Something squealing this way comes...

[psilosin]

Developed a bit of an issue last night in my new Delica while driving home from Kelowna to Penticton.

I started getting a rubbing/squealing sound from the front end that seemed to go away if I gave it a punch of throttle. While it was making the noise you could feel pulsing/vibration at your feet like something was binding releasing binding releasing. Then it would reappear a few minutes later...rinse repeat.

This morning upon turning the key to ON (so engine not yet started) it was squealing like a pig for ~20 seconds then it went away. I tried to get a video to record the sound but of course by the time I got the camera turned on teh noise stopped. Other than the sound the Deli started up fine and drives just fine. The squeal did not come back for the remainder of my morning drive (~10km)

So what could be squealing away while the engine isn't running? The only thing I could think of would be running is the heater/vent fan? The main engine fan is belt driven from the running engine so it couldn't be that right? Same thing with the rest of the drive belts right? Any ideas where I should look first?

[lopar]

wanted to say alt or compressor before you mentioned noise "before" starting........ only moving"ish" (new word) thing that comes to mind before starting would be fuel pump, noise would probably be dampened by fuel and location though. Vibes could be minor fuel starvation? Very much guesses only intended to feed thought

Good luck!

[jessef]

squealing is probably the new belts on there

check the alternator/power steering belts for deflection and tighten

[psilosin]

It definately sounded like a loose belt this morning and that was my first thought that one of the new belts had simply stretched a bit. But...I wouldn't think the power steering and/or alternator belts would be spinning when the engine isn't yet running, just the key in the ON position, would they?

I didn't have time to do much investigating this morning as I was late for work but if its still light out when I get off I'll investigate some more.

[jessef]

missed that you hadn't started it yet

turn off all the interior heater controls and try it again

[psilosin]

Well its definately something to do with the heater/vent fan(s). When I turned the fans back on the horrible screachy grinding racket started right up. I know nothing about the heat/vent system on the L400 yet so just pulling out of the air that maybe something either somehow got into a fan causing it to seize up or the fan(s) itself has seized? I hope where ever the fan(s) are is not in an awkward impossible to access location lol.

At least it isn't something critical...I can do without heat until I get time to poke around on the weekend.

[CREGAN]

Had a similar problem once with an old Celica I had. Screetching grinding noise when fan was in operation. Bearing seized in the fan motor. I found the page to look at in the L400 Service manual: 55-35. I think I would check #4 front blower motor assembly. Heater blower assemblies are usually behind the glove box. Might either need to replace blower assembly or get it fixed (if possible, grease maybe? Depends on damage done). In my old car I had to just replace that part and it worked like a charm. Just a thought- hope it helps.

Craig

Edit: Here is a link to the download if you don't have a hard copy:
http://www.delica.ca/manuals/L-400%20Ma ... IR_CON.pdf

[mrdueck]

x2 on the blower motor. Have had this issue with a number of vehicles.
Rudy

[psilosin]

Update: Mardy figured it out....clutch on the AC compressor.

Thanks for the input and ideas though guys it was appreciated, and even though I have been a member of the forum for a long time I did not know that there was a special section with the repair manual pdf's...learn something new everyday.