[crazymikey]

So my truck has a really annoying pulley or belt squal that is constant and never goes away. I can spray some belt dressing on it and it stops for about 5 minutes. My truck is going in for some service next week and I have ordered a Gatorback belt since I have heard they help a little, plus my belt is due for replacement. Which pulley is typically making the squealing noise? I know it's fairly common, so maybe if we can pinpoint it, I'll get that replaced as well because the noise drives me INSANE.

[kymudder08]

happened to me, its the main belt in the front. thats all it is

[crazymikey]

hmm. Hope that's all it is then. Mine's still on the original belt which is over 250 000 miles and has been squealing for the 10 months I've owned it.

[Mykhael]

I was gonna say water pump, but if it goes away when you spray the belt

Could just be the belt it's self is it cracked at all

[RangOH]

Probably the belt. but i would replace the idler pully and tensioner if the belt doesn't work.

[FullThrottle02]

If it goes away when you spray the belt it is most likely the belt.

[jaycheetwood]

idler pullies are ones i hear go alot. I would check it.

[Blackonblackfx4]

ITs prob the belt, I changed the harmonic ballancer. it still squeeled then i changed the belt and it hasnt since

[Lord Of War]

250,000 miles on a stock belt is insane.

I am sure your truck is going to thank you for changing it.

[Ford04Ranger4.0]

x2

[crazymikey]

must be the belt then. its starting to look worn. its not cracked or frayed to look at it, but you can tell its original.

My mom's Kia has the same squeal and it only has about 90k on it.

But thanks for the info guys. I'll get the belt done first and see if that solves it. As soon as I spray belt dressing on it, liek I said the noise stops ansd then comes back like 5 mins later.

[NATEFX407]

I haven't tried this myself but someone told me to stick a little chunk of bar soap in between a pulley and the belt so that it coats the belt as it goes by.

[Lord Of War]

Sounds like it might work but you might as well replace the belt if your having problems with it.

[crazymikey]

haha my dad just told me about the soap thing. He said the original belt was replaced while the truck was still under warranty, so it still has over 180-200k miles on this belt.

I've tried searching around online for the part number, but can't really find what I'm looking for.

Does anyone know the part number for the Gatorback? I need one for a 4.0 SOHC with AC.

[jckb4000]

Mikey
we have Mazda twins
and my truck did the belt squeak to me only after i changed the belt for the first time. for whatever reason the part that auto zone and other auto parts stores have listed for our trucks(2002) is wrong! the belt they sold me was a hair too long, i ended up replacing every thing; tension pulley, idler wheel ext . but nothing stopped the belt whine. figured out i had to get a 2003 belt.

So just replace it yourself with a gatorback Goodyear -$40ish that's listed for a 2003 ranger , should be fine.

[crazymikey]

I'm trying to find the part number and get one locally, not shipped from the US. My mechanic's supplier no longer carries Gatorbacks, so I'm on my own to find one and I need it by Thursday.

[crazymikey]

Had the belt replaced with an OEM one and the squeal has stopped. w00t

[Lord Of War]

What did it cost you Mike?

You should have gone with a gatorback.