Idle whining normal?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Fort Carson, Colorado
Idle whining normal?
Took my truck in last week to have a couple things looked at. Keep hearing this whining sound when I put the truck in neutral/park or into drive at a stop. It becomes louder when put into drive but subsides once you give it gas. The dealer could not 'find' this whine that I speak of. Im on my way home and lo and be hold there it is when I got to stop at a red light. The other half (mr. know it all) seems to think this is a normal thing...Im taking a 16 hour drive next week alone with a 2yo. Last thing I need is for the truck to break down or something to go mechanically wrong but if this is normal I also dont want to have to spend the $64.00 an hour fee to have Ford look at it again.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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Does it sound like more of a whine or more of a whistle? A whine could be low fluid in the power steering pump and a whistle could be a minor vacuum leak of sorts.
Issues like this drive me crazy, but I would think pose little hazard to your trip. Check the fluid in the PS pump and drive with confidence.
Issues like this drive me crazy, but I would think pose little hazard to your trip. Check the fluid in the PS pump and drive with confidence.
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Senior User
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From: Fort Carson, Colorado
Hi, Yes it is more of a whine/hum. Whistle to me would be like the sound of wind comming threw the window seal going down the road type sound. This is more of a prominent "EEEeeeeeeEEEeeee" That gets louder (very noticable) when shifting to drive from park before putting pressure on the gas pedal and then once you press the gas it is gone till you stop and idol again where the low(bearly can hear it enless you have radio and air/heat off) sound is again. I hope that makes sense.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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It still sounds like a PS pump whine to me then. When you are siting still, in park or drive, turn the steering wheel back and forth. If you hear this whine/howl increase or decrease in volume or tone then I'd guess you had a power steering pump low on fluid or getting bad. Check the fluid level of the PS pump.
If the noise doesn't change when you try the above approach, you might just check the transmission fluid as well. I've never heard a transmission whine but who knows.
I'd say don't worry too much unless the sound is really 'menacing'. A little whistle, groan, or howl ain't so bad. I was at the dealer today helping them diagnose my climate controlled seat problem. I asked them to listen to the 'thud' I hear when I turn the key on (its coming from the ABS system). The all laughed and said I was too much of a perfectionist. They lead me out to their trucks which were both worse sounding than mine.
If the noise doesn't change when you try the above approach, you might just check the transmission fluid as well. I've never heard a transmission whine but who knows.
I'd say don't worry too much unless the sound is really 'menacing'. A little whistle, groan, or howl ain't so bad. I was at the dealer today helping them diagnose my climate controlled seat problem. I asked them to listen to the 'thud' I hear when I turn the key on (its coming from the ABS system). The all laughed and said I was too much of a perfectionist. They lead me out to their trucks which were both worse sounding than mine.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Fort Carson, Colorado
checked the PS fluid and the transmission fluid while in there. Both are at the correct levels. Ill see how the drive goes to Texas...From there I may have the dealer I bought it from check it out. It sounds like when my Chevy's fuel pump was going out but this is in the front end instead of the rear.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
It would help if you posted how many miles are on it.
It could be as simple as the belt tensioner bearing. Once you apply the laod to the engine and increase the revs the tensioner "tightens" up. Loose/worn bearings can whine when there in a low/no load.
Also, I've seen intake air leaks that emulate the whining noise you describe.
It could be as simple as the belt tensioner bearing. Once you apply the laod to the engine and increase the revs the tensioner "tightens" up. Loose/worn bearings can whine when there in a low/no load.
Also, I've seen intake air leaks that emulate the whining noise you describe.
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From: Fort Carson, Colorado
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Oklahoma
I have a similar whine in my '99 Expy 4x4.
I bought the truck with 94,000 miles on it and took it on a 14 hour trip the next week. During the trip, I noticed that the tranny seemed to slip when I would get on it or try to pass someone (the engine revved WAY to high).
We we returned, I had the tranny flushed, and had a new filter put in. It now runs and shifts fine, but it has a whine coming from the front of the tranny in either the front pump or torque converter.
I have added a bottle of Lucas Tranny Oil and that seemed to help quiet it down a little, but it is still there.
The truck now has 101,000 miles on it and runs and pulls great! I really wish I knew what to tell you, but I am at a loss.
My thoughts are to just keep driving it until I notice a difference in shifting/driving and then take it to a tranny shop.
Good luck,
Tim
I bought the truck with 94,000 miles on it and took it on a 14 hour trip the next week. During the trip, I noticed that the tranny seemed to slip when I would get on it or try to pass someone (the engine revved WAY to high).
We we returned, I had the tranny flushed, and had a new filter put in. It now runs and shifts fine, but it has a whine coming from the front of the tranny in either the front pump or torque converter.
I have added a bottle of Lucas Tranny Oil and that seemed to help quiet it down a little, but it is still there.
The truck now has 101,000 miles on it and runs and pulls great! I really wish I knew what to tell you, but I am at a loss.
My thoughts are to just keep driving it until I notice a difference in shifting/driving and then take it to a tranny shop.
Good luck,
Tim
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Fort Carson, Colorado
Luckly I have a 2 yr 24k mile Base Care Ford Warranty on it. I just hope it breaks BEFORE the warranty goes out. Already had to have the alternator and water pump redone last month. Its still guzzling gas like crazy. Iv topped out at 12mpg most times its staying around 11mpg. This is with Highway and in town driving..either gives same gas mileage. Best ever I got on the way back from Texas at 13mpg all highway (9 hour trip) Im intrested to see what it gets on my long trip end of next week. I didn't expect it to get really good gas but didn't expect it this low. Iv had a throttle body cleaning and fuel injector cleaning...new fuel filter, new K&N air filter, oil changed after 3000 miles. I noticed the last several times Iv filled up that the gas gauge doesn't go all the way to full till Im several miles down the road. Ford said they couldn't 'fix' it till it gets worse and breaks to where it doesn't read for my warranty to cover it. Im not familiar with the PCV Value you speak of rangedog but hubby knows and said he'd look at it. Iv had nothing but problems with the truck since I bought it beginning of Jan.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 753
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From: Oklahoma
I still haven't found anything.
My truck still whines but runs just fine. To me, it sounds like the whine is coming from the torque converter or front of the tranny.
Like I said before, I'll just keep driving it until it gets worse or goes away
.
Tim
My truck still whines but runs just fine. To me, it sounds like the whine is coming from the torque converter or front of the tranny.
Like I said before, I'll just keep driving it until it gets worse or goes away
.Tim
New User
Joined: Jul 2004
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Definitely not the PS pump. Makes an electric motor sound from the front of the transmission. Can most audibly hear it under the vehicle, not from the top with the hood open. Pronounced at first start and in Park/Neutral. It has made noise while driving as some others have noted.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 753
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From: Oklahoma
I'm with you rosey. The noise is definitely coming from the front of the tranny. I guess I have just gotten used to the sound and I don't let it bother me anymore. The only time I even notice is when someone riding with me points it out.