stevearcher
Member
- Joined
- March 31, 2006
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
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- City, State
- Coventry, UK
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '99 4.0V6
I'll apologise now for the length of this post...
Since about a month after I got my X in March, it has been squeaking on startup and for anything from 10sec to 5 min after, depending on how cold it was/how wet it was etc.
I'd searched all the forums, consulted my Haynes manual, consulted my Ford service CD-Rom and knew it was coming from the drive belt area.
The drive belt was in a bit of a state so got that replaced (had to get that from Ford in the end as the only ones that two other suppliers could supply were for X's without A/C!!!)
It didn't make any difference.
Read somewhere that the idler pulley can squeak so tried replacing that. No difference.
Tried using some hosepipe to see if I could pinpoint the squeak - both me and my wife thought it was coming from the tensioner.
Bought a new one, and a tool so I could release the tension on the belt properly and replaced it yesterday morning. While it was off, I tried spinning all the pulleys and none seemed to squeak. The tensioner did seems quite rattly though.
Anyway, finished replacing it, started the engine and... no sqeaking.
...until later in the day when I started it again. :fire:
This morning, I took the belt off again and gave it a good clean to make sure there wasn't any oil on it. Then went back to make sure the pulleys weren't greasy. Spun the pulleys again. Suddenly, the altenator pulley is making the exact same squeak that I was looking for!!!
Alternator looked pretty good and I haven't had any problems with it so I thought I'd give it some WD40. A few squirts and I was squeak free.
See how long it lasts now but if it means I have to squirt it every couple of months or something, it's a lot cheaper than a new alternator while its working properly.
Just wish I'd got the tool and investigated properly in the first place, nearly 6 months ago!!!
Anyway, got a few new bits on the car!
Just thought I'd share this with everyone in case anyone else is looking for a mystery squeak.
Steve
Since about a month after I got my X in March, it has been squeaking on startup and for anything from 10sec to 5 min after, depending on how cold it was/how wet it was etc.
I'd searched all the forums, consulted my Haynes manual, consulted my Ford service CD-Rom and knew it was coming from the drive belt area.
The drive belt was in a bit of a state so got that replaced (had to get that from Ford in the end as the only ones that two other suppliers could supply were for X's without A/C!!!)
It didn't make any difference.
Read somewhere that the idler pulley can squeak so tried replacing that. No difference.
Tried using some hosepipe to see if I could pinpoint the squeak - both me and my wife thought it was coming from the tensioner.
Bought a new one, and a tool so I could release the tension on the belt properly and replaced it yesterday morning. While it was off, I tried spinning all the pulleys and none seemed to squeak. The tensioner did seems quite rattly though.
Anyway, finished replacing it, started the engine and... no sqeaking.
...until later in the day when I started it again. :fire:
This morning, I took the belt off again and gave it a good clean to make sure there wasn't any oil on it. Then went back to make sure the pulleys weren't greasy. Spun the pulleys again. Suddenly, the altenator pulley is making the exact same squeak that I was looking for!!!
Alternator looked pretty good and I haven't had any problems with it so I thought I'd give it some WD40. A few squirts and I was squeak free.
See how long it lasts now but if it means I have to squirt it every couple of months or something, it's a lot cheaper than a new alternator while its working properly.
Just wish I'd got the tool and investigated properly in the first place, nearly 6 months ago!!!
Anyway, got a few new bits on the car!Just thought I'd share this with everyone in case anyone else is looking for a mystery squeak.
Steve
