Noisy Radiator?

[jschenck]

I own an 04 KJ, 76,*** miles, 3.7L. I've had it for less than a year. As far as I can remember, there has always been a loud noise coming from around the radiator. To me, it sounds like the radiator is just really loud when it's circulating. The sounds starts when I start up and goes the same volume until I shut the vehicle off. No CEL's, no odd thermostat readings. It warms up quickly and holds a steady temp, even if I run it hard. The noise is like a swooshing sound, like water is pumping through quickly. I'm not sure how to describe it really. Is this a normal thing, or do I have a bad belt or pump somewhere? I know it's not a P.S. pump, that's a whine sound and is very different. This is closest to what I can describe as a fluid swooshing sound that is loudest right at the radiator. If you go any direction away from the radiator it gets quieter. All the rest of the motor is very quiet and smooth. Any thoughts or help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[jschenck]

After thinking about it, I thought of another way to describe the sound. Like listening to a heartbeat through a stethoscope. That swishing sound, but constant instead of pulsing.

 

[theroofable]

make a video

 

[dude1116]

I had (what I think) is a VERY similar noise, and what it ended up being were the bearings of some of the belt pulleys. In order to check for this, take the belt off and spin each pulley to see if they spin smooth. If not, you will likely need to replace. Get this checked ASAP, because if the pulley fails, the belt will fall off and you'll be left with a pretty expensive repair. These messed up pulleys were also accompanied with a whining noise after a while too. The mechanic said the pulleys were causing the whining. (Even though he flushed the trans, front diff, and t-case as well.)