LONG: Multiple issues from the engine compartment area
#1
LONG: Multiple issues from the engine compartment area
This is my second F150. The first one a '98 XLT 4x4 is now a pile of ashes as it fell to the defective cruise switch...which I only found out about after the fire dept. was hosing it down.
I now have a 2000 Lariat 4x4, and have had a couple issues with it over the last year, but now I'm getting to think I've got the ultimate lemon, and my confidence is dropping fantastically quickly. Unforunately the recall HAS been done on this truck...
Last month ( and just a week or so before Christmas) we had to chip up for a rebuild to the 5.4L. I won't get into all that here, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Still does..
Since getting the truck back, I've noticed behavior that I'm not used to... and some new noises I can't put my finger on. Maybe the best thing to do is list them and hope someone recognizes something. I am going in to talk to the shop tomorrow about each and every one of these.
1/ A whistling in the cab. It's not window or door related, it's not fan/blower related. It seems to com from somehere ( rom what little I can tell) in the center of the dash, but I finf that hard to accept. It appears randomly and comes and goes at approximately 1200 -1300 RPM. You can increase the volume ( not the pitch) of the tone by regulating the throttle and "peaking it" Go over or under and it will fade away. I thought it was only occured at 102 KPH, but I faintly hear it sitting still, although this is not common. Oh yeah - usually occurs on cold days... -12 C the other day. I'm thinking vaccuum something.
2/ A buzzing sound when I start the truck the first time. NOT like an electric/static buzzing, but more like the sound you'd get if you too a toothed wheel and touched it to a piece of cardboard. Sounds like it's coming from right in front of me - in the steering column. Usually lasts about 1 second or so, but this morning bing -30 C it held for 3 or 4 seconds.
3/ A random clunking from what sounds like the right front...I'm thinking it might be exhaust banging against somthing underneath...it has that likeness of sound.
4/ At 3,000 RPM and above a lower pitch tone starts up. I can't explain it. I could be the enourmous power difference between the rebuilt and old tired engine. I'm being scarcastic.
5/ Not a noise but a condition. Shortly after getting the truck back from the shop, I had to take a 2 hour trip. About 2/3 of the way into the trip I had a situation where I hard to pass a slower vehicle. I eased into the other lane and executed my pass (I had the cruise engaged prior to starting the pass). The truck kicked down a little bit while I got beside the other vehicle. As I pulled away from the slower car, the truck kicked dow again.. possibly due to the fact that I was on a slight incline. The tach jumped up to about 4,100...I held steady to complete my pass. As I returned to my lane I noticed the battery light had come on. My experience here told me my alternator had just taken a crap. I turned everything electrical off - radio, lights...everything. I called my wife and explained I was closer to my destination than home and would try to make it there. About 15 minutes later the battery light extinguished. It hasn't come on since.
6/ This one happened last night and was only the second time I'd heard it...until this morning when I started listening. Again I hear a gear/toothed sound and I think it's different is some what than the previous noise mentioned. As the truck comes to a stop it slows, but gets louder. The 4x4 mode was on at this point.. and I was on icy, snow covered road. In the situation last night... not wanting another expensive repair bill, I thought that a piece of ice had become lodged between the fender and tire and was rubbing. The clunk I felt I thought could have been me running over a big piece of ice. After stopping, I didn't see a piece of ice big enough to feel. This morning when I forced it to do this.. or noticied it...I was again on an icy, snowcovered road with the 4x4 engaged. I turned radio and fan off and while listening to the faint noise and absolutely identifying it as a similar sound to previous, I turned 4x4 mode off. The noise seemed to go away. Re-engaging 4x4 did not re-create sound.
Now I had an issue with getting myself stuck in some soggy grass in the summer and the front end not engaging, but after taking truck to shop and having them check it, they confirmed that the front end was indeed locking up.
I know this is s shopping list of issues and I should probably burn the truck, but having spent nearly $8,000 in replairs in the last quarter of last year, I don't have that option.
I'd love to hear from anyone who might have clues to any or all of these issues. Not being all that mechanically inclined...at least with transmission and motors...I'll need all the info I can gather before deciding what to do.
Steve
I now have a 2000 Lariat 4x4, and have had a couple issues with it over the last year, but now I'm getting to think I've got the ultimate lemon, and my confidence is dropping fantastically quickly. Unforunately the recall HAS been done on this truck...
Last month ( and just a week or so before Christmas) we had to chip up for a rebuild to the 5.4L. I won't get into all that here, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Still does..
Since getting the truck back, I've noticed behavior that I'm not used to... and some new noises I can't put my finger on. Maybe the best thing to do is list them and hope someone recognizes something. I am going in to talk to the shop tomorrow about each and every one of these.
