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Frank___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 03/14/2004 4:51 PM |
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I am having a re-curring problem with my 2001 Pathfinder. At about 63,000 km the engine starting making a squealing noise when the truck is started and it continues to persist until it is put into drive or reverse.
I took it to my Nissan Dealership, they said the belts were still good, so they lubricated and sprayed them, they told me to wait a couple of days for the lubrication to "work-in". I waited a week, it still did not go away. I brought it back, they changed the belts. The truck was fine for 2 days and then the same noise started again. I brought the truck back, they then said they had to change a pulley. The truck was fine for a week, then the noise started again - this time I was absolutely furious with the dealership- they examined the truck again they changed the belts again to ensure the replacement ones were not faulty and cleaned all of the pulleys. They then told me to wait a couple of weeks to allow the belts to get 'seated' on the pulleys because Nissan changed the composition of the belts. I've waited 2.5 weeks now, the truck has been fine up until today. I started the truck this afternoon and it began making the same noise. I'm starting to wonder if the temperature has anything to do with this problem because for the past couple of weeks it has been relatively warm and today it's been cooler than normal. If so, what is causing this noise??? |
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Krums___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 03/30/2004 8:46 AM |
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The probable cause is a misalignment of the belt pulleys. If the pulleys and tension idlers (small pulleys) are not properly aligned the side of the belts will be made to drag against the side of the pulley. The pulley side walls are only there to provide a guiding channel for the belt to run in. In the early model Pathfinders the belt tension idlers on some units were not correctly aligned with the pulleys and as the belt bedded in it began to squeal.
Finding out where and which pulley is mis-aligned is a straight forward job for a reasonably equipped mechanic. To do it yourself can be a bit of hit and miss but if you have the time and patience. You can try to eliminate as much as you can by taking one belt of at a time and starting the vehicle for a few seconds. If the squeel goes away or is diminished the belt you removed is the culprit (or one of the culprits). You could also dribble a bit of dewatering fluid (CRC) onto one belt only and run the engine and if the noise lessens or disappears this is the belt causing the problem. Once you have identified the belt/s causing the noise you can try to find out why. On the early pathfinders I found that it is the belt tensioner/s or idler pulley/s causing the problems and packing a pulley out by placing a shim(a thin washer may also do)between the rear of the pulley and the anchoring bracket solved the problem.
I have seen other vehicle models (not Pathfinders) where the factory has incorrectly positioned the power steering pump on the wrong side of the support bracket making the belts misalign. I guess it was a Friday afternoon build and the assembly guys wanted to get home early.
On a more serious note it could be a faulty bearing in one of the components being driven by the belts. if so this is far more serious as the bearing may fail at the worst moment and take the component (Power steering pump, A/c pump, water pump, alternator)with it.
Hope this helps
John
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Frank at 3/14/2004 4:50:53 PM
I am having a re-curring problem with my 2001 Pathfinder. At about 63,000 km the engine starting making a squealing noise when the truck is started and it continues to persist until it is put into drive or reverse.
I took it to my Nissan Dealership, they said the belts were still good, so they lubricated and sprayed them, they told me to wait a couple of days for the lubrication to "work-in". I waited a week, it still did not go away. I brought it back, they changed the belts. The truck was fine for 2 days and then the same noise started again. I brought the truck back, they then said they had to change a pulley. The truck was fine for a week, then the noise started again - this time I was absolutely furious with the dealership- they examined the truck again they changed the belts again to ensure the replacement ones were not faulty and cleaned all of the pulleys. They then told me to wait a couple of weeks to allow the belts to get 'seated' on the pulleys because Nissan changed the composition of the belts. I've waited 2.5 weeks now, the truck has been fine up until today. I started the truck this afternoon and it began making the same noise. I'm starting to wonder if the temperature has anything to do with this problem because for the past couple of weeks it has been relatively warm and today it's been cooler than normal. If so, what is causing this noise??? |
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