I have a 1992 Ford ranger extended cab with a V6 engine that I was only planning to keep a few more months before I moved into a new province (I cannot get it safetied there).

It has started making a strange noise that I do not want to invest a fix in (what with it getting junked soon and all).

It started with a loud squeal/whine that was not unlike what you might expect if a belt was wet. The whine sound went away, and then came back much quieter a week or 2 later, and was accompanied by a metallic rattling sound that seems to be coming from the rear of the vehicle. I kind of suspect the differential as the sound seems to go away if I press down or let off of the gas, and it will not make that sound at all if I am not pushing down on the gas, and because it is coming from behind me.

I guess my question is if anyone has a good idea of what that might be, and if it is something I can put off for a month or 2 if I am not driving it more than once a week.

Kyle

 

Sound is coming from the rear? I would say it's your rear end. If it is and sounds like it is you have limited time before it fails completely.

 

Ya, the brakes are fine (they were done just a month ago and there was a full vehicle inspection with a full clean bill of health)
I was speaking to someone who suggested that I look at the CV joints

 

Wirelessly posted

Extremely heated and worn bearings. Check the fluid level. Change the fluid like 20$

 

I just bit the bullet and took it in. The fluid levels are all clean and fine. The bearings are all fine. The CV joints are fine. And the differential is fine. They could not find the source of the sound as it only makes it while driving and not while parked in the shop.

I am not getting charged for it and am getting my truck back today.
I still have no idea as to the source of the sound.

 

sounds like a STUPID TECH take it to a REAL shop where they actually take the truck out for a test drive so they can hear the sound and determine the problem then fix it.

 

He said that they have been taking it out for ten minutes at a time, once or twice a day, since Tuesday, and do not know what else to do. Apparently it stopped making the sound at all on the second day. I am getting it later today, so we will see if he is right.

 

Dry u-joint or two.
Pull the drive shaft and change them .

 

U-Joints and drive shaft were all replaced 6 months ago.
Got the truck back from the shop, and they could not find the location of the sound :S