Duratec 3.0 with 140K making winding noise on cold

[dwcopple]

starts...
Only lasts until high idle warmup settles in. Drove through a huge puddle today and it started again until it dried up. Could this be a belt or alternator or A/C pulley? Car runs and drives perfectly just started making this ridiculous noise out of nowhere. Ideas?

 

[EricF]

it actually sounds like the tensioner isn't tensioning as well anymore.

IMHO, I'd honestly replace the idler pully and belt tensioner and evaluate the belt.
the pully's aren't designed to live long lives.

Gates actually says the idler and tension pully's should be replaced with each belt change.
They are coming out with kits that have everything included in 1 box. Shops love this, but it's actualy about 10-15% cheaper to buy the items seperately.

 

[Brent_G]

How cold?

I would check to see if it's the PS pump. I have no experience with ford cars, but the PS on their trucks can make horrible noises when cold.

 

[Kestas]

I've seen tensioners corrode in place, to where there's no spring action anymore. The tensioner just sits in one spot. See if you can get a crowbar and exercise the tensioner.

I've also seen healthy belts stretch over time, until it reaches the limit on the tensioner. The belt then makes noise only during warmup because of the heavy load, before parts like the steering pump warm up.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Simple.

When it's cold, open the hood, stand there and listen while someone starts the car. You can either use your mechanics stethoscope or the old screwdriver to the ear trick. Anything else is nothing but guesswork, and if it's a loud noise it should be very easy to narrow down.

Once you identify exactly where the noise is coming from, fix, lubricate or replace the part.

If it only does it when wet, grab your garden hose and put some water on it.

 

[artificialist]

Get an automotive stethoscope, and touch it to anything driven by the belt. If you hear crunchy noises, that part is due for replacement. Tensioners and idlers can be a frequent problem.

If you don't hear anything from the drive belt, listen to the can sync plug. When they fail, they sound the same as a squeaking belt.

 

[dwcopple]

No squeaks at all, it is like a windup electric toy and obviously noise fluctuates based on RPM. This AM it was horrible until I drove a few minutes and things warmed up, then sound was gone.
Wow is it embarrassing driving down my neighborhood sounding like a giant windup car.

 

[threeputtpar]

That certainly sounds like the famous Ford power steering pump whine. We had it on our old Mountaineer in the winter.

It also made the same noises in summer when I was changing the coolant and had the thermostat housing on without the gasket and thermo in, and it blew water all over the serp belt. It whined all the while after that until I put a new belt on.

Either your belt is at the end of it's life, the belt tensioner is not tensioning enough, or you need some fresh ATF in the power steering system.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
That certainly sounds like the famous Ford power steering pump whine.

Either your belt is at the end of it's life, the belt tensioner is not tensioning enough, or you need some fresh ATF in the power steering system.
well, it is definitely not the latter. prob belt or tensioner I am thinking. Only happens on first overnight startup though. The rest of the day, all is quiet. Odd.

 

[Warstud]

You said it got louder when you drove thru a puddle and may have gotten wet. Sounds like a bad tensioner. Maybe the reason it's loud...first thing in the morning is because of moisture settling on the belt.

 

[dwcopple]

maybe I'll make a video tomorrow AM for you guys

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
That certainly sounds like the famous Ford power steering pump whine.

Either your belt is at the end of it's life, the belt tensioner is not tensioning enough, or you need some fresh ATF in the power steering system.
well, it is definitely not the latter. prob belt or tensioner I am thinking. Only happens on first overnight startup though. The rest of the day, all is quiet. Odd.


I had the same power steering "issue" with my 93 Explorer and when the fluid would warm up it got quieter. It was only really loud when it was overnight cold. I put quotes around issue because it wasn't really an issue but something that almost all the older Ford engines had.

 

[dwcopple]

well, I suctioned out the PS fluid and topped it off with some Maxlife ATF, started it and all is quiet now. Gotta love Ford PS systems...

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
That certainly sounds like the famous Ford power steering pump whine.

Either your belt is at the end of it's life, the belt tensioner is not tensioning enough, or you need some fresh ATF in the power steering system.
well, it is definitely not the latter.


By that statement...I assumed you already changed the fluid.

 

[flacoman]

There was a TSB on that engine for an uprated tensioner (metal vs. plastic) Take a peek and see which one you have.