Driver side engine squeak when I get up to 60mph+

i’ve been hearing this squeak come from what sounds like the driver side part of the engine and it only occurs when i get up to freeway speeds. don’t have a clue what it could be. any help?

 

So the squeak does not occur while revving the engine to the same RPM when parked. For my truck 60mph would probably be about 1800-1900 rpm.

 

nope. no squeak when revving

 

Welcome to TW!

One thing I can think of happening in the drive train related to speed is that the motor and transmission are going to be pushing against higher resistance, so they will be torquing/twisting more in response. Motor/tranny mounts perhaps?

If you let off the gas some and coast, does the squeak reduce or go away? If not then the theory above is unlikely.

Although unlikely, it’s worth looking under the truck to check the heat shields above the exhaust components. If one of them is barely being held on it could have shifted and be rubbing against something under specific conditions like you’re describing.

 

thanks! and when i coast it’s still there. okay i’ll check that out.

 

Is it rhythmic, meaning it has a pattern to it? Or is it chaotic/random?

Does it start all at once, or does it start to come on quietly at a specific speed, then get louder as speed increases from there?

 

it’s random. once i get past 60 it makes random chirps. it does not get louder or quieter its just random.

 

Can you describe the nature of the chirps more? Like, does it seem like sheet metal, or more like bigger pieces of metal rubbing against one another?

Since it seems to be speed that is the primary factor here, I feel like it must be related to air. It could be the movement of the air, causing something to rattle (like a heat shield), or perhaps air pressure, pushing up and down on the hood. Even something like the antenna mount could be the source, although that is on the passenger side. Seems unlikely that it’s brakes, suspension, cab mounts, stuff like that.

 

i honestly have no clue what the chirping could be coming from. I also agree with it has something to do with air. my heat shields are pretty rusted and tight so i don’t think it’s those but i’ll check them out.

 

At higher speeds air blowing under the truck could wiggle a rusty heat shield that's coming apart at one end.

It wasn't a squeak, but I had a light tapping noise above 60 right under my feet. Ended up being the flap of inner fender liner slapping against the frame because the push-pin wore out

I'd be looking for something flapping in the wind. Something metal

 

FWIW, I was experiencing a chirping noise from the passenger side at highway speeds and around town, I went under the truck and banged on the exhaust with a rubber mallet and kept hearing a rattle from the passenger side and noticed the lower mounting tab for the cat converter bracket was cracked. Grabbed the welder and welded it back up, went for a test drive and chirping noise is gone.

 

Could this be the notorious kazoo sound from the door weatherstrip?