Water pump failing?

1999 4WD 5-speed 2.7L, 3RZ. 4 cyl. 216K miles. When I start it up from being cold I get a loud growling sound that gets higher pitched and a little louder when I give it some gas even sitting still. After it warms up you can barely hear it once its good and hot. It does this without turning the steering wheel or moving at all. I suspect my water pump is the issue or loose pulley but how can I tell for sure?

 

Pull both your power steering belt and A/C belt, start it up and see if the noise is gone. If its gone then reconnect your power steering belt, start it up and see if the noise reappears. If not reconnect your A/C belt, start it up and see if noise reappears. If you take both A/C and Power steering belts off and the noise is still present, then look at your alternator and water pump more closely. Just went threw this with mine.

 

If the noise does go away then would this indicate a bad pulley? My belts look ok. If so is this a tough repair or a DIY? What did you do to resolve your issue?

 

Yup! If noise goes away when you take off an accessories belt then you have narrowed it down. Depending on what belt you pull and noise stops will determine what accessory it is. I'm willing to bet its one of you idler pulleys. There simple to replace and that's what was making the noise on my truck. If a water pump, there not bad at all