Please Help! Chirping noise in Engine

1998 w/3.8 automatic trans. Started chiping under hood and I removed the belt to replace tensioner pully. Decided to start car with belt removed just for elimination sake and chirp is still there with no accessories connected. Unplugged fan motor and no change. I have talked to about 6 mechanics and none seem to have a fix on what it might be. Sounds like a dry bearing that chimes in with RPMs. Is getting worse. Oil pressure is fine and car runs fine. Has anyone encountered this before?

1998 w/3.8 automatic trans. Started chiping under hood and I removed the belt to replace tensioner pully. Decided to start car with belt removed just for elimination sake and chirp is still there with no accessories connected. Unplugged fan motor and no change. I have talked to about 6 mechanics and none seem to have a fix on what it might be. Sounds like a dry bearing that chimes in with RPMs. Is getting worse. Oil pressure is fine and car runs fine. Has anyone encountered this before?
Yes I am experiencing the same problem.I have replaced the belt,idler pulley and complete tensioner assembly and still have a "chirp".It is not constant,may go 2 or 3 days without making a noise at all.Any one with help on this please let us know.

I took car to local mechanic shop and they knew the problem right away. My problem was the camshaft position sensor that operates on the same principal as a distributor. It is located in the front of the engine. Cost me right at 300.00. (225 for parts and 75 for labor. This is a fairly common problem but had me and a lot of others stumped. Hope this helps and it might save you tons of $ if that's the problem.

Thanks for the advice.I'll check that sensor out.

tony,

I changed that sensor and yes my chirp is gone.But if you paid $225.00 for that part someone saw you coming.Picked mine up at NAPA for $22.00.Thanks again for the advice.

tony,

I changed that sensor and yes my chirp is gone.But if you paid $225.00 for that part someone saw you coming.Picked mine up at NAPA for $22.00.Thanks again for the advice.


I had both parts changed. The one that was bad on mine was the position indicator (not sure of the exact name)that actually bolted into the engine and had a long shaft with a gear on the end. Best I remember it was about 8-10" long. The other part was the cap with the magnetic sensor that acted as a sending unit and mounted on top of the position indicator. I hope I didn't pay 10 times the price for both parts. Let me know if you changed the entire assembly for $22.00 or just the cap. Glad that fixed your problem. Wish someone would have given me feedback sooner and I'm sure I could've saved some $$.
Good Luck!