Chirping noise coming from engine

[g spot]

On Sunday I replaced my power steering pump and the high pressure hoses. Should have been a pretty straightforward job and it was for the most part.

When I restarted my 2004 Tahoe (5.3) after I had purged the air from the PS system, I was getting a chirping noise. The chirping noise is pretty loud and occurs more frequently when you rev up the engine. I initially thought it was coming from the PS pump so went thru the procedures again to purge the air.

Still had the issue, so I decided to unhook the belts to isolate the noise. Still had the issue, so realized it wasn't the new PS pump.

Last night I realized that the noise is actually coming from the left side (passenger side) of the engine. Now I'm scratching my head pretty good. Could it be a stuck lifter? Seems completely unrelated to my PS projected, however maybe I didn't notice this noise before (unlikely) or could I have caused an issue during the air purge process? One of the web tutorials stuggested to pull the fuel pump fuse and crank the engine over a few times to ensure I get fluid thru the hydro booster, which I did for 15 seconds. Could that have caused this type of issue?

I'm outside of my comfort zone on this one and debating about taking it to the dreaded shop.

Do you have any ideas of what I should check or look for?

It's a 2004 Tahoe (5.3) with 170k miles.

Thank you.

 

[Danny3737]

Sounds like a belt or pulley

 

[Tonyrodz]

Did you also unhook the ac belt? It's on the passenger side.

 

[g spot]

Yes, removed both belts, so it is not a belt or accessory.

 

[Danny3737]

The next step would be trying to use a stethoscope or sometimes a piece of tubing will work to try to narrow down the area of the squeak. Sometimes they sound like they are coming from a certain place, when it's actually someplace else. Good Luck

 

[Kenny D]

I had a chirping on my 99 Burb with the 5.7. It stopped chirping when the belt tensioner pulley shattered due to a frozen bearing.

I'd check that.

 

[pnwdan]

I know you said you removed the belts and it still did it but I know this sound. I trouble shot mine for a whole weekend. Your power steering pulley isn't aligned to the rest. as the belt comes off the ribbed pulley of the PS pump and across the water pump it has to "scoot" over to align with the next ribbed pulley. the scooting over across the smooth water pump pulley makes the chirp noise.

 

[g spot]

I know you said you removed the belts and it still did it but I know this sound. I trouble shot mine for a whole weekend. Your power steering pulley isn't aligned to the rest. as the belt comes off the ribbed pulley of the PS pump and across the water pump it has to "scoot" over to align with the next ribbed pulley. the scooting over across the smooth water pump pulley makes the chirp noise.

So why would it make a noise when the belts aren't on?

 

[g spot]

Thought I'd share what I've learned after taking it to two shops. They both say it's a bearing on the crank so I guess I'm SOL.

Thinking of purchasing a used 5.3 and doing the swap myself. How hard is it to separate the engine from the tranny? Are there special procedures to get it lined back up correctly? Any good resources that others have used when doing an engine swap?

 

[Danny3737]

That sucks, can't say that I've ever heard a crank bearing chirp before.

 

[Kenny D]

So what you are saying is that there was no chirping noise before you changed out power steering pump? While it isn't impossible, I find it odd that the crank bearing would just suddenly start chirping. I guess the belt could have held enough tension on the crank pulley to keep the noise down. Once removed it allowed the crank to "fall out of groove" and now it chirps. Does the engine still run good? Any other issues other than the chirping? If the answer is no, then I would keep driving it and see if the chirp goes away. (bearing wearing back in) Unless the chirping is as loud as a police siren.

 

[g spot]

Correct, no noise (or not really noticeable) before the power steering pump swap. After I restarted I heard a little noise, which I thought was from the pump. The noise had grown to a pretty loud chirping noise during the day while my wife drove it around town. I'm convinced at this point the timing was just a coincidence.

It's not police siren loud but it is pretty loud, even in the cab.

I didn't take a video, but it sounds just like this:

Oil pressure is good and the oil is only a month old (~400 miles). I bought this truck brand new in 2004 and have performed all maintenance myself. I have been religious with oil changes and have always used Mobile 1 oil and filters. This issue caught me by surprise.

Not sure how I feel about driving it. Many of our roads in north Dallas don't have shoulders, so you're screwed if you stall out. If I do drive it to see if it heals, any additives you would suggest?

If I can find a seemingly decent 5.3, how hard is the swap? I don't have concerns reconnecting the accessories, but am curious how hard/scientific the engine/transmission alignment is. What parts would I want to have handy?

 

[Kenny D]

As for additives, Lucas oil stabilizer. It is thick like honey and will coat the bearing.
Either the tranny or engine block will have locating pins to align the bell housing to the block. I would have the torque converter on the transmission and then attach the block then bolt it to the flywheel after engine install. As for parts, a long extention and swivel joint to reach the bolts that are abstructed by the firewall, a transmission or floor jack to manuver the tranny if needed and an engine leveller ( don't remember the correct name) connected to your hoist.

 

[Daviddto]

Does the noise ever go away? I have a similar sound but it doesnt do it all the time.