2004 F150 FX4 drivetrain whine

Gknowmx · 06-30-2009, 08:21 PM

Hi,

In the last month I have started to notice a whining noise. I can't hear it in the cap with the radio on or the air conditioning running. It starts as I accelerate from 15 mph up to about 50 mph, then the whine disappears. It reappears on deceleration. Here is a video I made. Any ideas what this could be? Truck seems to run fine except this noise. It has 90,000 on it.

YouTube - 2004 F150 drivetrain whine

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

bradrhale · 07-01-2009, 06:53 AM

wow, everyones ford is whinning here lately. sure hope it isnt a trend.
i dont have access to youtube at work so ill have to wait to listen to the vid. hae you checked the ujoints yet??

leolkfrm · 07-01-2009, 12:05 PM

I think i'd start by pulling the driveshaft, and checking the joints. Sounds like the start of one going bad.

Gknowmx · 07-01-2009, 07:44 PM

Thanks guys. I got some time off for the next few days so I start isolating things. I am concerned that this may be a transmission/torque converter issue. I started from a stop in neutral and coasted down hill (got up over 55 mph) and I get the same whine. I was thinking that if the whine disappeared in neutral but going through the same speed range that that it might have pointed to the transmission. But, I still get the same whine. U-joints still seems a good bet. I was also wondering about a rear pinion bearing perhaps. But, would that whine disappear at increased speed and load as it does if it was a pinion bearing?

Again thanks for the input. I hope to isolate some of these issues starting tomorrow.

bradrhale · 07-01-2009, 07:49 PM

if it does it not under load as well, than u joints may not be the problem. check them out still but you might also lift each rear tire and evaluate for any play in a wheel bearing.

eponator · 07-02-2009, 05:58 PM

If it were a bearing then I imagine the whine would only continue to get worse as speed was increased not dissapear at a certain point.

I would definitely check those U joints out, they tend to be the ones that cause sounds at certain ranges of speed due to them comming into and out of balance depending on the rate of rotation. Just my .02

Gknowmx · 07-02-2009, 08:24 PM

Yeah, I was thinking that if it was a bearing that the whine shouldn't go away.

I stopped into the local transmission shop and took a spin with their lead mechanic. The whine disappears at the same time the torque converter locks up. If the TC doesn't lock up the whine can be heard all the way up to 70+ mph and well over 2000 rpm. Guy thinks it could be in the planetary gears or the TC pump. I asked him if he thought it could be the U-joints. He seemed confident it wasn't. I had the transmission flushed and new fluid put in a couple of months ago. He wondered if they used the right fluid, (Mercon 5) or something cheaper that might have damaged the tranny. I called the other shop that did the work and they made it clear that they used Mercon 5. But, they didn't change the filter. So now I am wondering if the filter could be plugged after the flush? Perhaps the fluid flow is low causing the pump to whine? Local tranny guy thought it could be a possibility but more likely that the whine is due to start of damage and would like to open it up to take a look.

So, back to the whine disappearing when the TC locks up. If this is the case, is it just that the drop in rpm could affect the balance and vibrations of planetary gears the same way it does U-joints.

Can I disconnect the driveshaft and listen to the tranny separte? But then would one argue that the load of the driveshaft would affect the tranny? Also being a 2004 F150 FX4, I am guessing that my U-joints are not going to be easy to change, perhaps needing a whole new driveshaft?

Again, thanks for all the input guys!

06-30-2009, 08:21 PM	#1
Gknowmx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	2004 F150 FX4 drivetrain whine Hi, In the last month I have started to notice a whining noise. I can't hear it in the cap with the radio on or the air conditioning running. It starts as I accelerate from 15 mph up to about 50 mph, then the whine disappears. It reappears on deceleration. Here is a video I made. Any ideas what this could be? Truck seems to run fine except this noise. It has 90,000 on it. YouTube - 2004 F150 drivetrain whine Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

07-01-2009, 12:05 PM	#3
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,225	I think i'd start by pulling the driveshaft, and checking the joints. Sounds like the start of one going bad. __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

07-02-2009, 05:58 PM	#6
eponator Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: West Covina, Ca Posts: 234	If it were a bearing then I imagine the whine would only continue to get worse as speed was increased not dissapear at a certain point. I would definitely check those U joints out, they tend to be the ones that cause sounds at certain ranges of speed due to them comming into and out of balance depending on the rate of rotation. Just my .02 __________________ '99 F350 5.4L crewcab Longbed

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
2004 Ford F150 or 2004 Nissan Titan	Ktm.Moto	General Truck Forum	7	04-30-2008 06:26 PM
Dakota rear whine.	greasemonkey	Dodge Truck Forum	3	04-24-2008 01:26 PM
2004 "gear whine" when in 4wd....???????	jodaanja	Chevy Truck Forum	3	03-31-2008 04:01 AM
2004 Ford F150 or 2004 Nissan Titan	Ktm.Moto	Ford Truck Forum	4	02-28-2008 08:31 PM
2004 Ford F150 or 2004 Nissan Titan	Ktm.Moto	Nissan Truck Forum	0	02-17-2008 10:14 AM

07-01-2009, 06:53 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	wow, everyones ford is whinning here lately. sure hope it isnt a trend. i dont have access to youtube at work so ill have to wait to listen to the vid. hae you checked the ujoints yet??

07-01-2009, 07:44 PM	#4
Gknowmx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks guys. I got some time off for the next few days so I start isolating things. I am concerned that this may be a transmission/torque converter issue. I started from a stop in neutral and coasted down hill (got up over 55 mph) and I get the same whine. I was thinking that if the whine disappeared in neutral but going through the same speed range that that it might have pointed to the transmission. But, I still get the same whine. U-joints still seems a good bet. I was also wondering about a rear pinion bearing perhaps. But, would that whine disappear at increased speed and load as it does if it was a pinion bearing? Again thanks for the input. I hope to isolate some of these issues starting tomorrow.

07-01-2009, 07:49 PM	#5
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	if it does it not under load as well, than u joints may not be the problem. check them out still but you might also lift each rear tire and evaluate for any play in a wheel bearing.

07-02-2009, 08:24 PM	#7
Gknowmx Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Yeah, I was thinking that if it was a bearing that the whine shouldn't go away. I stopped into the local transmission shop and took a spin with their lead mechanic. The whine disappears at the same time the torque converter locks up. If the TC doesn't lock up the whine can be heard all the way up to 70+ mph and well over 2000 rpm. Guy thinks it could be in the planetary gears or the TC pump. I asked him if he thought it could be the U-joints. He seemed confident it wasn't. I had the transmission flushed and new fluid put in a couple of months ago. He wondered if they used the right fluid, (Mercon 5) or something cheaper that might have damaged the tranny. I called the other shop that did the work and they made it clear that they used Mercon 5. But, they didn't change the filter. So now I am wondering if the filter could be plugged after the flush? Perhaps the fluid flow is low causing the pump to whine? Local tranny guy thought it could be a possibility but more likely that the whine is due to start of damage and would like to open it up to take a look. So, back to the whine disappearing when the TC locks up. If this is the case, is it just that the drop in rpm could affect the balance and vibrations of planetary gears the same way it does U-joints. Can I disconnect the driveshaft and listen to the tranny separte? But then would one argue that the load of the driveshaft would affect the tranny? Also being a 2004 F150 FX4, I am guessing that my U-joints are not going to be easy to change, perhaps needing a whole new driveshaft? Again, thanks for all the input guys!