Get a piece of heater hose (something hard works better like a pry bar or long screwdriver, the more rigid/less rubber or wood in the handle the better, put it to your ear and put other end to the alternator/tensioner/any other pulleys you suspect. Napa may even sell a stethoscope setup with a lil metal rod on the end (made for this kind of diagnosis). I've had alternators do this before. Never noticed it in a tensioner without movement of some sort in the pulley. May also be the spring squeaking in the tensioner if it's about to go. With the truck running watch the tensioner and see how much "bounce" it has. Just some ideas.
Get a piece of heater hose (something hard works better like a pry bar or long screwdriver, the more rigid/less rubber or wood in the handle the better, put it to your ear and put other end to the alternator/tensioner/any other pulleys you suspect. Napa may even sell a stethoscope setup with a lil metal rod on the end (made for this kind of diagnosis). I've had alternators do this before. Never noticed it in a tensioner without movement of some sort in the pulley. May also be the spring squeaking in the tensioner if it's about to go. With the truck running watch the tensioner and see how much "bounce" it has. Just some ideas.
The water pump being new: I replace tensioner with wp's whenever possible as they seem to go together. I had the wp go out on my 01 and 1 week later tensioner spring broke.
Just me, but I wouldn't pour water on my engine. I would take the belt off and turn the pulleys and see if I could repeat the squeal. If I was going to throw parts at it, I'd start with the tensioner. Cheap(er) and easier to replace.
Why wouldnt you "dump" water on a 12 valve? What are you going to break? I agree I wouldnt do it to troubleshoot this problem, but its fine to dump water on an engine. Unless interpreted what you said wrong.
Hell ive sprayed down the engines on every vehicle i have ever owned to degrease them and have never had an issue. Obviously dont soak the alternator but thats common sense
Take a screwdriver a long one and press the tip against the tensioner and then the alternator and stick your ear against the other one, you'll be able to hear if it is either one through the screwdriver.
In the future:
The way I check for belt driven failing bearing noise is to use a hand squeeze water sprayer and wet the bearing area with the engine running.
When you hit the right spot the sound changes or goes away for few seconds.
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