1/ A whistling in the cab. It's not window or door related, it's not fan/blower related. It seems to com from somehere ( rom what little I can tell) in the center of the dash, but I finf that hard to accept. It appears randomly and comes and goes at approximately 1200 -1300 RPM. You can increase the volume ( not the pitch) of the tone by regulating the throttle and "peaking it" Go over or under and it will fade away. I thought it was only occured at 102 KPH, but I faintly hear it sitting still, although this is not common. Oh yeah - usually occurs on cold days... -12 C the other day. I'm thinking vaccuum something.
2/ A buzzing sound when I start the truck the first time. NOT like an electric/static buzzing, but more like the sound you'd get if you too a toothed wheel and touched it to a piece of cardboard. Sounds like it's coming from right in front of me - in the steering column. Usually lasts about 1 second or so, but this morning bing -30 C it held for 3 or 4 seconds.
3/ A random clunking from what sounds like the right front...I'm thinking it might be exhaust banging against somthing underneath...it has that likeness of sound.
4/ At 3,000 RPM and above a lower pitch tone starts up. I can't explain it. I could be the enourmous power difference between the rebuilt and old tired engine. I'm being scarcastic.
5/ Not a noise but a condition. Shortly after getting the truck back from the shop, I had to take a 2 hour trip. About 2/3 of the way into the trip I had a situation where I hard to pass a slower vehicle. I eased into the other lane and executed my pass (I had the cruise engaged prior to starting the pass). The truck kicked down a little bit while I got beside the other vehicle. As I pulled away from the slower car, the truck kicked dow again.. possibly due to the fact that I was on a slight incline. The tach jumped up to about 4,100...I held steady to complete my pass. As I returned to my lane I noticed the battery light had come on. My experience here told me my alternator had just taken a crap. I turned everything electrical off - radio, lights...everything. I called my wife and explained I was closer to my destination than home and would try to make it there. About 15 minutes later the battery light extinguished. It hasn't come on since.
6/ This one happened last night and was only the second time I'd heard it...until this morning when I started listening. Again I hear a gear/toothed sound and I think it's different is some what than the previous noise mentioned. As the truck comes to a stop it slows, but gets louder. The 4x4 mode was on at this point.. and I was on icy, snow covered road. In the situation last night... not wanting another expensive repair bill, I thought that a piece of ice had become lodged between the fender and tire and was rubbing. The clunk I felt I thought could have been me running over a big piece of ice. After stopping, I didn't see a piece of ice big enough to feel. This morning when I forced it to do this.. or noticied it...I was again on an icy, snowcovered road with the 4x4 engaged. I turned radio and fan off and while listening to the faint noise and absolutely identifying it as a similar sound to previous, I turned 4x4 mode off. The noise seemed to go away. Re-engaging 4x4 did not re-create sound.
Now I had an issue with getting myself stuck in some soggy grass in the summer and the front end not engaging, but after taking truck to shop and having them check it, they confirmed that the front end was indeed locking up.
I know this is s shopping list of issues and I should probably burn the truck, but having spent nearly $8,000 in replairs in the last quarter of last year, I don't have that option.
I'd love to hear from anyone who might have clues to any or all of these issues. Not being all that mechanically inclined...at least with transmission and motors...I'll need all the info I can gather before deciding what to do.
Steve
#2
I'm sorry to not give you any better advise than this, but.... You'll drive yourself crazy trying to track down noises, and intermittent problems. The best approach to take in this situation, is to carry a cellphone, and don't worry about it. I have heard of alternators making the battery light come on at high rpms before. Do a search and you might find out what causes it. But the best thing to do, is keep an eye on your ammeter. It is a piece of crap, and hard to read, but if you notice it lower when you switch on lights, or right after you crank it up, then you need a new alternator. Check batt voltage with a multitester. It should be over 13 volts with the engine running.
Don't fret about any of these noises. Check every piece of your steering/ suspension. Check your brakes. Check for loose bolts. Check the exhaust system for leaks. Aside from all of those, there's nothing much else you can do. If you have engine or trans problems, what are you gonna do? You can't fix it until it breaks.
My truck started ticking (lifter tick) at around 120,000 miles. I freaked out, trying to figure out exactly what it was, and how to fix it. My dad told me to leave it alone, and it probably won't ever bother you. Well I have almost 200,000 miles on it now, and it still ticks on occasion. But it hasn't let me down yet. Generally speaking, you can't (or shouldn't) fix it until it breaks. That's not true for suspension/steering/breaking components. You need to actively search for problems there, and don't let them slide. Other than that, just let it ride!
EDIT: I'm not familiar with the 4X4 systems on f150's, but after re-reading your post, I may have an answer to #6... It could be a stripped hub key. In many vehicles, they have a toothed "key" that is designed to strip out under extreme circumstances to prevent damage to 4X4 components. If this has stripped out, the 4X4 WILL engage, but not operate properly. It could also make some unpleasant noises. Again, I'm not entirely familiar with the EXACT components of an f150's 4X4, but I imagine that it has some device that would either strip or slip to help prevent 4X4 damage. Jack up your truck's front end. Crank the engine, and engage the 4X4. Turn both of the front tires and see what happens. Let one wheel down to the ground, and try to turn the one in the air. This will test whether or not the "thing" I was talking about is ok.
