Has anyone experienced an intermittent whining noise in there 2004 F150’s. Mine started when it got cold out, in the – 20 F area. It seams like it is tied into the radio, but it still happens when the radio is off. It comes and goes continuously for 2 – 10 seconds and varies in loudness. It seams to be associated with the throttle, when it starts you can alter the sound by increasing or lifting off the pedal. The while is really annoying, even after the truck is well warmed up it continues. I just got back from a 1.5 hour drive and it did it on and off the entire trip.

Anyone else experiencing this annoying problem?

 

By the way you describe it, sounds like it might be the bearings in the alternator. I just bought a 2003 F150 a couple of months ago and have started to notice the same thing, but haven't fully checked it out. But I am suspecting it is the alternator since bearings could likely squeal in extreme cold. And since the alernator speed changes as you rev up the engine, then you would hear a change in the squeal as you press the gas.

 

Is it coming through the speakers? If not you might as well quit reading...


There is a common noise called "alternator whine" that is proportional to engine/alternator speed. It is induced by improper wiring from high current electrical fields coming in contact with stereo wiring.

This is NOT common though with factory stereos, and would most likely only happen if the amplifier portion of the deck was still active even though it would appear to be off...

PS... Might you have resistorless sparkplugs?

 

The noise is definitely coming through the speakers. It is like loud feedback from a mic. It seams to have little connection to speed or acceleration; it does it while cursing with the speed control on. It is cold related though, it warmed up slightly here today in th4e PM and the sound stopped on the drive home.

The Ford service rep said it is just the cold and all vehicles make noise in this weather; well I have had a 98 and 2001 - F 150 5.4 xtra cabs, a 2003 Ram HEMI quad cab(which would destroy this 5.4 liter 3 value joke of an engine Ford has, although the girl friend now likes it that her head or body doesn’t get sucked back into the seat!) and my current FX4 is the only one to utter this extremely annoying sound.

I have to do an oil change next week; I am going to get them to look at the alternator. I will let you guys know what I find out.