it squeaks (96 windstar)

[SamNovice]

I have 96 Windstar and it has been squeaking. They replaced belt, pulley and tensioner and it still squeaks. It only happens for the first ~5 minutes until it warms up.
They think the noise is coming from the water pump. It has 110K miles and there is no leak around water pump… any suggestions?

[irish30]

When the belt and other pulleys were replaced I guess they never checked the water pump or alternator for noise, It could be your water pump, taking the belt off again when the engine is cold and spinning the pulley may help to verify it, If the bearing in the water pump is worn it will make noise.

[SamNovice]

They tried water pump and others.. and they did spin ok. That was the reason for going with belt, pulley and tensioner.

[xtreme barton]

maybe they not true alignment .. or belt still is not adjusted correctly

[irish30]

Heat is a funny thing, I live in Canada and noises come from cold temps, if it only makes noise when it cold then this makes me think that it expantion that is making it go away, is the alternator original? They have a bearing them as well that could be noise.

[xtreme barton]

i lived in nebraska for 10 years. and in dead winter it got freezing..

my experience if it goes away then its belt related.. especially if its a high pitched squeal

[wiswind]

You can loosten the belt, so that it is not against the main pulley, and start the car. If the noise is still there, it is not anything on the belt driven path.
If it is gone, it is on the belt driven path.
You only want to run the engine for a very short time to see if the noise is there or not. If you run it very long, you will damage the engine as there is NO water flow to cool it.

[xtreme barton]

i dont suggest doing that because a loose belt can still cause squealing, also it can get friction damage .