if its bearings, the whistle should be constantly there. as the rpm's increase, then the whistle should as well. the whistle being described is intermitant, happening only at certain rpms...i figure that eliminates the bearings...

 

I am bringing my 04 F150 into the dealer tomorrow to get the whistle noise checked out. When I spoke to him on the phone he mentioned that he has dealt with this problem on other trucks and it has been the alternator. They are going to have the truck all day, so hopefully they find the problem. I will post the fix once I get the truck back.

 

Does everyones sound just like a coaches whistle? That is exactly what mine reminds me of.

 

That's what mine kind of sounds like. It's a high pitched whistle that starts out quiet and gets louder and than back down again...kind of like a siren.

 

Yep, same thing. I wonder sometimes, in these forums, if we are all talking about the same thing when we try to describe noises to others.

I'm going to try to get mine into the dealership next week. While there trying to find the referee under my hood, they can also replace these junk rotors...again.

 

Mine sounds like a turbo whine...comes and goes. I thought it was a vaccum leak at first

 

Same thing on my 1998 4.6... 188,000 miles... Leaning towards dirty IAC, as it has a consistent but not so smooth idle...

 

Thought I'd weigh in on this too. I have an 05. It just started doing this when it got really cold(single digits, teens F). Once mine warms up the noise goes away. It usually happens just before it shifts to a higher gear. Hoping to find an answer here to have some ammunition when I go to my dealer, who is next to worthless.

 

The fix here is to replace the alternator. I had mine replaced on my 2006 FX4 and it's quiet now. Hope this helps!

 

I brought my 04 FX4 into the dealer on Saturday and he confirmed that it's the alternator. They replaced it and it fixed the problem. I had the constant noise the whole way to the dealer, which is about 80 miles. The way home there was not a sound.

 

Cool. There probably isn't a TSB for this yet, is there?

Thanks.

 

I'm not sure about a TSB!

 

WVF150VIANC,

I doubt Ford would put out a TSB on it, as it doesn't seem to effect the performance of the alternator. If they did, they would be acknowledging the problem and hen a lot of us would be in there demanding a new alternator.

More likely they would sit back and quietly re-design any replacement units to fix the problem and if someone complains and it can be verified while on warranttee, then they would replace the alternator.

Just my two cents, but I could be wrong.

 

I have an 05 with a 5.4 and it just started doing this couple nights ago while it was -20 degrees. Looks like many here are experiencing different whistling problems. This whistling is not in the alternator, as it does not do it if the pickup is parked. Only while going down the highway at 71 mph with rpm of 1950. Let off the gas just a little, it goes away, get on the gas just a little, it goes away. It has also done it at a couple of lower speeds, but not as distinct as when it is at 71 mph. It does not go away once pickup is warmed or driven for a long period. It is also parked in heated garage, and the noise starts right away.

Are the tach, and speedo all electronic, or are there some mechanical parts to them that would react to the cold weather?

 

I had my alternator replaced in 2007 for this problem and it fixed it until this week. My alternator also didn't make the noise while parked, but it made the noise at different speeds. My whistle is exactly as you explained and the tech says it is the alternator. I called a the Ford dealer that replaced the alternator and said it is the alternator and many people are coming in to have replaced. However, it eventually happens with the replaced one too! He told me that Ford is possibly checking in to the problem and they need to come up with a fix. I'm wondering if a guy puts in an aftermarket alternator??