I have a 2001 Dodge Durango with a 5.9 liter. It has just over 60,000 and runs like a top. However, the other day on the way to the ski slope I started to hear a high pitched, intermittent, whinning noise from under the hood. I thought I thought at first it was the skis on the roof rack whistleing in the wind. It was not. I pulled over and reved the engine a little and heard the noise (sounded a little like a belt but would come and go). I poped the hood and could hear it coming from the front of the engine compartment but was not the belt. I have no check engine lights coming on and it still runs like a top. I have determined it is not the air conditioning compressor or the clutch. I have had several of those goes on other cars and I am familiar with how they sound and what to look for. I have noticed when I lift the hood I will catch a wiff of anti freeze but I am not losing any that I can tell. I was wondering if my water pump is going bad and the smell of the anit freeze is a minute amount leaking out around the shaft while it is running? I am handy in the garage but not a motor head. I would be happy to know what it is and have my mechaninc do the work. It is usually about -20 below here in Maine and I don't have a heated garage to work on my car. I always make sure my anti freeze it rated for the low temps and have a block heater as well. If you need more info please feel free to ask away! I look forward to anyoneones imput!!

Gebby

 

ANYONE???????

 

By your description that does sound a lot like when my own pump failed on my 98 5.2 Durango. Hope the confirmation helps you make a decision what to have your mechanic look at.

I found the coolant smell coming from my radiator cap--just steaming out enough to lower levels (and I think contributed to my pump going bad) but not enough to ever find a drip really.

so I replaced the cap with a locking aftermarket and that has been resolved. I do still lose some through my overflow tank though. Same thing--if you catch it you can see some steam sort of blowing out the overflow (not much) but never much of a drip. Over time it lowers my levels too. The steam leaving is more than what the engine recovers from the overflow over time, so I have to keep an eye on the levels. The truck doesn't run hot (ever) and this is normal for some vehicles--just a little irritating on a "later" model vehicle. IE: I don't mind that my Camaro with an aftermarket 4 row radiator and my own jerry-rigged overflow loses coolant over time, but my similar year GM truck doesn't ever.

 

Thanks for taking the time to help confirm my suspicions. I am still going to give it some time and see if it is really is the water pump. I usually do the whole proccess of ilimination thing and so far I'm batting 1000. Again, I appreciate your time.

Gebby

 

I would do the cap first (mine was similar, weeping just abit) and look very carefully for any signs of fluid around, under the water pump. Your description also could be the fan clutch kicking in when it should not, thus causing the screeching, may also sound like it is "racing" a bit momentarily. Probably still your water pump, but some more "food for thought".

 

thanks! I'll check that one as well. It makes sense! I am going to do the cap either way just to be safe!

 

Just had the same problem with my Durango about 2 months ago, take your fan belt off and see if the fanhas any play in it(put one hand on one side one on the other and push and pull), if it moves alotthen you proballyneed a newwater pump or fan clutch.We asked a mechanic about it and if the bottom pully moves with the fan you need a water pump, buthe said normally when the pump goesthe fan clutch soon followswe replaced both and itrunsfine now. No whinning or squeaking. Hope this helps some.