Squealing on cold start

I'm getting a nasty squeal ( like a belt) on cold starts only,once it's warm ..nothing. Changed the forward (power steering) belt and I get the same thing.
Lasts about 5 seconds but its loud and obnoxious...anyone?

 

Sounds like a serpentine.

 

OP, sounds to me like you've got a pre-2005 V6 (also based on your avatar pic), correct?

If so, there is an easy way to find out which belt is causing the noise (if any). Rub a little bit of *bar* soap on one of the belts, on as much of the inside surface and the sides as you reasonably can. Start truck. If no noise, you got the right belt. If noise, repeat with the other belt(s).


Bar soap won't hurt the belts or pulleys and it's a trick an old mechanic showed me for isolating ongoing pulley vs. belt noise (just watch your fingers if you try to apply it after the truck is running!)


WD-40 can be used too, but it's a bit messy. Pretty much any old regular bar of soap will do, except Lava soap.


If you do this, and the noise persists, it's likely not a belt. But try this first and report back.

 

Thanks man,already changed the outter (power steering) belt and no change.
Yes that's the motor you mentioned 01,3.4 v6. It's really tough to get soap on the inner belt while truck is running sure to lose a digit or two,I am at least.ill try a little WD.but I'm starting to think it the bearing in the power steering pump.

 

I had the same issue...there is tensioner pulley underneath the power steering pump it comes loose and that's what causes the squeak I tighten it and the squeal was gone

 

More folks with potential help might see this thread if it was in the "1st Gen Tacoma" section.

Anyhoo, on the V6, after checking the belts and the AC idler pulley under the PS pump, a semi common "cold start only" squeak that sounds exactly like a belt, can come from what Toyota calls the "fan Support Bracket". It's a casting holding the bearing/shaft that the radiator fan/fan clutch spins on. It is sometimes called a "false water pump" because it looks kinda like a water pump. Usually this squeak/squeal happens on colder mornings in winter. As time goes by it does get worse and happens at increasingly warmer temps.
A mechanics stethoscope is the best tool to use. Put the tip right on the casting as close to the inner pulley as possible, you will have to be quick.
You can improvise this tool very effectively with a long screwdriver. Put the tip on the casting and your ear to the handle. The internal sounds will be telegraphed to your ear quite clearly. This technique can be used to "listen" to all kinds of stuff (hint), like alternator bearings or the fascinating slurp of a PS pump.

A perfectly good stethoscope can be had for about $5 at Harbor Freight and worth every penny.

Should the fan support be the problem do not get one from a dealer. Toyota only sells it as an assembly that includes a fan clutch, the pulleys and the bracket (everything in the top pic) for better than $400. The bracket can increasingly be had by itself through aftermarket parts houses that sell Aisin parts for around $125. You will get what is shown in pic #2, but all pressed together. Absolutely DO NOT by a Chinese knock off under any circumstances.

The bracket can be taken apart but the actual bearing itself is a proprietary Aisin part that is just not available.

EDIT, link for obtaining just the bracket
http://www.macautoparts.net/ProductInfo.aspx?id=5990799

From the Dirty Pool of visual aids, here's a few pics.

 

Sorry to revive an old thread like this, but I think I might have this same issue. I'm attaching a video if this helps narrow it down.

I have, on some mornings a high pitched squeel that sounds like a belt, but a quick punch of the throttle makes it go away.

Most recently (yesterday), I washed the engine with simple green, and this constant rhythmic chirping has been the result, aside from the clean engine .

I don't know if it's visible in the video, but the pulleys attached to this support bracket have a pretty good wobble as well.

https://youtu.be/SjQwB5rb_9Q

 

If I was in your shoes it would go something like this.
Do the stethoscope thing, real or improvised. Check several spots. If the now amplified sound gets weaker further from the hub your on to something.
Pull the belts one at a time to eliminate other sources. When they are all off grab the fan pulley stack. Rotate it, rock in all directions and feel for smooth operation.
Bottom line, if it's making noise or has any play in any direction it's on it's way out.

Use only an Aisin replacement.

FWIW the FSB pictured in my OP was as smooth as silk, just squeaky.

Any of the bearings at the front of the engine from the water pump, timing belt pulleys, alternator, PS pump and the AC pulley/AC idler pulley could generate the sound, hence the need to do some "elimination".
The little AC idler pulley is a common offender.

 

Thanks Dirty Pool. I listened with a long screw driver and couldn't locate the sound. The fan support bracket seemed pretty smooth. With the engine off, I grabbed the fan and tried to move it, up/down, left/right, and got nothing.

Starting to eliminate belts, I found it was the PS belt. So I'm doing all new belts. They don't look bad, replaced them when I bought the truck in 16, but they've got at least 40k on them.

The thing that has my concern with the fan support bracket is the apparrent wobble of the pulleys. No play at all, but the wobble/run out of the outer pulley is a couple millimeters. Figure this is causing the chirp. Not feeling any play, I'm curious if replacing the FSB would solve the wobble, of maybe it's the pulley itself?

 

even brand new belts will squeal if they aren't properly tensioned.

 

Agreed. They were pretty damned silent since I put them on 3+ years ago.

I'm thinking it's probably time for some new belts, keeping these as spares. Just want to address any other issues while I'm at it.

 

Karma Coma nailed it with my squeal problem. I tightened both tensioners with both had play. Sound is ga ga gone!