So today i noticed a consistant whining noise coming from the front passenger side of the engine, i got up real close and thats where it seemed to be coming from. It kinda sounds like its coming from the alternator but it doesnt seem like an alternator issue as i have experienced no electrical abnormalities at all. i dont beleive its the fan clutch as the sound is lessened, or at least inaudible when im driving. it seems its an idle only issue.

Could this be a belt issue? maybe need lube? any input would be good.

 

could be the AC compressor too but check your belts first

 

Are you sure its not the power steering pump? Fords have a tendancy to whine..

 

My truck sounds super charged. My ps pump is dying, the front bearing has tons of slop in it.

IMHO, take your belt off and inspect it for cracking and wear. While its off wiggle the ps pulley. If it feels loose or wobbles a bit its going bad.

 

well now that u guys mentioned it could be the power steering i guess. the belts are brand new, and im sure the pulleys are ok, but ill check it out.

AC works fine, i dont use it much but when i do, its completely normal....

is this a common early warning sign for power steering failure? if the fluid is ok what should i do?

 

Ford is well known for a whiny power steering pump.

If your pulley feels tight, then flush the fluid and add synthetic. I had good luck with that in the past. Now with 150k a ps pump sounds like general maintenance item. Starter went last winter so its due i guess.

 

kk that sounds good. any recommended synthetic ps fluid?

 

Is the noise coming from the airbox? Vacuum line loose or leaking.

 

ok i checked the pulley, it was ok, belts brand new and tight. PS fluid looks brand new, and there was no leak.

I started the truck this morning and let it idle for 5 min, and i never heard the sound. is it possible i was using the truck alot yesterday so it would only happen under heavy use?

 

i went for a drive just now and the whining came back. when i first started the car it wasnt there. it seems after a drive it comes back, but also, i got up in the bay and found that the whine is definately coming from the top of the engine, near the intake manifold top.

could this be injector noise, or valvetrain noise? its like an electrical or mechanical consistant whine, like something doing alot of revolutions almost....

 

EUREKA!!!!!!

i found the issue guys, it was none of the above actually. it was so much simpler.

one of the L shaped rubber hoses on top of the intake manifold, the thicker one right below the top of the top radiator hose. the hot radiator hose was resting RIGHT on top of the air line, and thus after 120k miles, it melted the rubber, so much so that it felt like a sheet of rubber paper compared to a normal stiff line. anyway, the soft rubber was getting suctioned together and thus, the whining sound.

so happy its such an easy fix.

 

Thats the problem with trying find issues over the internet. Its so hard to trace a noise like that. The power steering pump is a noise maker, if not now later.

Glad to hear you found the issue.

 

x2
And that L shaped thing is known to break.

 

yeah, im not suprised, its a terrible design. i wraped both things in some heatwrap and kinda ziptied the rad hose a bit above the L line just to keep air flow. hopefully it wont happen again.