After posting a question about how to quiet my truck down, I started paying attention to what the symptoms are. Here's what I have discovered. When I put the truck in reverse and give some pedal, the noise goes almost completely away and all I hear is the beautiful sound of a 7.3. It only goes away for a couple seconds and then it's back. I'm thinking after my first post that I may have a tq. converter problem or a flexplate problem. Has anybody else experienced this? Also have a friend with a 02 psd ext. cab 4x4 with a constant oversteer problem if anyone can clue me in on that. I tried to talk him into becoming a member of this great site but he must be too busy.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

 

If we are using oversteering the same, it's a suspension setup problem. You might try changing the shocks out and checking your leaf spring bushings.

I have heard scraping sounds from the TQ/flexplate area, but it always got worest the faster the engine turned. I notice on my gas motor that the fan can be very loud when the motor is cold.

 

More info please.
Describe the noise... whine, rattle, growl?

Austin

 

If you have never had a TC, you need to get rid of that Ford OEM defective unit..

Upgrade if at all possible..

 

Ok here's everything I can give you. I've owned the truck 9 mos. always thought the truck was loud because it is a diesel. It has a very noticeable rattle noise which I thought to be diesel cackle. While parked next to an 01 PSD I noticed you couldn't hear his truck running over the noise of my truck. Then when putting the truck in reverse, I noticed the noise would go away for a couple seconds. That seems to me to be something other than engine noise. I have heard the flexplate on the early 99 had some problems and I have also heard the TC has its own set of issues. I need to find someone close to me who has had either problem and let them listen to the truck if at all possible. I have considered going under the truck with a metal rod and trying to locate as closely as possible where the noise is coming from but I haven't had time yet and don't know if the noise is going to transfer badly because it is so loud.

 

The torque converter will be a rattle or scraping type noise. You can install a single pole switch with one side to ground and the other side to the torque converter lockup wire. On my '01 it is purple w/yellow tracer do a search and check to see what color it is on your ride. You can easily access the wire on by the harness connector on the side of the tranny. When grounded it will lock in the TC. If while in park or neutral the rattle goes away when TC is locked it is a TC problem.
If its more of a ticking or tapping, I'd try the stethescope approach. Listen at various places on the tranny case. If it is coming from inside the tranny case, it would probably be a coast clutch hitting the side of the case.
My guess is the torque converter. There's an inspection plate on your tranny right? You can have someone slowly turn the crank with a breaker bar while you can see if there is any obvious damage.
Before you go through all of this, I would see if there is anything that might be touching at idle and not while the engine twists from torque like exhaust to tranny line or downpipe to tranny dipstick.
Keep us posted with your progress.
There will probably be more that chime in, but I'm out of ideas until you check these things. Good luck.

Take your time,be patient and don't give up,

Austin

 

Austin, the T/C acts as a clutch when locked! It you leave it locked when coming to a stop your truck will buck and stall the engine. I would advise not to lock it below 20mph. Also if he has an early 99 the T/C is notorious to have the sound of marbles rolling around in it.

 

That's why I specified while in park or neutral. By engaging it then, it will help him know whether or not that is where his problem is. I had to dig, but here's the broadcast Ford put out on it:

98/99E-vans built after 1-5-98 and 99 F-series with 4R100 (E4OD) auto trans--rattle/scraping noise from bellhousing is caused by the torque converter. Verify the noise is caused by the converter by using an electronic transmission tester on break out box. Activate the Torque Converter Clutch solenoid by depressing and holding the TCC button on the trans tester or by grounding pin 54 of the B.O.B. If the noise disapprears with the TCC locked, replace the torque converter with new service part XL3Z-7902-DARM.

Activating the TC is a little easier for most by the wire at the harness.

Austin

 

My 2000 had a real bad rattle when you let off the fuel. Thought it was the TC and replaced it. Still there. Got back under, pulled the tranny and the TC back off. Had to pull the Flexplate all the way off to find that the Flexplate was almost completely broken around the mounting bolts. Replaced and noise is gone. Good luck

 

He needs to replace the TC if its the original...AND Check the Flexplate, by removing it and manually visually inspecting it..You CAN NOT inspect it on the truck...

Austin is right, you can lock the convertor in P or N...No biggie..

 

My TC is still original as far as I know. I just bought the truck in September of 06 so I don't know what the original owner had done. I will check the repair records and see if that had been done. What problem did Ford have with their TC's. I was listening to my truck today and didn't think the noise went away even at higher speeds. This makes me wonder if it itsn't a flexplate. Also what kind of price am I looking at for a good TC?
Thanks to all who have replied.

 

Classic TQC symptoms, now here is the best part, if you can live with the noise then drive it. There are plenty of 99 trucks running around with loud TC's while camping last week Rampage and I could identify a 99 coming down the road just by the rattle. My 99 rattles, the original tranny now has over 233K on it, and it does not slip, I would not hesitate to hook up my 5er and take off for nevada or some other long away place.

 

I concur with just keep driving it, my early 99 (Oct 98 build) sounded the same way, I took mine in while still under warranty and had the TSB done, and got the new revised torque converter. I was told by the tech that the noise was due to some springs rattling around in there when there was no load on the TC, and that the noise really didn't mean reduced performance.

Also, check out this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/589808-marbles-in-converter.html?highlight=TC+springs

 

I am going to do some looking around on here for opinions on which TC to buy and then how much they cost and base my decision on that. It is loud enough that it is making extra cab noise and I talk alot on the phone. Once I get done washing Bobcats I'll get under this beast and do some serious looking. I'll post what I find as soon as I can. Thanks to everyone who replied.

 

Just got back from the west coast. I towed my RV across the USA from Charleston, SC to northern Ca. with my 1996 250 PSD. I spent the winter going from the mountains to the desert towing the 12,500 pound fifth wheel. The truck turned 200,000 miles in Malibu Beach, Ca. I had the noise when I bought the truck, when I started the trip and it's still rattling now that I am back home. I took it to many “Experts”. Some said the noise was so loud it cleared the garage out. One "Expert" said he could not get under the truck to check it out due to the noise. I found an experienced Ford Tech, one with a few miles. He said I could replace the torque converter and the noise would go away or I could drive it another 200,000 miles rattling. Something about the springs inside the converter rattling at idle. I like the noise especially cruising through downtown Hollywood in bumper to bumper traffic at night. I loved watching the driver side windows go up when that PSD pulled up along side rattling!
When I decide to replace the converter I am going back to Ford OEM. Reasoning? Why go with an after market and spend the big bucks when the stock converter has been proven to last 200,000 miles. My truck is stock. My tranny is stock. I am sticking with stock. Sure if I was going to rebuild and beef up the tranny I would go with the after market to match the tranny. Old school, can you tell?