Noise question

[jshabouk]

Good afternoon all.

I'm hoping you can all help me with your immense expertise yet again. For the past month or so, I've been hearing this high pitched chirping noise as I drive my truck. It doesn't happen when the car first turns on , or when it is idling or when stopping at a red light , only when the car is in motion. Unfortunately, I've been unable to get a sample of the noise as I'm constantly driving alone and the camera doesn't seem to pick it up. I'm hearing it coming from the front end of the truck as i'm driving with the windows open and sometimes with the windows closed.

I figured it was something that happened because of the change to colder weather up here in the northeast, but I don't think that's the case anymore. After reading a number of posts on here I decided to go under the truck and take a look at the bushings and mount points to see if anything might be worn away or loose.

Nothing looks loose or worn away. However, when I got to the drive train I found what's in the following video that to me when I jiggle it, it makes the exact noise I'm hearing very faintly. It's on the driver side. Once again, the camera doesn't do the sound justice but when i'm moving it, I can hear the faint chirping noise.

November 8, 2025

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I apologize as I'm not familiar with the names of every single component in the drivetrain, but the piece that I'm moving with my hand, I'm wondering, should it have this much play in it? The other side has some play in it as well, but it seems like it is not as much. Could this part be making a chirping noise as the car is moving if it needs to be lubricated or replaced?

Thanks very much.

Joe

 

[DanAR]

Yeah, I’m no drivetrain mechanic but all that play in the axle and CV joint doesn’t seem normal at all. @Wild one should be along shortly.

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

I’d bet you have a defective idler pulley or belt tensioner (or both).

The idler pulleys and belt tensioners have grease inside their bearing, but it is sealed. If the grease dries out or leaks from the bearing race (usually on the back side and not visible while looking at the front of the engine), it will begin to make a high pitched chirp.

The high pitch chirp can be affected by temperature and engine load on the belt.

If you remove the belt and one of the idler pulleys, look on the back side to see signs of grease leakage (which will be faint).

If an idler pulley has been replaced, the bearing race can be crushed if the mounting bolt was tightened too much.

 

[Wild one]

Good afternoon all.

I'm hoping you can all help me with your immense expertise yet again. For the past month or so, I've been hearing this high pitched chirping noise as I drive my truck. It doesn't happen when the car first turns on , or when it is idling or when stopping at a red light , only when the car is in motion. Unfortunately, I've been unable to get a sample of the noise as I'm constantly driving alone and the camera doesn't seem to pick it up. I'm hearing it coming from the front end of the truck as i'm driving with the windows open and sometimes with the windows closed.

I figured it was something that happened because of the change to colder weather up here in the northeast, but I don't think that's the case anymore. After reading a number of posts on here I decided to go under the truck and take a look at the bushings and mount points to see if anything might be worn away or loose.

Nothing looks loose or worn away. However, when I got to the drive train I found what's in the following video that to me when I jiggle it, it makes the exact noise I'm hearing very faintly. It's on the driver side. Once again, the camera doesn't do the sound justice but when i'm moving it, I can hear the faint chirping noise.

November 8, 2025

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

I apologize as I'm not familiar with the names of every single component in the drivetrain, but the piece that I'm moving with my hand, I'm wondering, should it have this much play in it? The other side has some play in it as well, but it seems like it is not as much. Could this part be making a chirping noise as the car is moving if it needs to be lubricated or replaced?

Thanks very much.

Joe

Looks like you're due for a CV axle and maybe a new stub shaft,but i agree with 1999 a chirp is usually from a bearing on the front of the engine. Try spraying each pulley individually with a penetrating oil and go for a drive,after each spray ,that'll help isolate which pulley needs replacing.

 

[jshabouk]

Thanks for the responses.

Couple of things to clarify...
1. The noise had been there for a while, and I had to have my water pump done last Monday. I would assume they checked the pulleys and tensioners at the time and didn't find anything since they make no noise.
2. The noise isn't present unless the car is actually moving. (Why I think it isn't the pulleys)

I'm waiting on a new can of penetrating oil to get to me (lost the straw on my current can) so i can spray the back of the idler pulley to test.

I have an extended warranty from mopar, so the axle should be covered if need be. I'd like to try to isolate this as best I can beforehand though.

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

Joe

 

[jshabouk]

@Wild one , @1999 White C5 Coupe

I finally got a video of the noise. Please let me know what you think.

November 9, 2025

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Thanks.

 

[Wild one]

@Wild one , @1999 White C5 Coupe

I finally got a video of the noise. Please let me know what you think.

November 9, 2025

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Thanks.

Hard to hear anything above the wind noise.
You can buy chassis ears relatively cheap ,and put them around the front diff to see where the noise is coming from

Amazon.com

 

[jshabouk]

I'll look for those. The noise im referring to is a chirping noise. I'll try to get a better recording tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

[jshabouk]

Sorry for not updating on this. Didn't have much time to work on it or shop around for the chassis ears.

I re-listened to the video I posted, and I still hear that chirping noise in it, sorry @Wild one (I still respect you and appreciate all your help). I turned up the volume and I can still hear it (higher volume makes it a lot clearer). Maybe I'm just hyper-focused on it.

Truck is heading in again to the dealership tonight to be looked at tomorrow (it has a Mopar EXTENDED CARE PREMIUM warranty on it). They said that anything to do with the axles, differential, bearings, suspension including bushings, etc is covered. It's the top tier plan, so only true wear/tear items are not covered. Plus I have the contract and paperwork that confirms it all.

That being said, some updated information:
1. I only hear the noise when travelling >20 MPH and going straight or on the highway. I don't think that turning corners makes a difference as I'm not taking turns at 20+ MPH.
2. I was under the truck again this past weekend. When I checked the 2 front half axles, I found the following:
- Driver side - some play in the shaft up and down, no play front to back, but I can faintly hear the noise when the metal pieces move by hand.
- Passenger side - some play in the shaft up and down, some play front to back (noise sounds exactly like what it sounds like >20 MPH).
3. As suggested earlier, I sprayed the back of the serpentine belt tensioner bearing at the top of the front of the engine, let it sit a bit, then went for a drive - no change in noise.

The fact that the two half axles are acting differently in terms of the play in the joint when moving them by hand is telling me something is off. I know there are a lot of small spacers, bearings, etc in there, and I'm wondering if something wore out/broke internally causing the noise. I've been driving with this noise for a few weeks now, but given I'm driving to get my son at college this Friday (14 hours roundtrip driving), I don't want to take a chance on the extended driving causing a failure.

I welcome any thoughts from you all as this group is the best I've been a part of in terms of knowledge.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[jshabouk]

Update - dealership got back to me. Truck needs a new front differential and passenger side half axle. If they can't get the driver side axle out of the differential, they will need to replace that one also. All warranty covered.

Problem is that the differential is back ordered, and it wont come in for a couple of weeks or so. Fingers crossed.

Thanks all.