightened up the tensioner. I started the engine up and while listening from the driver's side reached in to turn the steering wheel. My thought was maybe if it is a PS bearing it might make more or less noise if under a load. Didn't hear anything different.

Everything seems to be fine otherwise, water and PS fluid levels are fine and nothing out of the norm. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I hate to just drive it and have something go out but I also hate to just replace parts without knowing if they will fix the problem.

 

at start up you could go out an squirt some lube on the pulleys 1 x 1 and see if it has any change(this usually shuts it up briefly).....could help locate

 

Worn faces on your idlers will cause noise, doesnt always have to be a bad bearing. Are they original? If you remove an idler, look for grease being extruded out of the bearing, replace idler.

Belt might be tired too.

What Dusty said x2. That will point you in the right direction.

 

Thanks I will try that. Yes everything in front of the motor is original and I have roughly 134K on those parts. Belt isn't that old and is a Gates brand I think and in good shape.

I thought the bearings were sealed so will a penetrating oil get down in there?

 

If your idlers are original, replace. Keep the old ones in the rig for spares if your ever out in the middle of nowhere and have a failure.

The spray Dusty mentioned using is to see if your squeel or whatever your hearing goes away when you spray it on to your belt (where your belt contacts pulleys etc)..has nothing to do with your bearings.