1996 Nissan Pickup Noise

[jimbob171]

I have a 1996 Nissan pickup, it makes a squealing or screeching noise occasionally. No particular time or thing running. I have had the alternator replaced and all the belts 3 weeks ago, today first heard noise. Before changing alternator also heard noise. Anyone with a thought on this, it has to be belt related i think.

[MattSimon7]

did you ever get this resolved?

My 95 4x4 truck makes a squealing sound as well. Mechanic can't figure it out, and it only does it during hot weather after driving it for a little while. Sometimes the sound gets so high pitched it begins to sound "metal" like? Kinda scary. Let me know what you have learned about your problem.

[Broke_as_****]

Looking back at the initial post on March 12, 2004, we see that this was on page 6.

jimbob171 posted one time 9 months ago. Chances are that he's not around. But these things happen.

Anyway, if it seems to becoming from one of the belts in the front of the engine, try squirting some WD40 or something of that nature onto the pulley while the vehicle is running and making the sound. It it goes away then chances are its the belt. If it stays and still seems to becoming from the power steering pump or alternator or whatever then its probably the bearings of the affected piece. The way the belts are tensioned on the front of the motor takes into account the pressure from all the belts and so if one is too tight or too loose it can create too much pressure on one of the other systems as well.

If the noise doesn't seem to becoming from the belts or front of the engine, please go into more detail as to where it does seem to be coming from.

[Will2]

Noise=good indication of water pump going out or leaking. If it's not the belt tension.

[MattSimon7]

Well here is what I know and have observed about my mysterious sound :

We have changed the belts, loosened tightened, lossened tightened, and no change. And I have never had and AC belt on it, always ran it without cause summer heat doesn't bother me and it gets better gas mileage.

The noise seems to come from the front sides and will alternate from side to side. I have both windows down when listening, so the direction of the sound should not be affected by that.

Currently the weather is cold and has been for a few weeks now.... and the sound is gone, but comes back when the weather gets hot. And the sound will start only after driving the truck a little ways (20 minutes or so), when the engine warms up. But it rarely if ever makes the sound during the cold temps, but always does it REAL LOUD in the hot warm weather.

Mechanics looked at it and couldn't really see anything making contact with something. At that time we were thinking it might be metal-on-metal, cause sometime it gets so high-pitched that it sounds like a piece of metal sheet being gently touched against a metal fan blade.

Also, the sound will not be made when you are at a complete stop. You can be driving with the sound real loud, then stop, put it in park and rev the engine, but no sound. But as soon as you put it in gear and coast at 5 miles an hour, you can hear some slight squealing, that gets louder and faster with accelation.

I have had bad belts before, but you could always "drive out" the squealing with accelation.

Jimbo did reply by email and said his problem was an idle pully for the alternator. But I am not sure that's my prob. The real mystery is why does it only do it during HOT weather and not COLD weather????

Please help with suggestions. I live in a rich area of the state, but can't afford to have $80/hr mechanics poke it for a couple hours and then tell me they need to replace a $500 part! I hope to do this myself.

Thanks so much.

- MATT

[KZXten]

are you sure your not hearing the squealers on the brakes?

[MattSimon7]

Originally Posted by KZXten

are you sure your not hearing the squealers on the brakes?

I haven't ruled that out completely. Soon after I bought the truck we replaced the front brake pads even though the pads we were replacing had about half their life left.

It was making a sound before and after we did the front brakes. I haven't messed with the back brakes cause they are drums ???

But I have heard worn brakes squeal before and this does not sound like them. Also to mention, the sound will suddendly start while going down the interstate when I am not using the brakes. So that makes me think more it would not be the brakes. But I am running out options. Soon summer will be hear and the noise will be back soooo loud!

- Matt

[KZXten]

If you aren't really heavy on the brakes then your pads should be good but you did say this was a '96 and the pads were changed shortly after.

I would do a little inspecting myself, take the front tires off and make sure that there isn't anything bent on the back side that would run either with the disc or the rim.

I'm not an expert but if it's a 4x4 maybe the front didn't disengage completely and there's something rubbing. Or maybe there is something in your grill/radiator that is making a screeching sound.

Just a couple other thoughts.

