Solve This Mystery

Hi, I'm new here. Have a mystery on my hands. My 2009 Toyota Tacoma is 4 cylinder with access cab. Has 137,500 miles. I took it on a road trip last month that caused it to get VERY dusty and dirty. Strange thing started happening. When I would turn it on before ever pulling out of driveway it started making a chirping noise. The chirping got louder as I drove. It was embarrassing. I went to an automatic drive thru car wash, the kind with huge blowers, as the truck needed a wash and after I came out THE CHIRPING WAS GONE. It stays gone for about 2 weeks then as my trucks builds up dust/dirt from driving around town it starts to chirp again. The chirping gets louder until I go back to automatic car wash again then stops for around 2 weeks, then returns. What is this? Why does the automatic car wash seem to help the issue then it comes back? Please help solve this mystery?

 

Maybe the automatic car wash put something on your truck to trick you into 2 car washes each month.

 

Can you determine if the squeak is coming from the interior or exterior of the truck? Just asking.

 

Dirty truck sensor?

 

U joint?

 

To me it's coming from maybe under the hood. I don't have to be moving for it to chirp. Once it starts up just idling you hear the chirping. It gets louder as I drive. Kinda comes and goes in volume. Once I go thru auto car wash it goes away for a couple weeks. This car wash has really powerful blowers blowing the front of the vehicle as you exit. Maybe the force of that is pushing dirt loose on something under the hood? My theory. Not sure.

 

subbed for outcum

 

Ok...so it is probably not in the driveshaft.
I think it is something that the water is lubing for a short time.
No noise before the dirty road trip?

 

My guess is a pully.

 

Check your belts, pulleys, alternator, water pump, etc. Sounds like something is drying out and causing the sound until the water temporarily lubes it so it quiets down until it dries out completely again.

 

From idle it's probably a belt tensioner or belt, maybe the cold wax from the wash is getting on the belt and making it go away similar to that anti belt squeal spray you can buy. Just a Guess, Good luck.

 

That was going to be my guess too.

 

Not moving mean no to this "U joint" dumb ass...

Oh my.

My money goes here.

 

Does the chirp sound like the one in this video? If so, spray some water on a grooved pulley and see if the sound goes away temporarily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEUe6uKxTv8

 

oh Ramon, what state are you in now?

 

Good call!

+1

But the true mystery is finding out where Heather lives, and that is a very important detail needed to complete a thorough site analysis of the situation.

 

^Not creepy at all.

 

I was wondering if it was a belt of some sort since it's come and go and affected by air/moisture. Also, when it's cold out no noise. If it heats up it starts making noise more. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Chirping? My guess is your serpentine belt. If it's only when it's dusty, it's getting somewhere, like on your pulleys or joints and making that noise. Get a new belt, couldn't hurt anyway, and make sure you don't have oil or crud on your pulleys.

And welcome to TW!

 

idler pully