High pitch squeak at 2100 PRM

Classic "what's that sound" game.

2003 Jimny
Manual
Gasoline
Removable Hardtop
50cm lift + 215.75.15 tyres
106,000K

I have owned this Jimny for a little less then a year and the sound has always been there, but really trying to get to the bottom of it. 

When the RPM's are between 2100-2200 there is a high-pitch mouse squeak / squeal, when the engine is under load (not when coasting in neutral or stationary). Doesn't mater uphill, flat, or downhill. It happens in each gear whenever the RPM's hit that range, whether accelerating, decelerating, or keeping constant speed. Sorta like a belt-slip squeal... but doesn't sound like it's coming from the front (like a belt) but more center of the car. The sound goes away immediately when you depress the clutch, shift, or drop above/below that RPM range.

A shop (LandRover 4x4 shop, not Suzuki specialist as my options are limited) thought it might be the rear wheel bearings as they both show some play + wheel spacers. But that doesn't make sense to me given it's an RPM-specific thing and not speed. 

I am new to Jimny's so am open to ideas. Appreciate any thoughts !

 

 

 

Did the land rover shop actually hear the squeal or were they guessing like we are, based on your description?  Is it continuous (skeeeeeeeee) or broken (skee-skee-skee-skee-skee)?

Make a video so we can hear what you're hearing, if not, all we can do is guess.

My guess, by the way is a dry UJ in the jack shaft (transmission to transfer case).

The shop did hear it in-person. They have the car now. 

Its a continuous squeak through that short RPM range. And if you hold it there, the sound is a constant high-pitched cheerp.  

I'll see if I can get a cellphone sound bite. 

fordem wrote:

My guess, by the way is a dry UJ in the jack shaft (transmission to transfer case).

 

Possible for a dry or defective U-joint to produce an RPM related noise, same chirp/squeak sound at 2100rpm in each gear? 

wrote:

Possible for a dry or defective U-joint to produce an RPM related noise, same chirp/squeak sound at 2100rpm in each gear? 

Here's my problem - I haven't heard the sound, and your description doesn't tell me what I need to know - you've described it as a "mouse squeak/squeal", as continuous, as a constant high pitched cheerp, and now a chirp/squeak.

Look back at my earlier reply and the question I ask.

To me a squeal is a continuous high pitched tone, squeaks & chirps are not continuous, but you can have a constant squeaking or chirping noise, like chicks in a farm yard - cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep - a constant series of short repetitive tones, you're asking me to guess based on a description that I can't make head or tail of, hence my suggestion to make a recording of it.

The two classic things which squeak on most cars are the belts (your Jimny might have two) or the clutch (thrust bearing), although the squeak these make tends to change in pitch.

If it’s rpm and not speed related then it has to be engine (before the gearbox) and my first checks would be the belts.

A few questions

Is the squeak worse after starting?
Is it worse if turning?
Is it worse in the wet?
Do you have aircon, is it worse with this on?

The belts are quite easy to check, but to the untrained eye do appear to be quite tight. Once they start squeaking they wear and are more prone to do it in the future.

The other problem on jimnys is the belt crank pulley, it has a rubber cushion drive and they wear, this first makes the pulley run off centre, then it collapses, so that’s worth checking with the belts.