Need Some Help Please

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Most of you know I have a 98 Ranger 2wd with the 2.5L 4banger. It's making some noises I'm concerned about. Let's start off with the engine. The truck has 67K miles on it currently.

Engine- The engine makes this really high pitch whistle noise. It's coming from the A/C compressor and power sterring neighborhood, both are above each other on the drivers side of engine. I can't really identify what it could be because you can hear all over the engine and underneath but it's noiser mostly by the A/C compressor and PS pump. It almost sounds like a dog whistle, very high frequency. It's been doing this for about a month now and now it's only gotten worse. It's only noticeable when you open the hood and listen. Best way to describe it is, when you come fresh out of a rock concert and your ears are ringing, that's about what it sounds like. Any ideas?? Computer is not throwing out any codes, no idiot light. Any suggestions?? I thought about the stethescope trick but I'm not sure how effective it would be, worth a try??

Transmission- The transmission is whining in 3rd gear and 3rd gear only. You can hear it best going between 25-30mph. I am positive it is the transmission because going through the gears(it's an auto BTW) when I let off at 25-30 then the transmission shifts to third is when it starts to make this whining sound. It's been doing this for about 2 months or so and it's only gotten louder. I've tried Auto-rx, recently did a full flush on it including the Torque Converter. This was done by the local Ford garage and they say they did the Torque Converter but I can only believe them, they charge me for it? Currently it's running Amsoil ATF with LC, fresh filter and pan gasket. I'm thinking it could be the valve body but I havn't had it diagnosed yet. I plan on getting this done along with when I get my ball joints replaced soon. Any ideas or suggestions of what it could be?? Thanks,,,,,,,AR

 

[Schmoe]

Could it be the belt??? or PS pump? Ford's PS pumps have always been noisey. Could be a bearing in the alternator.

 

[kenw]

"I thought about the stethescope trick but I'm not sure how effective it would be, worth a try??"

definitely worth a try, what do you have to lose?

I will assume you mean the screwdriver to the cheekbone type stethoscope.... frequencies are really important to distinguish, you'll hear all sorts of stuff this way, most of which are not what you are searching for. Find the best frequency match.

 

[michaelc80]

Any chance the engine sound could be an air leak? Cracked or broken vaccumm line? Maybe not enough to cause a problem, but enough of a crack to hear the whistle of air through?

 

[Virtuoso]

Does it only make this whistle at idle?

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Schmoe- The PS pump in my Ranger has always been a whiney one, lol But it's been doing that since day 1, 2 years ago when I purchased it and no driving problems here. It's a possibility that it is a bearing the alternator. I'm open minded to alot of possibilies.

Ken- I have used the screwdriver and even a "doctors" stethescope before. I had one as a play toy when I was kid and have used it before and you can hear all kinds of stuff. Bearings, little ticks, rattles etc... It's cool to hear stuff like that, your engine breathing,,,,,,nm

Michael- Hey that's my name too, sweet! I thought about that and was one of my stronger possiblities. Maybe it's leaking just barely enough to make a whistle sound. Hunting down vaccum leaks can be a bear sometimes, especially if there small vaccum lines.

Virtuoso- No, you can hear at RPM's above idle but you really have to listen carefully because obviously the higher the engine RPM, the louder, not the whistle but the engine itself, you get the point. I just need a new truck, lol j/k I picture a nice XL F350 in my driveway though,,,,,,AR

 

[oilpan49]

Ok I got my truck back today from the shop from doing the ball joints and discovered what the problem is. Both noises the whine and the whistle are coming from the transmission. Sometime ago there was a TSB on this problem there was alittle orfice in there above the valve body and the orfice was too small. Shop told me that the problem can be corrected but it's gonna have to wait since my ball joints costed me enough

I'll call the local Ford garage and see what they can do. Thanks,,,,,AR