Very strange weerring sound???

I am having a noise too, always been there since i got the truck but getting louder. Mine is more of a grinding noise or that of a pulley being loose, but I replaced the idler pulley as it was wobbly but no fix. I guess I will have to try removing the belts and see if it goes away. But I got to thinking as I stuck my head in close to listen and it sounds like its behind the timing belt cover. I see that there is two smaller idler pulleys inside for the timing belt itself on parts diagrams and wonder if one of those may be bad. Because it does sound like a bearing that is going out and grinding. Anyone ever heard of those going bad and making that grinding noise? It almost sounds like a chain slapping noise too if that helps describe it better, even though it couldnt be that because its a belt not a chain... But thats what it sounds like..
Oh and the temp does not affect it at all.

 

if its sort of a grinding/growling noise and it sounds like its coming from the front of the engine near the timing belt area id definately look into seeing if your waterpump is bad

 

I'm having this issue now and found this thread. My belts are tight.

I checked the power steering fluid level and it was just a shade low & I topped it off, but that didn't make a change. The sound doesn't change during steering, so I wasn't suspecting p/s fluid anyway.

But, I did the old broomstick to the ear listening trick and it sure seem to me that the sound is coming from the power steering pump. Has anyone had the bearing on the pump go out and make this sound? Is it a safe assumption if that ends up being the culprit I'm in for a whole new pump?

 

Do you have a separate belt for the PS, or a serpentine? If you have a separate belt, remove it to see if the noise goes away.

 

Good call, thanks! I was sure it was the p/s pump, figured the screen was clogged in the reservoir. I got the fluid out and looked at the screen . . . virtually spotless. Pulled the p/s pump drive belt and dammit if the sound didn't stay! Turns out it was the notorious idler pulled bearing for the a/c compressor belt.

 

Bump for an update. Colder weather is slowly creeping in and my truck makes this noise for a few seconds in the morning. I'd like to nip it in the bud quickly.

 

Maybe fan clutch even, if that hasn't been mentioned yet...

 

Well I forgot to update a couple threads including this one since my problem. Turned out it was my water pump. I neglected it too long and it locked up on me. I have since replaced everything. But not sure if this is the cause of yalls problem but something to look into. It was the bearings that went bad. Pretty nasty outcome. Shredded the timing belt in the process. But yeah it's all fixed now. Learned my lesson on that one. Ha.