I have had a squealing noise start coming form what i beleive to be the water pump. Truck isnt running hot, not noticable loss of power or mileage, and it does it whether running the a/c or not. it is only noticeable at idle, at about 1200rpm it quits. it sounds like a dry bearing squeal...
I think it is either the belt( slightly checked but not torn or frayed at all) or the water pump going.
It looks like the water pump replacement is a fairly straightforward, remove/replace job.
Anybody have any problems doing this in teh psat or hints to make it easier?
any thing I should know before I do it?

 

Chris get a piece of heater hose, water hose etc.. and hold it to the water pump and then to the alternator and listen through it to see if you can see what is making the racket. Changing the waterpump is a piece of cake.

 

There's one bolt on the WP (if you have A/C) that's a pain in the posterior, but it's pretty simple. Check your belt tensioner - is the belt running true? The tensioner has a bearing in it that can make some noise...

 

Usually when the water pumps go they start a small leak out from an inpection hole

 

I would make bet that it's the Alt, Good luck

 

May I suggest that you pull the belt and then check each accessory by feel. I was chasing a noisy water pump and found out it was the fan bearing. If it is the fan bearing you will need a good press or large vise to change it.

 

I do belive Boatnik has the best Idea yet!

 

Please post the problem, my '89 is doing the same thing but only if you accelerate slightly and quits after more acceleration. Only does it at idle when first starts up after is warm it stops while just idling. Checked pulleys and couldn't hear a squeal in anything. Post what you found. Thanks

 

I recently had the same type of noise so I replaced the water pump AND the belt tensioner. Noise still there. Someone here on DTR suggested that I squirt some water on the belt and see if the noise went away.
Guess what, with the belt wet, the noise went away. Put a new belt on and no more squealing!!

 

i've got the same noise. it went away for about a month after i changed my belt, but it is back in full effect. could be a pulley, or maybe the belt just slips a little?

 

OK, I tryed the water on the belt trick and it quit until it dryed off then started up again, so i guess its the belt?
Gonna have to remember to pick up some belt dressing and see of that solves it, the belt has some minor checking but looks in good condition.
No seeping from the water pump and its running at norm temps, even thougfh the heat index here has been hovering around 105 for the last three days( 106 today)
I dont think I am going to worry about it further unless something else come up.

Mike they all sound the same... I cant realy hear anything over teh engine noise... age maybe??????

 

Check the tensioner.

 

Dave, I have almost no freeplay in teh idler/tensioner pulley, but maybe the tensionor spring is going and letting it run a hair loose?
But, the water did quite it down, so I think it may be the belt, and thinking about it, it only started when this heat wave hit, temps jumped to teh upper 90's , that may cause/help the belt to stretch a little and possibly be slipping some?

 

OK, sometimes they will get sticky and not tension the belt properly.

 

I beleive my problem is something along that line...
everything seems to be running fine so I think I am going to just live with the noise for right now.

The BOSS just holelred that the steaks are done........LATER!!