Bad bearing noise from front of engine

[01qx41983]

Hello all I am new to this site just registered today 1/11/09. I have been doing some surfing on the net trying to figure out what is wrong with my 2001 Infiniti QX4. It all started when the weather got colder here in the northeast I have this loud screech coming from the front. A bad bearing noise and it goes away once the car warms up or is driven a short distance. I already replaced both belts with oem ones and the tensioner for the ps, alt. and noise is still there ! Sounds like it could be coming from the fan clutch that is what I am going to replace next... Anyone ever experience such a problem? Thanks in advance.

Damon.

[Buzzman]

First instinct is always belts or tensioners, but you already took care of those.One other possibility is the A/C compressor.Good luck and welcome aboard.

[Andrew224]

I got the same thing... Just had the belts replaced a month ago but it's still making the noise. I have an appointment to bring my car into the dealer (still under an Infiniti Elite Extended Warranty) to get it diagnosed and fixed. I'll let you know what they find with mine.

Andrew

[01qx41983]

I would greatly appreciate you posting the dealers findings. I am going to remove the belt for the a/c compressor and run the car as buzzman suggested it may be the compressor, its just so hard to figure out which pulley is bad when the car is running I need to invest in a mechanics stethoscope! I will post what happens when I remove this belt...

[vliou]

Please do post the result. It's -15'C here...so I'm used to this every time my car starts up.

Here's something to try. When you hear it go KKKHKHKHK, click "Econ", your noise might go away - it does for me...

I'm pretty sure it is the AC compressor...

[01qx41983]

I didn't get a chance to work on the qx4 today but i will first thing tomorrow morning. I'm gonna see what happens when I take the a/c belt off and start her up. I plan on removing it before I start the car first thing in the morning, because this noise only happens when the car is first started in the morning or when sitting for awhile, it does not happen when the car is warm and goes away after driving for a couple minutes... I might pick up a mechanics stethoscope and poke around some maybe even post a short clip of the noise...

[Chuck Tribolet]

Turn the fan by hand. The one bad fan coupling I've run into you could feelturning the fan by hand. There should be resistance, but nice even resistance.

Also, if removing the AC belt doesn't fix the problem, pull the other belt and runit very briefly. If that fixes the problem, you know it's SOMETHING the otherbelt (alternator, fan, power steering, idler pully, IIRC). If you still have a problemyou know it's not something belt-driven.

[Chuck Tribolet]

Turn the fan by hand. The one bad fan coupling I've run into you could feelturning the fan by hand. There should be a little resistance, but nice even resistance. The bad one felt very uneven.

Also, if removing the AC belt doesn't fix the problem, pull the other belt and runit very briefly. If that fixes the problem, you know it's SOMETHING the secondbelt (alternator, fan, power steering, idler pully, IIRC). If you still have a problemyou know it's not something belt-driven.

[01qx41983]

OK here is an update of what I did today, I took the a/c belt off and ran the car cold noise is still there !! I checked all the other pulleys and they spun fine with no noise, although the power steering pulley seems like it has just a slight very slight wobble hmmmmm....I turned the fan by hand and I thought it had a nice even resistance thanks for the suggestion Chuck! I am going to pick up a mechanics stethoscope tomorrow before work and maybe this weekend I will listen around. I triple checked all hoses and am sure I can eliminate it being caused by a leak in a hose somewhere...The car runs great just the annoying whistle when its cold so far its still got me stumped but I am determined to find out whats wrong!!! I'm going to post a short clip this weekend of the noise...

[Andrew224]

Got word from the dealer. The alternator is going bad and needs to be replaced.

Just a recap... In my case, it would squeal upon startup in cold weather until I shifted into gear. Once the idle dropped down, the noise would go away and not return until my truck was shut off and left overnight. But like was said before, sounded like a bad bearing type of squeal.

Andrew

[pathfinder9035]

ok well here is my noise ccomming from my engine. it only happens in the cold... and it is a squeel that stays with the revs...if u rev higher it follows the rev. And when the engine warms up..it disapears...and then i will shut off the engine when its warmed up and imediately turn it back on and the squeel comes back for liek 30 seconds and goes away.

what do u guys think that is...quite annoying and really would like to get rid of the squek. I changed all my belts. do u guys think its the pulleys or fan clutch or something.

[Andrew224]

More news from the dealer... The tensioners (both) were worn and needed to be replaced.

Andrew

[01qx41983]

Hey guys I am still dealing with this I posted two clips of the noise when first starting up and after about 15 minutes of idling. I started a new thread in the Infiniti Online mechanic forum hoping to get some adveice follow the link to see the clips

zer...97107

[01qx41983]

*update* Replaced the fan clutch bracket and car runs beautifully !!!! The part number is 21046-R50001 cost me 80 dollars and some change at the dealer. So happy I finally resolved this issue !!!!