Car at dealer and they are stumped at this problem.

[Blackened300a]

I brought my car in for service Monday for a few minor problems such as the infamous wiper issue. My wipers would not only come on when they felt like it but they also came on when the car was completely off and parked! :confused:
This also led to my headlights flickering and eventually just staying on all the time no matter what position the switch was in.
I had a window switch issue on the the drivers side door where the window would stop and start again as I was rolling it up, I also had them work on taking care of my hood squeak. but my latest issue which was bothering me the most was this mystery sound when I started up the car on a cold morning.
It sounded to me like the starter was hanging up and not retracting the gear fast enough that it made like a winding/grinding noise.
After the car was warmed up it wouldn't make the noise if I shut it down and restarted it. Sometimes if the temperature wasnt below freezing, it wouldnt make the sound either.

Today I get a call and they tell me that they recieved all the parts and that my car is ready to be picked up. (Yes next day service! This is the greatest Ford Dealership in NY IMHO)

Heres the results...
For the Wiper issue, they replaced the Wiper Motor
For my headlights, they replaced the Lighting Control Module.
For the window, They replaced the entire switch which also repaired my light that was out on the switch itself.
For the Hood squeak, they basically lubed up the hood stops and hinges. Im not sure how long that will last but Ill manage.
For the mystery noise, They claimed that its a normal noise and its the result of the oil not making it up to the top of the head so it will cause the noise. They also told me that they had the car outside for 3 hours and started it up but didnt hear anything. They stressed that it was the normal sound of a cold start.
OK fine, I get my keys and my paper work, go out to the car, hit the key and bingo, theres the noise!
I walk back in grab a tech and have him listen for himself. As the usual story goes, Once you have a problem with a car, it never shows up for the mechanic trying to fix it. Well lucky for me, it made the noise and he had a puzzled look on his face when he heard it. I started it up 4 times and it made the sound each time. He claimed hat it looks like the belt tensioner is making the noise and that some lube on the belt would take care of it.
I didnt agree but he was willing to try his suggestion out so didnt argue. After putting the grease on the belt, I hit the key and still have the noise.
After 8 starts and stops he was stumped and told me to leave the car another day, it needs to be put on the lift so we can see what we are dealing with.

Heres a crappy video of the sound. After 2 start and stops, the engine got a bit flooded and that was the reason for the hard 3rd start. After the engine fires you'll hear the sound.

Click the pic for the clip.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/th_DSCN0544.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/?action=view&current=DSCN0544.flv)</EMBED>

[Bluerauder]

For the Hood squeak, they basically lubed up the hood stops and hinges. Im not sure how long that will last but Ill manage.
For the mystery noise, They claimed that its a normal noise and its the result of the oil not making it up to the top of the head so it will cause the noise.
I finally settled on using FORD Expedition hood bumpers/isolators to correct the hood squeak. Seems to be working pretty good for the past month or so.

As to the mystery noise, it is kinda hard to pick out the noise with the quick starts and the dayum Ding, Ding, Ding going off. The first one briefly sounded like belt slip. I think that N40GL recently had his idler pulley freeze up on his MM. It eventually melted the plastic pulley with the belt sliding over it. Have them check the idler pulley just to be on the safe side.

[cyclopsram]

Starter drive slow to return..? Ny 99 CV has a little ding ding issue after I release the key... RAM

[Zack]

I finally settled on using FORD Expedition hood bumpers/isolators to correct the hood squeak. Seems to be working pretty good for the past month or so.

As to the mystery noise, it is kinda hard to pick out the noise with the quick starts and the dayum Ding, Ding, Ding going off. The first one briefly sounded like belt slip. I think that N40GL recently had his idler pulley freeze up on his MM. It eventually melted the plastic pulley with the belt sliding over it. Have them check the idler pulley just to be on the safe side.

He had a plastic idler because thats what Vortech supplies in their kit.
No ford idler is plastic.
Sounded like the starter clutch to me.

[Blackened300a]

If it was the idler pulley, Would it matter if it was a hot or cold start?
I changed the belt tensioner only 10K miles ago and the belt was changed 4k miles ago.
Im thinking that the issue is within the starter.
I wish I had a better clip then that one.

[Bigdogjim]

Welcome to the light and wiper club:)

Good luck with the other.

[Drock96Marquis]

I'd suspect the starter. Have it addressed before it chews up your flywheel.

[MENINBLK]

Sounds like your starter is not retracting the Bendix gear after it is de-energized.
This is usually caused by the return spring being broken.
There is a solenoid that gets energized when the starter is energized
and it uses an arm to throw out the bendix gear to mate with your flywheel.
When you return the key to ON, the starter is grounded and the bendix is supposed to retract
with the pressure that the return spring supplies to the opposite side of the arm.

FORD and BROKEN SPRINGS have a LONG HISTORY........

[jabo731]

Definately the starter, Paul what dealer do you use?

