Front end squeal. 2002 Ford Windstar. (Page 1/2)
jimbolaya NOV 03, 04:56 PM
Last weekend I was getting a squeal from my 2002 Ford Wndstar. The noise is coming from the front of the engine, so I am assuming the tensioner and, or, the pulley is bad. During the week the van died on my wife one time, so I was thinking I was on the right track. The belt must be slipping and not charging completely. Well I rush to replace the tensioner and pulley Thursday night, after the van died, instead of waiting till today to do it. When I replaced it, the pulley was obviously bad, because it did not spin as smoothly as the new one. I also replaced the tension arm, because it seemed to have a slight rattle. Well after a few days, of replacement, the squeal is still there. Not as bad as before, and it seems to dissipate after we have driven awhile. What else could cause this squealing? I am not overheating (yet) so I don't think it is the waterpump. The fluid is good on the power steering, so I don't think it is that, plus that usually has a different sound to it when it goes bad. In addition while I had the serpentine belt off, and the tension pulley off, I turned the pulley's on the AC compressor, alternator, and any pulley that would spin with the engine off. No audible noises. Any ideas?

Jim

[This message has been edited by jimbolaya (edited 11-04-2013).]

Monkeyman NOV 03, 09:03 PM
I'll bet it's the A/C compressor. I'm on my 3rd ('04 Blazer). The compressor has always been good but the bearings have gone on each one. With the motor off (and the belt off), I could spin the pulley and it spun well and sounded fine. Each time I replaced it, the squealing stopped so that was obviously the issue. Now I keep an A/C compressor delete pulley in the garage for the next time it dies. You might also try a new belt. Serpentine belts are cheap and if you had a bad tensioner/pulley, it could have worn the belt. Belt dressing is crap as it picks up dirt but you might try a quick shot of that just to see if it quiets down.
jimbolaya NOV 04, 12:54 PM
I replaced the belt at the same time I did the pulley.

Jim
Monkeyman NOV 04, 05:39 PM
Then find someone with one of those mechanics stethescopes. Check the A/C pulley while the motor's running.
jimbolaya NOV 04, 11:05 PM
Can you replace just the pulley on an AC compressor.

Jim
Monkeyman NOV 05, 10:31 AM
Yes but it's not much more expensive to replace the entire thing. RockAuto has brand new (not rebuilt) Four Seasons A/C compressors for your van for less than $200. The cost of the parts to replace just the pulley/clutch is around $140.
carnut122 NOV 05, 03:09 PM
Jimbo, get a length of heater hose (or similar). Hold one end to your ear while carefully moving the other end around all of the likely suspects when it's squealing. You should be able to locate the issue in this manner. As for removing just the clutch off of the AC, it takes a special puller/install tool (I think AZ loans them out?). It's a pain to remove and install one. The new one has to be installed using a feeler gauge to get the gap correct. If it's not a whole lot more $, just replace the compressor with a pre-installed clutch assembly.
jimbolaya NOV 05, 10:51 PM
The funny thing about this, and why I am leaning to it not being the AC pulley is that when i turn on the AC there is no change in the squealing. It doesn't get louder or quieter, nor does it stop or start. It's too cool for AC, and we haven't ran it in weeks, but I have turned it off and on to see if it would make a difference. I would think it would, but what do I know? Another thing, why would my wife have lost power or charge if it was the AC pulley? However, if it is the AC pulley, it will just have to keep squealing until it breaks, because I don't have $200 for a new compressor or the $100-$200 to pay someone to evacuate the system and recharge it. I'll try the hose thing when I get another free day.

Jim
Monkeyman NOV 06, 08:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by jimbolaya:

The funny thing about this, and why I am leaning to it not being the AC pulley is that when i turn on the AC there is no change in the squealing. It doesn't get louder or quieter, nor does it stop or start. It's too cool for AC, and we haven't ran it in weeks, but I have turned it off and on to see if it would make a difference. I would think it would, but what do I know? Another thing, why would my wife have lost power or charge if it was the AC pulley? However, if it is the AC pulley, it will just have to keep squealing until it breaks, because I don't have $200 for a new compressor or the $100-$200 to pay someone to evacuate the system and recharge it. I'll try the hose thing when I get another free day.

Jim



My A/C pulley squealed all the time, on or off. Even when it's off, it's still spinning. The defrost uses the A/C, too. It takes the moisture out of the air it sends to your windshield. If it breaks (the comprressor locks up and/or the belt breaks), you won't have ANY charge (as the alternator will stop spinning). You might see if Autozone has an A/C compressor pulley delete thing. It's just a bracket with a pulley. It takes the place of the compressor so you can continue to use the OE size belt. I paid under $40 for mine. If you ever end up replacing the compressor, replace everything (compressor, condensor, orifice tube, etc). You'll spend a little more money but if you don't show a receipt for all of it, the compressor won't be covered under warranty. If the A/C compressor turns out to be the culprit, you can replace the hardware with new even if you don't recharge the system.
jimbolaya NOV 07, 09:30 PM
Well the noise is from the pulley of the power steering pump. When I put a pry bar on it, it wiggles a little, and with the hose thing I can tell that where the noise is coming from. I told the wife to wear ear plugs.

Jim