For #1, check the pcv hose where it meets the intake manifold. There is a rubber elbow there, that is prone to rotting.
For #2, replace the pcv valve. They will make a drone buzzing sound when they get worn out.
For #3, could be a CV joint or related to the 4X4 stripped spline possibility.
Don't fret about any of these noises. Check every piece of your steering/ suspension. Check your brakes. Check for loose bolts. Check the exhaust system for leaks. Aside from all of those, there's nothing much else you can do. If you have engine or trans problems, what are you gonna do? You can't fix it until it breaks.
My truck started ticking (lifter tick) at around 120,000 miles. I freaked out, trying to figure out exactly what it was, and how to fix it. My dad told me to leave it alone, and it probably won't ever bother you. Well I have almost 200,000 miles on it now, and it still ticks on occasion. But it hasn't let me down yet. Generally speaking, you can't (or shouldn't) fix it until it breaks. That's not true for suspension/steering/breaking components. You need to actively search for problems there, and don't let them slide. Other than that, just let it ride!
EDIT: I'm not familiar with the 4X4 systems on f150's, but after re-reading your post, I may have an answer to #6... It could be a stripped hub key. In many vehicles, they have a toothed "key" that is designed to strip out under extreme circumstances to prevent damage to 4X4 components. If this has stripped out, the 4X4 WILL engage, but not operate properly. It could also make some unpleasant noises. Again, I'm not entirely familiar with the EXACT components of an f150's 4X4, but I imagine that it has some device that would either strip or slip to help prevent 4X4 damage. Jack up your truck's front end. Crank the engine, and engage the 4X4. Turn both of the front tires and see what happens. Let one wheel down to the ground, and try to turn the one in the air. This will test whether or not the "thing" I was talking about is ok.
For #1, check the pcv hose where it meets the intake manifold. There is a rubber elbow there, that is prone to rotting.
For #2, replace the pcv valve. They will make a drone buzzing sound when they get worn out.
For #3, could be a CV joint or related to the 4X4 stripped spline possibility.
Last edited by chester8420; 01-26-2007 at 11:07 AM.
#3
Some further info...
Well the truck was in for an oil change on Saturday. The random clunkinig sound may have a possible cause: 2 broken muffler clamps. I'll drive it and see if I hear a re-occurance.
Something interesting about the Ruuuuuuuuuuuurrrr...sound that happens at startup(I may have posted elsewhere on this).
At -30 C this morning, even plugged in, the truck (with fresh synthetic oil) wasn't exactly happy to turn over. The starting sound ( Ruuuuuuuuuuurrrr). was exceptionally longer. Before it died away I gently moved the steering wheel to the right and left. This immediately affected the pitch of the noise. This would support what my mechanic said... that in the cold weather, the power steering fuild thickens and some temporary cavitation may occur. So I'll go with power steering poump for $1000, Alex...
Something interesting about the Ruuuuuuuuuuuurrrr...sound that happens at startup(I may have posted elsewhere on this).
At -30 C this morning, even plugged in, the truck (with fresh synthetic oil) wasn't exactly happy to turn over. The starting sound ( Ruuuuuuuuuuurrrr). was exceptionally longer. Before it died away I gently moved the steering wheel to the right and left. This immediately affected the pitch of the noise. This would support what my mechanic said... that in the cold weather, the power steering fuild thickens and some temporary cavitation may occur. So I'll go with power steering poump for $1000, Alex...
#4
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For #1 have the vacuum lines checked. There is a reservoir behind the battery that could be leaking. The buzzing could be a vacuum leak at the connector for the heater vacuum controls. If you have a vacuum leak your front axle will not fully engage and that will cause the grinding sound. When you slow down to a stop you unload the front axle and the clunk that you hear is the axle fully engaging. That might explain number 6. There is no special part that is made to fail in your model F-150 to save the rest of 4x4 system. If your battery light came on it is a sign of pending failure. Have the battery and alternator tested.
When you remove an engine you have to disconnect every thing that attaches to the engine. That includes vacuum lines, electrical connectors power steering pumps. Your power steering pump may need to be bleed. When the engine is warmed up turn the wheel all the way to the right but do not hold against the stops for more than a second. Then turn it all the way to the left but do not hold against the stops for more than a second. Repeat this a few times and that should purge any air out of the pump.
JMC
When you remove an engine you have to disconnect every thing that attaches to the engine. That includes vacuum lines, electrical connectors power steering pumps. Your power steering pump may need to be bleed. When the engine is warmed up turn the wheel all the way to the right but do not hold against the stops for more than a second. Then turn it all the way to the left but do not hold against the stops for more than a second. Repeat this a few times and that should purge any air out of the pump.
JMC