[Dragcity]

That is a familiar noise, since I got my Wife an auto starter for her car. If she turns the key too far forward after it's already started, BINGO, same noise.

I believe it to be the starter gear also....

[Pops]

Hey Dragcity you should have a antigrind circuit on your remote starter. we put one on all are installs so you CAN NOT engage the starter when you get in the car. If you want to know more about this send me a PM and I will have my installer explain how to do this.

[Blackened300a]

Well The results are in. Turns out they found the issue .
Now to test the collective on to what the sound was...

Heres a hint, It wasnt the starter and nothing electric.

[Mike Poore]

It was the dinger echo which went away when you closed the door, and hooked up your belt, right? Or, the muffler belt......:D

[jabo731]

Loose bolt on the tensioner?

[MENINBLK]

Your serpentine belt was installed backwards.

[Peter]

Key?....Hey it happened to me:(

[cyclopsram]

hood squeak?

[shawn744]

funny thing....i had all these problems...as for the hood sqeak... the only thing that made mine like 80% better is unscrewing those rubber adjustments to the point where the damn hood doesn't line up with the rest of the front end....which sucks major but at least it made the hood squeak better...

And about my wipers, check this out...they would first not work unless they were on the highest setting. And i would get the auto sensing headlights coming on by itself whenever it wanted no matter what position the headlight switch was in. After a few weeks it all corrected itself and i never had problems again. The only thing that i dont have right now is the auto headlights on when i turn my wipers...which i hate anyway...sorry for the long post but i just wanted to let u guys know about MY wiper story.

About what Bluerauder said about using expedition bumpers im assuming those are the rubber adjustment things on the corners of the hood....those will fit our cars?...

[03SILVERSTREAK]

One of the gears on the flywheel was missing...

[Sharky]

funny thing....i had all these problems...as for the hood sqeak... the only thing that made mine like 80% better is unscrewing those rubber adjustments to the point where the damn hood doesn't line up with the rest of the front end....which sucks major but at least it made the hood squeak better...

About what Bluerauder said about using expedition bumpers im assuming those are the rubber adjustment things on the corners of the hood....those will fit our cars?...

The part numbers are in this post (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=376052&postcount=53) and a pic is in this post (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showpost.php?p=364732&postcount=12). Thanks again to silver2004Marauder and STLR FN and all the other contributors to that thread for their help in solving a very frustrating problem. I bought a pair of the '95 GM hood isolators and it worked like a charm. :beer:

One thing I have found, however, is that if you unscrew the hood bumpers too far the squeak gets worse. With a little trial and error you can find the sweet spot where there is no squeak at all.

[Blackened300a]

Actually they said that the convertor shield was loose and bent that it sometimes would hit the starter gear.
Im not 100% sure, Im relaying what was said to me on the phone but Ill put the car on the lift to see exactly what they are talking about.
I dont plan on picking the car up until this snow passes anyway.

[OneBADLsE]

Paul,

I got the same problem now with the GM. My headlights are always on now, and the wipers work when they want to (noisy as hell might i add). Last night when i got called into work (yeah i know, wtf's that all about?), so while i was driving, obviously i wanted to use the wipers. They were completely stuck in the ''on'' position (2002 and prior you will remember they stay up when on). The arms were completely frozen!!! The relay had actually shut itself down i'm assuming from overheating the circuit. So, now ever since last night, they work when they want.

Ah, who the hell knows anymore - Ford and their better ideas...

[Blackened300a]

Actually they said that the convertor shield was loose and bent that it sometimes would hit the starter gear.
Im not 100% sure, Im relaying what was said to me on the phone but Ill put the car on the lift to see exactly what they are talking about.
I dont plan on picking the car up until this snow passes anyway.

Correction, Turns out after they repaired the shield and a muffler hanger they put the car down , hit the key and the noise came back.
Finally after being stubborn all this time, they replaced the starter and all is well once again.
Now it turns over so fast I can get the engine running within one rotation.

[Bluerauder]

About what Bluerauder said about using expedition bumpers im assuming those are the rubber adjustment things on the corners of the hood....those will fit our cars?...
Yep, they work. They are the little rubber wedges that fit into the slots on both sides where the hood comes down and meets the fender/quarter panel. I used the ones for the Navigator/Expedition. So far, so good. :D

Ford Part Number -N804384-S (comes in a package of two for $8.40).

[magindat]

Yep, they work. They are the little rubber wedges that fit into the slots on both sides where the hood comes down and meets the fender/quarter panel. I used the ones for the Navigator/Expedition. So far, so good. :D

Ford Part Number -N804384-S (comes in a package of two for $8.40).

Just got mines from the local LM dealer. Work perfect.

[fastblackmerc]

I installed mine about 6 months ago. No squeaks since then.

[Marauderman]

I installed mine about 6 months ago. No squeaks since then.

squeaks.......???? mine wistles.......if there is a squeak out there somewhere....it better be louder .....cause my whistle is more hungry than any squeak........