For a while now my fan belt's been chirping so I replaced it as an easier fix and it went away and now it's come back again more regular. The other day I started the truck and the belt started squealing so loud like never before I thought one of the pumps/pulleys might be the culprit instead and a garage took off the fan belt, turned all the pulleys and told me the power steering pump shouldn't have any resistance to turning or end play. I can understand no end play but shouldn't the power steering have some mild form of resistance since since it's moving a fluid? It's not stuck tight or even that resistive but it does have some effort to turn it and it's full of fluid and not groaning. All my other gauges are fine and I don't see any leaks from the water pump or anything. I have not tested the output of the alternator and the ac clutch doesn't appear to be catching like i've seen on other trucks. This is on a 2001 Ford Ranger 3.0L 6cyl, Auto with AC, 2WD.

 

It could be the bearing in the idler pully. I had the same issue and replaced the pulley, and no more chirping or squealing.

 

Im looking at it running and none of the pulleys seem to be wobbling or anything so it's gotta be a bearing in something, im going to try the idler first.

 

I took mine off and spun it in my hand. It didn't sound bad but felt slightly tight. Replaced it and all fixed up! Good luck!

 

There is also a "glazing" issue that can come up

Power steer pump and crank pulleys are most susceptible to this, these require more "grip" than the other pulleys
AC pully too but you can usually ID that because noise only happens when AC compressor comes on

When a fan belt slips on a pulley it makes the squeal noise, of course, but it also glazes the pulley at that point, shines it like glass, glazes it
With belt off, you can rough up the pulley surface with Emory cloth(flexible sand paper) or just sand paper, also cleaning and painting the pulley surface can help, gives the belt a better grip on the pulley surface

Any time you replace a belt check or just rough up the pulleys

 

I've never seen a ps pump that didn't have end play. I'm talking in and out not up and down. Gatorback belt was solution on my '01 4.0 but a little hard to get.

 

Turns out the belt I replaced it with was the wrong size and it was an inch too long, dummy me didnt pay attention to the part numbers, I just matched up the size at home and went with it, and then it stretched out of course over a couple months and started slipping. Went back to the parts store and told em they gave me the wrong belt and they gave me the correct one and the issue went away. Still has a slight sound but it was also raining today. Mechanic cleaned out all the grooves for me with a pick.

 

Squeaking is back so I guess im gonna try the idler.

 

grease the idler

 

I recall reading something here regarding a part towards the back of the engine that can go out or as it is going out will cause a sound similar to a squealing belt. Ring a bell for anyone?

 

camshaft synchronizer. I know my 99 3.0 had one. @RonD probably has the model years that had these memorized. Or a quick google search

 

Yes that's it! Was that only a few model years or across the 3.0 production?

 

1995 and up. Next time try googling, my friend. Read this

https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...-synchronizer/

 

420stackz, This forum is about helping people out and I am not the original poster asking for help. However, I was trying to shed some light on an issue I recalled being discussed before in order to provide another avenue for the person asking for help and advise, so he can resolve his issue as others at times have helped me out. Of course anyone can google but when you're a member of a Forum..........
Thanks for your input.

 

I appreciate any feedback, I am waiting on an idler to see if that stops it.

 

Often times, you can tell if you have a bad tensioner pully by looking at where the belt rides on the pulley. It should ride well centered. If it rides towards the front of the pulley, or the rear of the pulley, the tensioner is bad. It's more likely than not that your tensioner has failed, and the noise you are hearing is the belt "skipping" on the tensioner pulley because the spring in the tensioner is weak. It's a cheap and easy fix. Rock Auto sells a kit that comes with the idler pulley, tensioner, tensioner pulley and a belt for $50-90.00 depending on the quality level of parts you want.

Hope this helps....

 

Turns out the problem was the tensioner pulley.

 

Good job on finding the issue and thanks for sharing so others may benefit from your posts. Thanks!