It's been a while since I've posted here, probably because my old Escape has been behaving itself, until now.

My 2002 3.0L automatic Escape has 223,000 miles on it and I just returned from an 1800 mile R/T from SE Arizona to Denver. It's generally running okay but as soon as I get above 2,000rpm I hear a high pitched whining sound that promptly goes away as soon as I drop back below 2,000rpm. When I'm parked I can hear a slight whine above 2,000rpm but it's not nearly as loud as when I'm driving. I checked the AT fluid while it was idling and it's at a satisfactory level and doesn't look or smell burned. I've put up with this problem for over 200 miles and still haven't pin-pointed it's source other than the front end of the car and maybe the drivers side. For a while I thought it might be the water pump belt tensioner so I replaced it but the problem remained. I also suspected the water pump but since it's not leaking water I doubt if it's going bad.

While I was checking the problem while parked I also noticed that it didn't want to rev above 4,000-4,500rpm. It's start missing and refuse to rev higher. The rig has fairly new plugs with 15,000 miles on them. I'm thinking this is a separate problem.

If anyone here has any ideas about these problems, particularly the first one I'd really be interested in what you think!

Thanks in advance
Steve

 

Yesterday I removed the serpentine belt that spins the AC compressor, PS pump, and alternator. I then went for a short drive in hopes of not hearing the whining noise but there it was again. I wish the hell I could figure this puzzle out!

Steve

 

Check for vacuum leaks. Take some brake cleaner or some starting fluid and slowly spray the vacuum hoses and intake. If the idle changes then it's a leak. Also, if you have a long extension or something similar, you could use it like a stethoscope and probe around until you find it. Sorry I don't have better advice for you.

 

I've tried the long extension trick. I did hear a noise from the tensioner pully on the water pump drive so I replaced it but it didn't help. It just doesn't sound like a vacuum leak and it's barely noticeable when the cars not moving. Yes, perhaps it's a failing transaxle but it came on so quickly and so loud and proud that I can't help feel that it's something else. The sound it makes reminds me of when the rear end went bad on a 1957 Ford I owned as a kid. It started as almost nothing and gradually got worse and worse until it failed completely. I'm thinking I'll check the front wheel bearings next. I really don't want it to be a failing transaxle! At 223,000 miles it's not worth paying a garage to repair or replace it and at 73 I'm just not at all eager to jump into doing it myself like I was when I was younger (been there, done that, GROAN!).

Steve

This afternoon I removed both front wheels and checked the car for bad front wheel bearings but everything seemed tight. However, it was good that I checked because I did find that I have a need for new front brake pads coming up.

 

My $0.02:
To eliminate mechanical issues, accelerate to where you hear the noise then put it in neutral allowing the RPM's to drop. If the sound doesn't drop immediately, then it could be a wheel bearing or similar issue.
My bet is that it's a vacuum leak as pointed out.
My '02 had a similar "whistle" but it was always there from the day we bought it with 56 miles on the odometer. Mine seemed to just come from the intake manifold. Never found a leak, so I just got used to it.

 

Several people have suggested a vacuum leak. The thing is the noise is loudest during acceleration, a normally low vacuum condition, but it goes away when I'm cruising below 2,000rpm, a higher vacuum condition. It's pretty much gone at idle another high vacuum condition. It's for these reasons that I've been focusing on it being a mechanical issue such as a failing drive gear in the transaxle. However, my one hope that' it's not a failing transaxle is that the AT fluid shows no sign of a problem such as a brown burned look or odor. Even though I didn't find any obvious play in the front wheel bearings yesterday I'm hoping that it's early enough in the failure cycle that the obvious play I was looking for hasn't occurred yet.

Steve