First of all let me just say ive been dealing with this for 6 months now and have read just about every single post about the issue.

I have a 2002 ram 1500 4x4 5.9L. there is a squeak coming from my engine bay. i have changed the belt 3 times, changed the belt tensioner, scotch guarded and clean all the pulleys at least on 6 different occasions, i have tried the stethoscope test on all the components, and even tried wrapping string around all the pulleys and spun them. nothing i have done has gotten rid of the squeak or lead me to the source.

when i first got the truck it had a horrible squeal i changed the tensioner and belt and that solved the problem. then is started again not as loud this time though. i bought a new belt and cleaned all the pulleys. that fixed it until the spring storm season and it started again. my next only option will be to start replacing all the components until it is fixed starting with the easiest and cheapest. is there anything else that anybody can think of before i go down this time consuming and expensive road


thanks

 

Have you checked the alignment of all the pullys in the truck, if one is slightly out it will cause a squeal, the haynes maual has a section on this as does any service maual you find in the Gen 2 section. What type of belt are you using, i have always found the gatorbacks work real well. Have you tried to isolate the squeal, ie have you sprayed wd 40 on each pully until you no longer hear the squeal, then fix the pully that stopped squealing.

 

thanks for the alignment tip ill look into that. i am using a gatorback and have used a stethoscope to try and isolate the squeal with no success (they all sound similar and nothing stood out). i have tried the wd-40 trick it stops the squeal on all pulleys. (ive been told this is not always reliable because it will transport the wd40 to the location on the squeak.

 

my wife has a 06 jeep liberty, was squealing while under warranty, took it to the dealer and they couldn't figure it out. Got it home, popped hood while squealing, unplugged A/C compressor, squeal went away, took it back to the dealer in a rage, told them it was the a/c compressor, they changed it under warranty, and what do ya figure, no more squeal.
Note: A/C will kick in and out even in winter while vents on defrost to keep fog down.

Check that out, hope this helps

 

you spray the wd 40 into the bushings/bearings of each individual pully and not on the surface, do that to each one seeing if the squeak is eliminated.

 

Could be a bearing that only makes noise under belt tension such as the idler pulley or alternator.