HELP!! Screeching noise (???)

Idler pulley bearing

Today was warm. I looked @ the water pump area - no leak. The radiator was full. Looked @ the belts - tight. Grabbed the fan - no movement. No belt spray, so I sprayed WD-40 on and under everything. Filled up the power steering reservoir. Poured power steering fluid all over and in the pulleys (pullies??) Started it up, and NO SCREECHING! I expect it to return when it gets cold, and you can't tell belt condition by looking, but figure I saved from $75 - $200 (at least for now)..

We have used castor oil on belts for years. Some belt dressings can cause the belt to grab and rip the belt. This happened to my dad years ago on Papec field cutter. Since using castor oil, no more problems with ripped belts. Our J.I. Case 140W hay baler has a 4" wide flat belt. A few drops of castor oil will help it tack-up and run true on the pulley. Castor oil will help stop sqeeking belts on engines and will not rot the belts. The thing to remember is a little goes a very very long way.

Okay, no flames please... It got cold, from 55F at night to 28F days (Atlanta, and the noise is back, and UNBEARABLE! I can't afford to leave this at a shop for 3 days, so I might call Pep Boys (they should have the parts), and ask if I can leave it there mornings, but don't want to get ripped off. The Auto Zone idea, and the Castor Oil idea are appreciated - Thanks! Where do ya live to use tractors? How much will it cost to fix a pulley bearing? I'd ask them, but they'll say that's the problem, even if it's something else... I KNOW it's not the water pump... thanks group,

It would be of help to know what engine and the number of belts driving what pieces. I have an '81 F100 which has a 300cid engine. The simple way to diagnose the problem would be to remove each drive belt, one at a time, and when the noise stops.....check the piece that the belt drives. Are you positive the belts are tight enough? Your discription could easily be a_loose_ and/or worn out belt.....looking good and actually being good are quite different. I have a water pump noise when it's cold, but it's not a screeching noise. It 'goes away' when the engine warms up. I'm on the third wp for this engine. Each before made that same noise in the cold weather.

Dave S(Texas)

check the belt tensioner>?

== Next time you start it put all your lights on plus brake and reverse. If the screaching gets worse it's probably bad belt or bad tensioner, if you have one. Geoff.

On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 04:38:37 -0800, kundalini rearranged some electrons to form:

How do you KNOW that it's not the water pump?

I don't think it's the water pump because there are no stains/leaks around it, and the radiator remains full. Now I think it's the belts, after all... I'm gonna spray them down, and use castor oil from now on (thanks), and make the run to work and back (20 miles each way) tonight, and call Pep Boys (the local one is VERY GOOD) and get it in Saturday. Last night all my turn signals stopped (and I live in copburbia); I've been neglecting a burned out brake light bulb, and it might need a flasher unit, etc. It seems the lights are all dimmer than usual...man I hate cold weather (25F now) Atlanta - but I guess I'm being a baby, 'cause I grew up in New England, and it's a lot worse in many places!

1986 300 c.i. 4.9 w/2 barrel motor a/c <not connected - no belt> 4 speed <actually 3 w/granny o.d. gear>in a 1981 F-100 longbed (pale white w/ugly factory stripes, 31" flat black wheels, 2 gas tanks, selector stays on front tank - rear tank RUSTY! This is one VERY tough truck, but it maxes out @ 70 mph (50 uphill)

Regardless of what it looks like; replace the belt.(or tighten the alt belt up a bit more, regardless of how tight you may think it is. If you have never done it and can't tell up how long its been on then its too long. When you first start a rig in the am during the cold months, the extra load on the alternator plus a old or slightly loose belt will squeal. It quits when the initial load slows down, the belt gets warm or whatever.

Hey - I just sent you an email, but your mailbox is full! I'll re-send tomorrow...

THANKS for all the good ideas and help. Interesting stuff....now I have to take it to PepBoys in 5 hours, and lets see if they're as good as they have been with me. Probably the belts, and if not, removing the belts 1 at a time can narrow down the problem area... I have LOTS of ?'s on this truck, so be back after some sleep :+)

ok it's now the 26th...what was the solution?

On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 19:16:15 -0500, Ken rearranged some electrons to form:

He's still sleeping

Pep Boys tightened the belts and charged me (cough cough) about $16 in

2 hours...so they're FAST, HONEST, and COMPETENT ...sorry for not getting back here - not sleeping - my Focus got rear ended, and I've been looking for a new car, calling tow trucks, insurance companies, etc. etc. I "went off" finally on a guy - we were screaming on the phone - ahhh I guess at 53 I sorta don't like the question, "can you hold a moment?"

David M wrote: