when i brought my truck into midas they told me it needs a power steering flush ( very dirty fluid) so maybe?

 

my upper tensioner looks unevenly worn ...so thinking either that or a power steering flush should help it

 

noise coming back, must have something to do with the cold...was quiet all summer

 

You got an engine block heater? Maybe try plugging it in and seeing if it gets rid of the noise.

Can you give us some more info on the noise? Does it only happen going down the road, does it increase in volume with speed rather then RPM's?

And I didn't think your truck had an OHV. I thought OHV ended in 98.....

 

its momentary, comes and goes... very hard to diagnose.. thought either front axles or maybe the pullies ( last year of the ohv) flushed power steering system last spring

 

alternator. bearings going dry

 

possibly...my friend thinks front axle seals..as only does it when its cold outside...seals must be contracting

 

when my alt. starting making the high pitched noise, it started only when it was cold out... then progressed to any outside temp., and only at certain rpms

 

anyway to isolate to be sure if thats whats wrong on my ranger? this is exactly type of problem that can get expensive quick..throwing $$$ at it thinking corrected and because intermittent problem can't be sure corrected right away...does autozone, advance auto parts,etc offer refund on alternator if not the problem? because electrical part not sure if they would take back

 

yeah don't replace part unless you know it's the problem!

you can run the engine w/out the belt on for a minute to see if the noise goes away...

 

my guess would be the idle Tensioner pulley or camshaft syncronizer. mine old truck did that and it was a pulley bearing going out.

 

that won't work in my case...doesn't do it every time i drive just occassionally...seems to be coming from driver's side but worried sound travels

 

It might be your "IAC" Idle Air Controller Valve. Mine whined and it was my IAC Valve.

 

is there anyway to narrow down the possibilities? ...wish i knew someone who had the same truck! lol

 

Get a piece of 1/4" tubing and hold one end to your ear. PLace the other end against bearings & pumps and other places you'll be able to hear all kinds of noises. It's a poor man stethoscope.

 

Reddog99 is correct. Also to eliminate the belt spray some brake cleaner on the belt when it is doing it and see if it goes away. Noises like this can be very difficult to diagnose.

 

don't think ever done it idling, only when vechicle is in motion... and didn't do it for last 5 days but came back today.. too bad computer doesn't throw a code for things like this! lol about the only noise at idle is the ytpical 4.0 ohv valvetrain noise

 

Mine kinda humms..Its the power steering pump im sure...Its okay though..Not probs

 

Cooling fan? I know mine does it...maybe a new fan clutch if you want to throw money at it.

 

a year ago my ps fluid was pretty dirty, flushed and put new..sorta wish did more frequently so easier to diagnose, dealer would rape for this type of repair if this agreed to fix it at all..sorta spratic when it does it, can go days and nothing then one day it comes back ...only does it for a few seconds if that at a time then goes away.. only does it when vechicle in motion