I have a '95 Dakota and a couple days ago it started squealing. Today on my way home from work, it was squealing pretty bad.

I just replaced the belt, power steering pump, tension arm and pulley, water pump, and idle pulley about 3 weeks ago.

I thought the squeal was from the tension pulley but I was wrong. The truck squeals when you first start it up and as you increase the RPMs. I am at a complete loss, and even though I know what I'm doing to fix things, when it comes to vehicles, I can't troubleshoot for anything.

Treat me as if I'm a kid, please give me any ideas you can think of. I'm going to check them all out.

Thanks for your time.

 

I guess I should mention the Engine in case that will help.

I have the 5.2L V8

 

Has it stopped squealing at all when you first put the belt or any of the pulleys on?

 

No, this started after I replaced everything.

 

You still have your old belt? Try swapping it and see if it squeals. I always keep my old belt.

 

No the old belt shredded off. At first I thought it was the power steering pump because it had some play in it, then I found out it was the water pump bearing went out on me and destroyed the belt. So I changed it, then the tension arm started knocking LOUDLY so I changed that.

 

Besides the belt, what else squeals with the same sound?
I know metal on metal makes the sound. But if my oil level is right, then it shouldn't be the pistons, right? Unless they are just too worn down?

 

Check your fan out, make sure it doesn't have excessive play and turns fairly easy. If it doesn't it may be time to replace the fan clutch. Also check if the sound changes at all when you turn the wheel.

Most of the time if it sounds like a squealing belt it's a squealing belt so. Generally when it's metal on metal the sound will sound a bit more linear as RPMs increase, whereas with a belt slipping it'll get loud then soften out a bit as the pulley(s) catch up(it's a fairly obvious sound).

 

Definitely check your fan clutch. Mine made some interesting noises when I got river water in it, until the dirt worked its way out. Perhaps the clutch is shot.

 

Check also the alignment of all your pulleys. A misaligned pulley (P/S, A/C, WP, etc.) can cause the belt to walk and make noise.