Driving down the road the other day and my 05 F150 (50,000) miles made a terrible grinding noise. I put out an email to a buddy of mine that had a similar problem but have not heard back from him. It makes the noise for about 4-5 seconds and sounds like someone had put a tire iron in my engine. Wanted to get some feedback before I took it in and got it diagnosed.

Had my battery light come on and then off a couple of times in the last couple of weeks. Possibly the alternator.

Anyone heard this deafening noise coming out of their F150 before.

 

If your truck is 4wd it could be a bad hub or accuator. I had mine go bad at about 25k and it sounded like marbles in a hub cap

 

I dont know if you've searched the forums for 'Grinding noise' or not
it may save some diagnosis time.
Was it raining? Does it stop when you change to 4HI? That type of questions.

F-150 on the first of August, heard the gringing noise a week or two later,
looked it up here diagnosed it, and got part number for the IWE solenoid. (known problem on 04 to 06)
The dealership gave me a new one with a sheild (from water). No more problems.