KZXten

BTW funny story. My parents bought a car when I was younger (used) and they kept hearing this bumping noise. They took it back to the dealer and complained...a few times. Finally after they were getting really mad and of course the mechanic was getting really curious they took the car for a couple of days and rode in it to give it a listen. Well after a couple of days my parents went back to pick up the car and it was fixed. What the mechanic found was an empty liqour bottle stashed way up inside the dash that after time had created enough room to roll back and forth to make just enough noise to be bothersome. So when you are at your wits end look outside the box don't look for the obvious. 8)

[Chumley60]

I had the exact same noise with my '95 Nissan pickup, except my squealing stayed on the left front. Replaced pads and turned rotors, no help. Had the bearings repacked and adjusted, they were fine. Even cleaned the rust between the rims and discs/drums. No change. After a few months of the neighbors knowing who was driving down the street, it went away. Comes back occasionally, but only for a few seconds when temperature is right. In my case it seems to be more an annoyance than a problem.

[MattSimon7]

Originally Posted by Chumley60

I had the exact same noise with my '95 Nissan pickup, except my squealing stayed on the left front. Replaced pads and turned rotors, no help. Had the bearings repacked and adjusted, they were fine. Even cleaned the rust between the rims and discs/drums. No change. After a few months of the neighbors knowing who was driving down the street, it went away. Comes back occasionally, but only for a few seconds when temperature is right. In my case it seems to be more an annoyance than a problem.

chumley,

thanks for the reply, was beginning to think i was the only with this problem. i am desperately trying to figure this out, cause it is so annoying. but i am thankful its not causing a driving problem, just bugs me. some mechanics have suggested the "belt tensioners" might be bad? what do you think?

[Chumley60]

Originally Posted by MattSimon7

chumley,

thanks for the reply, was beginning to think i was the only with this problem. i am desperately trying to figure this out, cause it is so annoying. but i am thankful its not causing a driving problem, just bugs me. some mechanics have suggested the "belt tensioners" might be bad? what do you think?

I looked into it being a tensioer and decided it wasnt. The pitch of the squeal changed with tire speed, but not engine speed. I could downshift, for instance, and the sound would stay the same if the vehicle speed did. This suggests it is somewhere in the drive train after the transmission.
I also noticed it changes and sometimes goes away when I round corners, but not always when I brake. I had an Oldsmobile do that because of bad hub caps, but this truck has none. So that aint it either.Im pretty well cornfused with this one, but in my case it has stopped on its own. Maybe yours will too.

[Hardbody97]

my 97 truck had a squeeling noise after I put the alternator in and it went away after I loosened the belt a little.

[MattSimon7]

Originally Posted by Hardbody97

my 97 truck had a squeeling noise after I put the alternator in and it went away after I loosened the belt a little.

thanks for the reply, but i have lived and worked with this for over 2 years now and its not belts....you can reve the engine in park and not sound...but put the truck in gear at 5 miles an hour and you hear it start to creak and build to a squeal. That is not consistent with belt problems....i have had belt squeals before. And it only does it when weather is hot and driven for about 20 minutes.

someone suggested the U joints and Carrier bearing should be replaced. there is play in the axle when you wiggle it by hand and i don't know if the U joints have ever been replaced...its a 95 model.


- MATT

[crazylost]

Wow Matt, you've been dealing with htis for quite a while as it looks. Just a quick suggestion, D21 trucks and WD21 Pathfinders had issues with front hub dust seals causing squeal/screech noises. It sounds like you may be dealing with same/similar issue. What you would need to do would be to reference an old Nissan TSB that is readily avail on the internet (could'nt tell you exectly where) that will give you the part # for "updated" front hub/rotor dust shields to eliminate that nasty noise. As you remove the front rotors, note that there is not only an inner wheel bearing seal but also a secondary dust seal that contacts the hub outboard of the wheel seal. I believe that there,is where you will find the source of your noise. The dust seal is held on to the steering knuckle by (4) 6mm bolts (with 10mm wrench size heads) whick also secure the rotor dust shield to the knuckle. Good Luck

[FixUrNissan]

I Was Just Going to say the same thing.. Nissan came out with updated dust Shields to take place of the old one's ,cause of that issue. Squealing Noise intermittently. Won't hear it so much on rainy days , more so on Dry hot days.
It connects to the front rotors backing plate, like Crazylost said. GL ..