Have a strange noise coming from my 5.0 engine, and the best way to describe it is that its intermittent, typically heard when I first start the van when cold. It's a metallic sound like something is slightly touching the fan blades as it's spinning. Sometimes there's no noise at all. My best guess is the fan clutch? Perhaps a member has experienced this and can chime in? Thanks.

 

Could it be one of the exhaust heat shields vibrating? The welds on these come loose and give a metallic buzzing sound. In fact, my '02 E150 has that happening right now.

Find the noise (wear gloves) and do something to keep the vibration from happening. I have used a couple long hose clamps to hold the heat shields on; on my wife's old Sable I used aluminum foil ***** with JB Weld to hold things together. You could tear off the heat shields but would potentially get more heat in the van or set grass on fire if you parked on it....

George

 

George,

Thanks for the response. I had a few people who are pretty sharp mechanics and two seems to think it's the serpentine belt, and one thinks idler pully so I'm waiting on the parts to arrive. I'm leaning towards the idler bearing. I'm having a hard time believing it's the belt, just doesn't sound like a belt noise to me, but it's got some years on it so it's getting replaced.