Ok, so I have a 1998 3.0L 5spd manual. Everytime I cold start it when its a little chilly outside it makes a loud squeak/squaking sound? What could this be? hopefully nothing serious...Sounds like its coming from right under the cab. Not around the belt at all

 

Make sure you know where it is coming from. Dont wanna misdiagnose it.

 

my truck squeaks when i start it up when its raining out or had been raining but it is probaly because of moisture on the belts.

 

Ive put belt dressing on the belts before. Ill try it again and see what happens. But im almost positive its not the belts...

 

You probably have a bad fan clutch. When it squeals stop the fan with a towel and see if the noise goes away. Also if you are needing belt dressing then you need a new belt and or tensionor. The dressing is just hiding the problem.

 

Well the actual noise only last for a couple seconds when I turn on the truck, but its pretty loud. My belts dont squeak at all i just thought it was them and the noise didnt stop when I used the belt dressing...

 

Does it happen every cold start? Or does it happen all the time?

 

Does it sound like it is coming from the engine? If so, then I had a similar problem with a replacement engine. It sounded like the oil pump was squeaking.

 

Duh. I wasn't thinking. 3.0 has a problem with the cam syncro sensor. It squeals when its going bad and you said it sounds like its coming from the front of the cab. Well that sensor is where the distributor would be on something like a older v8.

Change it now or else when it fails 100% your engine is toast. If that indeed is your problem.

 

It only does it when its somewhat chilly outside, never in summertime. And would I replace exactly? the Cam syncronizer? or sensor?

 

What needs to be replaced exactly I don't know. Search the forum for that answer. I jsut know it was a problem in the 3.0 and pushrod 4.0 engines.

 

Hmm. Ok thank you ill do some research on it...

 

i hope mine isn't the same damn thing lol mine has the same exact symptoms but i also drove through like a pond haha i might jsut replace it for the hell of it though.

 

How long since a clutch job was done on it and was the pilot bearing / bushing changed ?

 

Umm i dont think its ever had a clutch job?

 

This happens to me too (4.0) whenever its humid, wet, or really cold out..
I posted a looong time ago on one of these forums, can't remember which, but someone suggested using a Gatorback Belt
Haven't tried it yet since winter just started but I'll def be lookin' into it this season.

Just a suggestion..

 

it sounds like to me it could be the cam sync.left rear side of engine you will hear it