5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp.....................

Posted By: slantzilla

5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/21/10 12:09 AM

My Dakota is making a chirping noise on deceleration and at idle. It pretty much only does it when the throttle blades are closed. Noise seems to be coming from the area of the A/C compressor. Only does it after the truck is good and warmed up. It will make a whistle when the key is shut off, and will sometimes whislte after the motor has quit turning. I am inclined to think vacuum, but I have checked every hose, and gone all around the throttle body with WD-40 and can't find a leak.

Any clues?

Thanks!

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/21/10 01:18 AM

I put a cheap belt on my durango and it started doing that, though it must be a pulley and replaced the one it sounded like it was comeing from, no luck, replaced the tensioner no luck, swapped altenator with my dakota, no luck put on a "premium" belt and no noise.

Posted By: 2DoorPost

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/21/10 03:12 AM

I have a 88 dodge van that made the same noises,I ended up taking all of the belts off and went for a ride...still made chirping sounds whenever it felt like it. Turned out to be the clutch fan.Once I replaced that,I've never heard the sound again.

Posted By: slantzilla

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/21/10 10:55 PM

I put a good belt on it about a year ago. I've thought about the fan clutch too, but I have watched as the motor is shut off and heard the noise after the engine and fan quit turning.

I'm going to take it down to my shop Saturday and pull the shroud for a closer look-see.

Thanks!

Posted By: Curt

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/22/10 02:19 AM

Remove the oil fill cap and see if it goes away.
Curt

Posted By: fox

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/22/10 03:36 AM

Check the blt tensioner too. If it is seizing up the belt can chirp.
With it running CAREFULLY reach in with a 15 MM wrench and pull it a little tighter, and if the noise goes away it is the tensioner.

you have to do it with it running because the starting torque moves the tensioner.

Posted By: hooziewhatsit

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/22/10 04:31 AM

spray a little water on the belts. It should quiet them down if that's what it is.

Posted By: Curt

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/22/10 11:24 PM

Quote:

and will sometimes whislte after the motor has quit turning.

Thanks!

Interesting...

Posted By: slantzilla

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/22/10 11:51 PM

Quote:

Quote:

and will sometimes whislte after the motor has quit turning.

Thanks!

Interesting...

Yes it is. That's why at this time I am 99% certain it is not the belts. The oil cap idea is intriguing though. Motor does have about 170K on it and could be getting loose inside, even thought it burns very little oil.

I am taking off in the morning to go to my shop. By the time I come home tomorrow night I will have either an answer or a new truck.

Posted By: wheelsup68dart

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/23/10 01:26 AM

Pull the dipstick instead, it will be less mess. See if it was excessive crankcase vacuum.

Posted By: Curt

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/23/10 09:32 PM

Quote:

Pull the dipstick instead, it will be less mess. See if it was excessive crankcase vacuum.

Yeah that is what I am thinking...either way vent the crankcase.
Curt

Posted By: slantzilla

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/23/10 11:00 PM

And the winner is..............................

Curt with an honorable mention to Lonnie.

Got to thinking about this on the way to the shop. I remembered that I changed the breather hose from the valve cover to the intake on my K&N a couple months ago. I wasn't real fond of the way the hose routed under the bracket but forgot about it. The hose was kinked and had fused itself shut. Pulled the fitting/grommet out of the valve cover and a huge "WHOOSH" greeted me.

I rerouted the hose and made sure it can't kink, no more chirp.

Thanks all!

Posted By: Curt

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/25/10 02:20 AM

Sorry to put the kaibosh on the new truck... Maybe it will throw a rod and make the decision easier.....just kidding.
Curt

Posted By: slantzilla

Re: 5.9 Dakota-chirp, chirp, chirp..................... - 10/26/10 01:35 AM

Not at all. I am hoping to get another couple years out of this truck. It's still in fairly good shape for the miles, and the 5.9 has gobs of power to pull my trailer.

Wife has already given me the go ahead on a new truck though.