high pitched noise..if you have a older ranger i'm sure you know what i mean...sounds like crickets in my engine...i sprayed some wd 40 on the tensioner pulley...works for about a minute..should i replace the belt or the pulley...it did this for a long time after it rained..then would stop...now its all the time...please help

 

id replace the tensioner and idler pulleys as well as getting a new belt IMO i replace my belt once a year just to be safe but that just me

 

mine does it when its raining/humid outside. i replaced the idler pulley now its time to do the belt and the tensioner maybe

 

Replace all pulleys to make sure you get the right one :P

 

I have the exact same problem with my 99' 3.0l..
replaced my belt and it was quiet for a week, then it started again..
replaced my idler pulley, still didn't work, so now I think im just going to buy a whole auto tensioner kit..

 

get a gator back belt

 

If it is coming from the back of the engine it could be your camshaft syncronizer going out

 

Does anyone know the bolt size for the tensioner assy on a 94 2.3 L Ranger? The head is stripped on mine, I want to get the bolt before I commit to the job. Also, metric bolts not always the easiest to find. Any help appreciated.

jack

 

Try replacing the belt with a goodyear gatorback belt first i had that problem new belt fixed it

 

I first tried dry lube. Helped a lot but not silent. Found problem to be power steering pulley rusted flanges.
Removed rust and quite as a mouse.

 

Run it with the belt off for a minute (do this when it's making noise). If all is quiet it's in the accessory drive system (that is good news), if it still makes noise it could be the cam position sensor. If that's the case get it fixed NOW. If the cam sensor fails completely you could destroy the engine because the oil pump runs off the cam sensor gear. I put up with a squeal from my 3.0L ranger for years. 3 mechanics couldn't find it. I finally tracked it down to the auto tensioner myself and replaced it. 4 years of frustration at a squeal that seemed to come and go with no pattern and all it needed was a $60 fix that took me 30 min to do.

 

My final fix was putting on a Good Year Gator Belt. Another quick fix ( for a day) was dry lube spray.