So from reading around a lot, it seems like the chirping is from the belt tensioner or idler pulley. That said, I've not been able to find anything definitive. I tried to do the water bottle squirt test (from Gates' youtube video) and either I did it wrong or the chirp did not go away implying the issue is not the belt. While I was looking in, I could see the tensioner shaking some.

Would someone be able to look at theirs and see if there is any play?

If my tensioner should not be moving, do I just need the pulley or the pulley and the mount?
- Pulley | https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,c...,parttype,6956
- Pulley and mount | https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,c...parttype,11659

Also, if the above items will fix the chirp, which brand would be best? I know cost != reliability, but you also get what you pay for.

TIA.

2007 RX 350, 113K
Chirping gets worse as it heats up
Seems to happen independent of ambient temperature
Purchased a year ago so unsure of the history of part changes.

 

Can you post a video of the chirp in question?

 

Here's a video:


From this image (http://lexus.sewellparts.com/images/...000/162578.jpg) it looks like the IP is really stable. I couldn't get a good shot of it but the bolt head in the middle does not move at all. The TP seems to move a lot, but I don't know if that's normal or not.

 

I had a chirp that ended up being the water pump

 

I had an annoying chirping sound as well that still haunts me. Turned out to be a pulley.

 

Just this morning I noticed a chirp, right as I started her up. Just one chirp. It is cold out, about 8 degrees.

 

How did you guys identify which pulley it was?

 

I took mine to my indie hoping it was just the serpentine belt...no luck. he saw my water pump was dripping on the belt, thus producing the sound I was hearing. 600 dollars later....

 

I had a similar chirp, the tensioner was the culprit.

The easiest way to trouble shoot this issue is with one of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/mechani...ope-69913.html

On sale for limited time.

This works great for tracking down bad pulleys, various engine noises, and bearing issues. It clamps down into my ears very tightly, and will hang from my head without slipping out.

It amplifies sounds VERY well. Touching it to a bad alternator or power steering pump will "pump" the sound of failure right into your head, so you know exactly what to replace without guessing.