Just bought a 1978 FJ40 with a bad squeal that needs diagnosing. Any help?

[spanishSANCH]

Hi, I just bought a 1978 Asian spec FJ40 in Nebula Green last week.

I love it after having both a 80 and 100 series but it started to make an awful squealing noise on the drive home and continued for most of the 5 hour drive. It doesn't make it all the time as it will intermittently stop and start, but I'd say more than half the time.

By the sounds of it, it's an aux belt or pulley, or maybe the water pump?

It gets louder when the RPM goes higher, and it makes no difference whether it's in gear or not.

I'm unfamiliar with these vehicles but eager to learn, so any help is appreciated if anyone has experienced it before or has ideas on how to narrow it down. From what I can see I have 2 Aux belts as it has Denso AC and power steering from the 60 series I believe, so I was going to start disconnecting one at a time to check.

link to a video of the sound:

 

[charliemeyer007]

I hear a exhaust manifold leak and a belt squeal. Wiggle the fan and see how loose the water pump feels - look at the weep hole.
Is the belt on the alternator tight enough to not slip? Loosen it and spin the alternator - does it feel gritty - check all the other units PS/idlers....

Are the belts good? You can use a bar of soap touched to the belt to see if the squeal is reduced. Check the belt alignment.

 

[pbgbottle]

That sound bad
I hear also if not the belt a bearing going bad in something. What happens when you push the clutch in. Any vibes on the clutch pedal when lightly pressing on it.

 

[Pighead]

I'm afraid that you're going to have to open the hood and take a look at it. And take some pics of the engine for us. Sometimes, I'll loosen the belts and see if the noise goes away, then tighten them back up and see when and where the noise starts. Do you have a smog pump?

 

[pb4ugo]

1st check to see it the belts are loose and look at the condition of them. I think the sound is to rythmic to be a loose belt. They usually squeal on rpm acceleration, but if the belt has bad spots it could be rhythmic. Removing on belt at a time might help isolate the issue. Use a screwdriver hsndle to the ear and other end on an individual components while running may help id the noise.

 

[spanishSANCH]

Hi All,

I've recorded a short video of the engine bay so you can see what's going on. As I mentioned the noise is intermittent, and it wasn't making it this time. There was however quite a high pitched electrical sound(distributer/ht leads?).

The cutch feels absolutely fine. I drove it 5 hours back home and it set off and changed gears exactly like I'd expect.

Im not sure how to tell if it has a smog pump but Im hoping the video will help.

Link:

I haven't had a lot of time to get stuck in, but I just sold my 2001 100 Series today which should free up some time hopefully.

 

[pbgbottle]

Hi All,

I've recorded a short video of the engine bay so you can see what's going on. As I mentioned the noise is intermittent, and it wasn't making it this time. There was however quite a high pitched electrical sound(distributer/ht leads?).

The cutch feels absolutely fine. I drove it 5 hours back home and it set off and changed gears exactly like I'd expect.

Im not sure how to tell if it has a smog pump but Im hoping the video will help.

Link:

I haven't had a lot of time to get stuck in, but I just sold my 2001 100 Series today which should free up some time hopefully.

That sounds fine. Did you have heat ,wipers ,headlights on maybe when it screeches Could just need a new belt or the old belt tightened it may slip when the alternator is under load. Hmm.