My 2007,4.6 is makeing a whinning noise from the front of the engine around the idler/tensioner/alternator.What i have read it might be a problem with the alternator getting cold, I forgot to mention it's cold up here. I am woudering if anyone had the same promblem fixxed by changing the alternator and did the noise come back as it seems to be a design problem?

 

Welcome to the forum!
You really need to isolate the whining noise.Most Alternators will indeed whine for a couple of minutes after starting.This is an indication of loading caused by recharging the Battery after the starting procedure.It should cease after a minute or two.
If the noise is indeed coming out of the Alternator,(and keeps doing it) you may need to clean the Battery terminals,or if clean...look into a new battery.
If its not coming from the Alternator,use a mechanics stethescope to isolate the noise.If you dont have one a broomstick held to the ear(carefully) while the engine is running should help. Just hold the stethescope/broomstick to your ear,and place the end of it on a suspect area.If there is a noise,you will hear it.Hope this helps.
Again, welcome,and all the guys are here for you!

 

Hey erts68 welcome to the site! I have/had the same whine from the alternator. It only happens when its cold? There's alot of people that have taken their trucks to dealers and they could not reproduce the same sound. For those that have replaced their alternator, the whine has gone away. It's a problem with the alternator bearings. Like said above, make sure it's coming from the alternator. Mine has done it since I've owned it and isn't causing any problems so I just deal with it for the 5 coldest months we have.

 

My alternator also whines on start up when its cold. However lately I had been having a whine that got worse with higher rpms. The whining never went away when the truck warmed up. I found I had three bad idle pulleys. Changed all four and problem solved, no more whining

 

Yeah the whine that I have usually happens around the shift from 3rd to 4th or around 2000 rpm and also around 65 and again at 75. It continues to whine unless I let off the gas or give er gas.

 

thanks for the info ,after a closer listen it turned out to be the tensioner pulley.The whinning is gone but I think I'll change the idler pulleys to because they look to be the same style.

 

cool. thanks for posting what it was. glad you got it figured out!

 

My 5.4 2004 Expedition has been making a whistling whining noise when temps get low. Not just at start up and usually at higher sppeds. I initially had thoughts of wind getting under the roof rack or windsheild trim even...I got a lot of response here about both the belt, pulleys, and tensioner along with checking the air filter and housing. I still have dug far enough to get it fixed, but will post in the Expedition forum if/when I do.
Good Luck

 

Hey I had the exact same problem as you that i just recently fixed. It was more like an annoying whistle around that same specific RPM range despite what gear i was driving in. The whistle would last for 5 to 10 seconds unless i tapped the gas or let off of it for a bit. Very annoying! Asked some buddies at Ford and they said alternator,switched it out and problem solved. I would recommend it.

 

Thanks! Yeah that's exactly whats happening with mine. What did that cost you? I haven't messed with it yet just because I didn't know the cost.

 

Well I have a buddie that owns a auto body shop so I borrowed an alternator off of him just to test to see if that would fix the noise and it did so I will buy it off him now but no price yet. I think brand new alternators can be in the 200 to 300 range but this is just what ive heard i havent looked it up.

 

Just looked on Tascaparts.com and they have alternators on there for $175.

 

$175. I hope mine is an idler or belt tensioner (but I am fearing it is the alt. too)
Remember the days when starters and alternators were $20-$25?
Seems like just yesterday