Noisy pulley at start up

[hank14]

On cold morning starts, I get a loud squeeking noise, sounds like a bearing going out in one of the pulleys, possibly water pump, from the front of my engine compartment. Seems to go away once the engine is warm. What is the best way to diagnose which pulley or bearings are going out? The fan clutch seems to be working fine, the belt has been replaced about a year ago, original water pump, 135,000 miles, 99 100 series.

 

[NMuzj100]

Glad to see another New mexican on this board. Can't help you on your problem though. My cold morning noises is a speed-dependent whine from the transmission or transfer case.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I thought it was pretty much the norm to replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt, which is like 90k mi. I wonder if over tensioning the belts could lead to the quicker demise of the water pump bearings? I would have also guessed the water pump.

 

[hank14]

I'll pull the belt and try to feel for abnormal wear. I'll also check the old receipts to see if the water pump was replaced at 90K

 

[Landpimp]

CAREFULLY, listen for the noise with a piece of hose, stick one end in your ear and poke the other end around the pulleys.

Dont use a stethascope, it will rip your ears off when it gets cought in the fan or belts

 

[hank14]

I still need to try the hose trick. I don't think the stethoscope souds like the way to go. Can the belts be overtensioned with the self tensioning spring?