Rattle rattle chirp chirp?

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 8:32 pm

Chitty chitty bang bang? Close, but it is more of a rattle rattle chirp chirp.

At idle & getting louder but not a constant sound. Especially loud when under load at idle such as when the AC cycles on and off or when I put in and out of gear. The chirping sounds like a mix between the sound of a loose part (it is quite loud and squeaky) and the sound of a slightly loose fan belt. At first I thought it might simply a loose fan belt but it did not change tone when I sprayed it with a bit of water. And the rattling is definitely a concern. There is something else cycling on and off as well - not the AC - that is getting a bit louder. The problem is I can't pinpoint where the noise is actually coming from. When I pop off the engine cover and move around listening, I am only somewhat sure it is coming from the front 1/2 of the engine.

Ideas?

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 8:47 pm

... along with other components. Try putting the Mule in Park with the engine off on a level surface and rock it forward to back, the chirp may get loud enough to find it.

Steve

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 9:44 pm

Unfortunately, I only hear it at idle.
I just checked it again and it is now quite loud (verging on horrendous racket) when I put it into drive, put on the brake and engage the AC. But....then it eases up after 30 seconds. But....then it comes back if I turn off the AC, wait and then re-engage it. But still, the AC works fine and I just don't think it is a problem with the AC. I think the AC is just creating a load.
I just filmed it with the hope I could post it on Youtube to hear but just noticed my SD card reader is apparently broken on my computer....

Not sure if I should mount this mule for work tomorrow or drive the truck. (Unfortunately, last time I took it in for a problem, the dealer gave me the middle finger on my supposed 7 year warranty. For all practical purposes, it is only good for the darn drive shaft.)

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 9:56 pm

Could it be the dreaded Tranny Rattle? First make sure you check all your fluid levels to rule them out. Can you make it rattle at all with the AC off in any gear or neutral? Check your hoses...Air Box, Turbo and Intercooler for loose fittings. Is your electric fan in fornt of the radiator the possible cause...like something hit it and it now rattles?

Good Luck

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 10:33 pm

No tranny rattle. It is a screeching chatter. I am trying to upload the video w/sound. But, now that I have repaired my SD car reader driver & downloaded the video, Youtube is down for maintenance. This is turning into a fully obnoxious evening very quickly.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

Sounds like either a belt slipping/going, or a bad bearing somewhere.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 11:46 pm

Belt is tight and I can't get it to change tone by spraying water on it - which has always worked with past cars when there was a belt issue. It is a scary sound.

AndySRT · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 11:51 pm

my CRD was doing the same thing belt was tight and everything. i desided to replace the belt and the sound just disapeared after replacing the belt. how many miles do you have on your belt?

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2008 11:58 pm

32K
I'll go out and look at it again. But I am surprised spraying it did not change the tone of the screeching.

AndySRT · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 12:02 am

its a serpintine belt water should not efftect the belt and how it sounds. i think mine started making that sound around 40k miles. i just changed my belt at 67k miles and the thing just got a ton quieter . no more wierd squeaks or rattles. is there any glazing or small cracks in the belt?

gmctd · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 12:53 am

The alternator pully consists of a rubber-mounted one-way clutch - that is the noise you hear at idle - doesn't hurt a thing, except yer pride...........

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 12:53 am

AndySRT wrote:

its a serpintine belt water should not efftect the belt and how it sounds. i think mine started making that sound around 40k miles. i just changed my belt at 67k miles and the thing just got a ton quieter . no more wierd squeaks or rattles. is there any glazing or small cracks in the belt?

That's it! At least so far.

I slathered it in rubber conditioning foam I use on my camper slide-out seals and all the various sounds magically disappeared.

I owe you one. That just saved me an embarrassing - and potentially expensive - trip to the stealer. A friggin' fan belt for pete's sake! I think part of my freaking out with this engine is that I just don't know it very well so I am still learning all the strange noises it makes. I need to be able to recognize good clatter from bad clatter and my ear is just not yet tuned to that symphony.

It is very strange though. There were various rattles, chirps, vibrations - not the typical squeak squeak squeak of an old fan belt. The only thing I can guess is that once the belt begins to slip, the act of slipping when under load does more than chirp but makes it jump a bit too thus causing vibration.

No glazing, no cracks. I guess I assumed 32K was not very much for the newer materials they use in belts - or at least are available to use on belts. Perhaps these belts wear faster in the same way some tranny components do? Maybe more severe shock from the low rpm high torque 4 banger beats the crap out of it?

Next question: Is there a better quality belt anyone can recommend?

Thanks again,
Chris

AndySRT · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 9:53 am

I went with the Gates belt from Napa. Gates is who does the factory belts. but any name brand should do. mine was the same way showed no abnormal signs of wear when the sound started.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 12:33 pm

Thanks!

fastRob · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 2:46 pm

Glad to hear you solved the problem.

The belt tensioner can make noise like a chipping/chirp.

There have been mentions of too stiff a belt will make the noise louder. Worth looking into before buying.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 3:57 pm

Over the years I have use Gates, Daco, Kelly Springfield, and Continental belts with success. FCI is a Shop brand that is also good.

For those who want to dive deep into General belt Installation and Maintenance on regular V belts, go here and down load the manual," Installation & Maintenance V-Belt Drives" at : http://warnernet.com/litportal/brands.asp?brandid=9

Just remember that all a serpentine belt is, is several small V belts banded together, all the laws of physics still apply, including what happens when the grooves wear out.

Steve

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 8:06 pm

I just bought a Goodyear Gator belt which a couple of local shops recommended. I'll see how that works. It has an interesting cross cut pattern in addition to the grooves that increases flexibility and quiets it down. At least that's the concept.
The decision was really quite easy: The Jeep stealer wanted $125.00 for a fan belt and the local parts store wanted $35. Hmmmm.... :roll:

Oh, and another rather strange thing: When I showed up at the parts counter at the dealer they needed the VIN number in order to look up the part. Huh? They refused to even look up the part without the VIN. I asked them what I would do if the car was home broken down and I did not have the VIN to which they replied I would be out of luck. Huh? How many different fan belts can there possibly be for this engine? The dealer seemed to think there were many. According to Schucks Auto supply there is only one. The dealer seems to know less about the cars they sell than the parts store.

gmctd · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 9:06 pm

It's a whole new concept in parts managing: give them the VIN of your KJ, they pullup the build sheet specifically for your KJ and your KJ, only = no misteaks on the part they hand you, if you've described it correctly - quick and simple, I like it - that's why the VIN of the vehicle the part was pulled from is on yer receipt from the boneyards - give the dealer both vin's, he can verify both vehicles take the same part

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 9:55 pm

Any easy ways to release the tensioner? I've been battling it for 25 minutes.....

Timmaah! · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2008 10:17 pm

Clamp the other end of the correct box end wrench in a large pair of vice grips to make it long enough. The vice grip can be angled a little to make if fit where it needs to go. Pull the wrench toward the alternator side and slip the belt off the smooth idler pulley. Before you put the new belt on hold it up to see if the shape that is set from packaging will aid in installation when located just so. Goes back the same way.

Rattle rattle chirp chirp?

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