Mystery Noise

[skoorb76]

I have found several examples of my noise on the net, but nobody seems to have found the source.  I don't have an Edge, but a 2014 AWD 3.5 NA Flex... I have found a few Edges with the same noise so looking here.  Squeak/squeal/chirp from the engine/drive/axles/wheels, between 30 and 60 mph, intermittent mostly during the first 15 minutes of driving, for durations of less than a second up to 30-60 seconds of rhythmic squeaking.  Loosely correlated with vehicle speed, the rhythm slows down but the pitch is fairly constant.  Not related to engine rpm.  Anyone have an idea of what this noise is:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuU0RKduDOU

 

Thanks for your input folks

Edited May 19, 2021 by skoorb76
fix link

[enigma-2]

I think I know.

 

I'll bet its your HVAC blower motor. My 09 MKX started that same sound, ignored it, went away, came back, went away, came back, went away. Always ignored it. Then it came back with vengeance. S.Q.U.E.E.KKKKKKK. 

 

Pulled the blower and motor combo (about two minutes) and shot some lub into the bearings. Been two years, still quiet.

[skoorb76]

Thanks, I double checked this... pulled the blower and took it apart, cleaned the brush area (quite dirty), squirted some CLP on the bearings and put back together.  Caught the noise again after, it is definitely not blower motor, definitely outside the car and coming from the front.  Chattering, chirping, rhythmic squeak from under the front of the car.

 

Honestly I am about 80% sure it is the electric fan.  The fan does make a chirp when spinning down.  It doesn't seem quite loud enough to be able to break into this, which seems quite loud.  A bystander would hear it if they were in their yard I think, and probably think I need a belt or brakes.

 

I just can't piece together the whole story of if it is the fan, how does it chirp so intermittently, only at vehicle speed and mostly when warming up?  What is the logic of the fan; from what I can tell it is two speeds.  Is it ever OFF completely?  I could see the wind being a factor influencing the noise of a fan bearing at a low fan speed of if the fan were off.

 

Thoughts?  (Thanks so much for the reply)

 

[skoorb76]

Bumping for video link (my car):
https://youtu.be/jfuDZYjshwk

 

Could it be the fan?  It does have a chirp, but it doesn't make the same sound.  Could this plus the airflow through the fan cause the noise?  
https://youtu.be/r1iCZrZVE34

 

Any input appreciated, thanks!

[enigma-2]

On 5/23/2021 at 7:05 PM, skoorb76 said:

Thoughts?  (Thanks so much for the reply)

Any possibility its the water pump or wheel bearing? Water pump or coolant fan will squeal at idle. Wheel bearing or CV joint only underway. 

 

May have to take it in and run while on hoist to isolate. Whatever it is, is going to get worst in time. 

[enigma-2]

23 hours ago, skoorb76 said:

https://youtu.be/r1iCZrZVE34

Any input appreciated, thanks!

 

Think I'd suspect wheel bearing or brake problem.

Edited May 25, 2021 by enigma-2

[skoorb76]

For anyone who is interested, my trip to the dealer resulted in a new PTU, water pump, and left front axle seal.  None of these things were done expressly for the noise (PTU had been seeping for a little while, axle seal had a leak, and timing cover had a leak).  

For the first few trips to town and back in the car I have not heard the noise yet... so perhaps any of those things, or the process of taking a lot of stuff apart and putting it back together, has fixed it.  Still TBD on that due to the intermittent nature and the limited number of opportunities thus far.

[enigma-2]

That sounded expensive. Hopefully they found it.