Well, we are getting about 10-14 inches of snow here today and tomorrow (sorry east coasters, but I'll take it over your expected 15-20 inches - on top of the 20-30 inches you got last week ) So, on the way to work this morning, I put her in 4WD to try it out. Snow covered roadway. Anywhere from 0 to 45 mph. I noticed that the driveline sings. I know that in most of my past trucks, you could hear the driveline turning, but it wasn't noisy or most noticable. This truck sings when you apply some go pedal, but not hammering on it. The harder you get into it, the louder it will get, but only up to a point. It never gets deafening, but the sing is annoying.

So, I am wondering if this is normal on these new ESOF drivelines (never experienced it before in 20+ trucks) or if I have a problem. It grabs and operates fine, but if I was doing some long highway driving, I'd get irritated fast. I'm thinking about exercising the driveline warranty. If it breaks, take it in. If it gets worse, thake it in. Other than that, who knows? A bad bearing in the transfer case? No vibrations. What do you all think? Experiences? I don't care to get stranded in the back country, but it seems to operate fine.

 

Here, I'll just take this opportunity to go ahead and prep you fer the Dealer's response ..

"Yepper, that thar's normal, sir. It's a loooong truck, aight?"

ESOF / non-ESOF- makes no difference....

PS - mine don't sing - it sorta growls, lol

 

Yeah, that's why I figure "Wait 'til it's broken".

Mine sings like... well... Barbara Streisand. More high-pitched, but not a saprano. Still very controlled. I think she had voice, I mean transfer case, lessons.

 

I like that description....mine growls as well. Was just driving it in 4WD last night. No singing.

 

I have a 2009 Lariat with ESOF. The times I have used it this winter, I have not heard a thing from the drive line. I was impressed with how quiet it was. I have had some trouble 'playing' in the snow with this goofy traction control!! But no sounds from the drive line.

 

+1 I haven't noticed any noises from mine. Oh yeah, us East Coasters are expecting another 7-14 from that same storm that hit you.

 

Is the tracton control on or off? Make sure it's turned off and you should be fine.

 

Before this thread gets off subject with yet another traction control debate...

Smokewagun -

Although I wouldn't call it "singing", I definitely hear a quiet type of whine in 4wd, and like you, only hear it when getting on the go pedal.

Mine has done this since new, and just haven't worried about it - works just fine.

 

Thank you. I always remember hearing my Dads old 1979 F-150 in 4WD with that wobbling sound as the front u-joints turned. This is a more-modern sound on my 2010 (I hope ), but the first of ESOF F-150's I've had that is noisy. I'm going to keep running it until I find it is going in for something else, or it fails under warranty. Thanks again.

 

'09 Plat, no noises in 4WD here.

Only noises are those damn creakys inside the cab every time you hit even a small bump, seem to come from driver window/door area, and also from other side of cab, sorta passenger seat/side area. Thought the Plat was supposed to be super quiet - but it ain't. Added another rock chip to the windshield today too, wonderful. It's like fate is telling me I wasn't supposed to buy this one. Frustrating.

 

in the back country seriously where you gonna go?

 

Hey Comet, I feel for you. Remember me last year with my 2008 King Ranch crabbing I was on my FIFTH windshield in like six months?

I have a creak/pop along my windshield and it almost sounds like it's that stupid front plastic cowl below the wipers moving like in the 2007-2008's. I need to check mine. It only does it when really cold and I hit a good bump.

 

I recently took my 2010 back to the dealer and complained of a "screaching / scratching noise" from the transfer case area when in four wheel drive. I've had 7 or 8 Ford 4x4's and never had this much noise in 4WD. Like somebody else mentioned, they said it was normal. So, we'll just drive it until it breaks.

 

Glad to see this post, I was about to take mine in for the "growl" in 4x4. I have had a 2003, 2005, 2007, and none of them were near as noisy in 4x4 as this 2009 is. Guess it is normal, but sure doesn't seem like it should be.