Possible engine noise?? Any thoughts?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Have an 04 MM, no engine mods just yet and I seem to have been noticing an engine whine or whir while driving..Kind of like a blower whine, It changes with engine speed as one steps on gas or lifts off gas. I don't have a CAI. Car seems to run fine though. The only recent mod I did was change out the factory radio for an Audiophile unit. The sound sort of resembles the engine/alternator sound that would feedback thru car speakers after a stereo install in the old days. Anyone remember that sound? However, I still hear it with the stero off and not just volume turned down and it doesn't sound like it is coming from the speakers.

I don't drive the car everyday, but still several times a week. is this the normal DOHC engine sound or possibly something else ..trans???? It doesn;t sound like noise comes from lower console area.

Thanks for any leads!

[RF Overlord]

No offence, but your description is WAY to vague to be of any use. Whining and whirring are two very different sounds, but regardless you need to localise the sound more accurately. You say you hear it inside the car...do you hear it outside? front of car, back of car? only while the car is moving?

[Blackened300a]

The belt tensionors and idler pulleys are common culprits with these noises. Try popping the belt off and see if the noise goes away.

Otherwise take a video of the noise to help figure it out.

[guspech750]

Maybe trans whine??


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[RubberCtyRauder]

I will try to investigate a little further and try to isolate it a little more, take off the belt to see if it goes away..maybe it is tensioner, idler or alternator and report back with additional info.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Up date: Took belt off, started up for a second..no noise that I had been hearing. So spun the pullies by hand..felt a little gritty sort of, not smooth like a sealed bearing should be. So replaced the idler pullies and the tensioner..All is good and smooth now. Thanks for the early pointers as it found the culprit.

[bolsen]

my car is doing the same thing right now. where did you get the parts for replacement? how much was it?

[MyBlackBeasts]

The belt tensionors and idler pulleys are common culprits with these noises. Try popping the belt off and see if the noise goes away.

Otherwise take a video of the noise to help figure it out.


^^^^^ What he said! Belt tensionors and idler pulley bearings - 1st thing to check and most common cause of the noise you describe. Pull belt & spin by hand. A bad one is most obvious!!! :D

[Richy04]

I picked up Dayco Pullies and tensioner from FLAPS, one I had to get from the dealer and it wasn't shown in the book but it was the same for the GM. The whole shebang came to about 90 bucks or less.

Order those on line thru Advance for store pickup and apply P20 as the code and they will take 20 percent off. Then go to Ford for the one you can't get at Advanced. If you access the site thru google, there will be a discount for ordering on line, then place the item in your cart, then apply the P20 code and it will discount it further. It's almost like shoplifting the stuff it gets so cheap..:P I have them in the car for about two years, the Dayco's make no noise whatsoever.. Replace the belt too, cheap insurance.

[RubberCtyRauder]

my car is doing the same thing right now. where did you get the parts for replacement? how much was it?


I got the tensioner from a local Ford dealer..It was about $70 or $80, but they didn't have the idler pullies in stock and it was a Sat. afternoon so I went to Oreilly and got Gates brand idler pullies which were under $20 each. It's your call if you want OEM Ford brand or aftermarket.. The Gates tensioner was nearly half the cost of Ford..around $39. I wouldn't have any problem using Gates or Dayco tensioner or pullies if I hadn't already gotten the tensioner.

[fastblackmerc]

Belt Tensioner:
Dayco – 305291
Goodyear – 49293

Idler Pulleys:
Dayco (smooth) - 89007
FoMoCo (ribbed) - YW7Z-8678-AA

Belts:
Serpentine (NAPA) – PBH4060923 - stock
Gatorback (Goodyear) – 4060922 - stock