Well I finally got the idle perfect and all the power (if not more seemingly) back on my 1996 Dakota 3.9 5speed. The problem was I had an exhaust leak on the drivers side due to a mounting bold on the manifold being sheared off. I extracted the sheared bolt, new gasket, new bolt and it idles and runs perfect. That is until all of a sudden a screeching noise coming from either the belt or a pully. I carefully listened to it and could have sworn it was coming from the tensioner pulley, so today I replaced it. Started it up and still the intermitent screech. I didnt think it would be the belt itself because I replaced it 10 months ago. The tensioner pulley I pulled off had a lot of play to it and it def. needed to be replaced as the bearings seem almost shot. The tensioner itself was frozen it I PB blasted it and worked it free and now have coated it in WB-40 to keep the rust out. Could this have killed my belt? Just pulled the idler pulley a min ago and its bearings seem to be fine other than when I shake it I can hear the bearing rattle or spin it I hear just a slight intermitted grind like a piece of dirt in it. So I am at a loss if it is the idler pulley or the belt. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Kevin

 

maybe try a mechanics stethescope or a piece of metal rod and place it on/near the alternator, power steering pump, ect and see if you can pinpoint the noise... you may also try spraying a little WD on the belt itself but don't saturate it.

 

Stethoscope to pinpoint where the noise is. otherwise its a guessing game. Also check your pulleys for dirt andcrud that could be clogging the grooves in the pulleys.

 

Well to continue the saga of making my truck just run right...found the source of the sound very fast. My water pump locked up about a mile from my house. Looks like the impeller blades gouged into the surrounding metal and locked it. Bought a new water pump today and got half way through installing it before I ran out of daylight. Will update you guys tomorrow on how it runs after the install.