Squeak from front of engine

[andrewcheesman]

Hey there - been a minute! (Which is good news, in a sense...)

My '93 430 Chim started making a faint intermittent squeak after start, at not quite the frequency of tick-over but maybe every 1/4. It sounds like it might be coming from the front left of the engine bay, ahead of and maybe towards the bottom of the block.

It generally seems to subside after the engine warms up but I haven't been very scientific about testing it thus far. This is a non-PAS car with no other fancy mods. Car drives great otherwise.

Some research suggests the water pump. What other possible culprits? Any diagnosis tips?

Thanks!

[PabloGee]

You're going to need to investigate, it could be all sorts of things, from a slipping fan belt to a rubber bush that is holding the radiator...

I had an awful squeaking sound when turn the steering, turned out to be the rack gaiter was collapsing not 'breathing', and when the rack slipped under it, it was rubbing and making a noise, despite the healthy quantity of grease I put in when I replaced said gaiter!
I only concluded that after I'd bought new upper and lower ball joints, which I will just keep as spares that I don't really need!

[Doesitdrive]

Where is the water pump located, had this several times on different engines, usually the culprit, goes away when warm.

[miniman]

PabloGee said:

to a rubber bush that is holding the radiator...

This is what it was for me.

[sixor8]

Your profile suggests a pre-serp engine, otherwise I'd have suggested the tensioner. I had one of those rumbling on me on a previous Chimaera.