waterpump question?

[hidesertwheelin]

Do water pump bearings make noise before they go out. There is a intermitten whistling noise comming from my engine. I kind of sounds like a dry u-joint, except it keeps going when I am stopped. Couold it be the ideler? I have never owned a vehicle with a serpentine belt. Thanks for the help.

 

[Hossbaby50]

With your truck off grab the fan. Try and move it up and down and side to side. If it moves your waterpump bearings are bad. You sometimes get a drip from the weep holes in the waterpump.

Harley

 

[Can Can]

It could also be a sign that your alternator is going out. When alternators get weak, heavy electrical loads really put a strain on them.

Do the "intermittent" whining sounds coincide with heavier accessory usage?

 

[flatline]

MAKE SURE TO DO THIS!

With your truck off

 

[hidesertwheelin]

It's a brand new alternator. The headlights and the radio and that't it. Is a stupid kragen alternator thought

 

[Can Can]

Well, have you checked for moisture at the weep hole on the water pump? That would be a sure sign of a ready-to-die water pump. In my experience, when a water pump goes, she goes relatively quickly. How long has this squealing been going on for?

Before you get too focussed on one part I would suggest you take a close look at all your pulleys and your belt, too.

 

[Fierospeeder]

with the vehicle shut off

remove the belt, and spin all the pulleys by hand besides the crank pulley.
this will help you narrow down which pulley is causing noise.

 

[big jimmy 91]

The noise from under my hood was intermitent and turned out to be a plastic idler pulley under the AC unit

It siezed up solid when the bearing let go , may have been caused by lots of mud running last summer

I ended up replacing it with a steel pulley I found in a box at a scrap yard and now it all seems good