There is this horrible noise that started from the front of the engine on my 95 4Runner. It started about a week ago and has progressively gotten worse. It sounds like a bearing thats failed. I've used a long screwdriver as a stethoscope to listen around the front of the motor. It seems to be coming from either the fan assembly or whatever bearing assembly that the fan and pulley attaches to. Obviously i cant listen too closely in that area without lopping my ear off. I havent torn into it yet, was going to start by taking the belts off and spinning things by hand to hear/feel. Has anyone encountered such a noise in this area?

Thanks,
Paul

toyo22r@hotmail.com
95 4Runner

 

Belts off one at a time is a good idea... but I'd run the motor without them for a short time instead of turning by hand to better duplicate what may be causing the noise.

 

Yeah good idea... i'm thinking i will start by taking the fan and clutch off first...running it and then a drive belt at a time to see whats what....

If memory serves, i seem to remember somebody posting about the bearing assembly in question (behind fan and pulley) that broke while driving, causing all kinds of damage to the radiator and such....

 

Let's hope not. That's an expensive fix. Another possibility is your #2 idler pulley. It is behind your timing belt cover. When mine started to wear out, it made an awful whining noise. Here are a few pics from my #2 idler replacement.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/my-turn-2-idler-pulley-replacement-70655/

 

I had a low hum that started to squeal...did the whole screwdriver thing and still had nothing. I ended up pulling off my belts and could still hear it with the car running. It was my #2 idler...yea fun.....so i pulled the timing cover back and saw hundreds of little cracks in my timing belt. Yea even more fun. I would double check the #2 idler if i was you....Just take all your belts off and start the truck you will know pretty quickly if the noise is still there. Hopefully its not the fan pulley (bearing) I think i remember reading on here that they are 400+ for the assembly....Good luck hope that helps

 

The bearing in the 'false water pump' is pretty common to go bad.

The bracket is pretty spendy from Toyota, but you can find aftermarket replacements on e-bay for about $100.

I am running the aftermarket bracket, and it took some grinding to make fit. But after I got it to fit, it works just fine. Time will tell, though, how long it will last.

 

Well turned out to be the AC tensioner pulley. Since its located under the skidplate i didnt listen down there... but it was locked tight, so much i couldnt turn it by hand. Lucky i found it in town at an autoparts store. Almost got the Camry stuck a few times in the snow getting up there...

-Paul
toyo22r@hotmail.com
95 4Runner

 

Does it fit properly? I only ask because when I had to replace mine, the two aftermarket replacements I tried (kragen & Napa) were both too small. The inner diameter (where the belt rides) was smaller than OEM and I couldn't get the belt tight enough. I had to go with an OEM replacement to get it right.