Not too sure if this is suspension or engine/tranny related so I put this in here. I've owned this 2005 model for about two weeks now and Friday something strange happened to it. This is an Edge model 4x4 truck with the 4.0l engine and automatic tranny in it, with just over 14,000 miles on it. My wife and I were leaving to go into town Friday, we got in and I started the truck. While it was still sitting there, in Park and we had both doors closed I suddenly heard a "grinding" noise. It only lasted a second, and I wasn't even sure if it was my truck or not as I park it in the street and there was another vehicle driving by. We went to several places in town and it never did it again when I restarted it. The best way I can think of describing the noise is this, if you've ever put your vehicle into park before it has completely stopped, the tranny will make a grinding, clicking noise. That's what it sounded like. Since it never did it again, I assumed it was the other vehicle.

Well, Saturday, I went out and washed my wife's car, afterward I took the truck and moved it into the driveway to wash it and it did it again. I started the truck, it was still in park, and it made the same noise. I did not notice any change in engine RPM or anything else. It happened so quickly I couldn't even get an idea where it came from. Today, my wife and I needed to go into town again, so this time when I started it up, both my wife and I were standing outside the truck by the doors. Sure enough, it did it again and we both thought it sounded like it was in the lower part of the front half of the truck, somewhere in the engine, tranny area. Tomorrow, when I leave to go to work, I am going to pop the hood and have my wife start it while I'm in the front.

The thing is, after it does it that initial time, it never does it again. Today, we must have made 4 or 5 different stops and it never did it when I started the truck. I do not see any change in RPM when it happens, or afterwards. I checked the usual fluid levels and everything seems fine. I got my crawler out and rolled under the truck and I don't see anything obvious wrong with it. Anybody ever have something similar? I've not checked to see if the 4 wheel drive actually works or not. I know putting the switch into high 4 and low 4 and the light does come on, but I don't hear any kind of clunk or anything. What's the easiest way to check and see if it is working. Just get on a dirt road and floor it in 4 wheel drive and see if all 4 wheels spin, or is there an easier way? Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it, thanks.

 

I think i know what your talking about. To me it sounds like either a pulley, probably a/c, or the timechain. I kind of freaked out about it when i first got my truck but i'm so used to it i barely notice it now. I know even the new ones fresh off the carrier do it too.

 

try it with the a/c-heater off. it may be freon, in liquid form, getting into the a/c compressor. if no noise that is it. its normal/nothing can be done

 

Im no mechanic, but could it be the starter? I know my ol' tbird used to make a grinding noise everyonce and a while when i started it.. Ended up being the starter... Just a thought

 

that sounds about right,maybe the starter is sticking,idk

 

It sounds like the bindex on the starter is sticking on the first start up this happened on our tractor once .

 

You may be on to something there, the last couple of days I've made sure to have the switch in a position where the compressor is not cycling, and it hasn't re-occurred yet. I had suspected the starter myself, but if it was the starter, wouldn't I hear the noise from the time I released the key after starting it until such time as the gear is retracted? When this is happening, it's usually a couple of seconds, like 30 or so, after the truck has been started when it makes the noise.