BUmmedic
Member
- Joined
- December 8, 2006
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Rochester, NY
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '03 LTD Centennial Ed. V6
I bought a used 2003 Ford Explorer Limited Centennial with 60-62K miles on it (can't remember exactly) in exquisite condition, and there was never a problem when the weather was warmer, but now that it's gotten colder, I'm starting to notice certain noises on startup or immediately afterwards during the warm-up period.
1. A cracking/crunching/fast clicking noise (hard to describe) coming from the bottom of my radio/fan control console that sounds like fan blades, etc. clicking on startup. This happens as soon as my key hits the ACC setting (before the engine actually kicks over and starts). This happens every time I start up the car (if cold... not if I run an errand and get back out to the lot within a reasonable amount of time), and I started to notice it when the temp started to fall below around 50 degrees.
2. A high-pitched whine (sometimes soft, infrequently loud) that I first noticed a couple days ago while driving in a parking garage shortly after starting the car. Temp was ~ 34 degrees. It came and went several times during the entire 25 minute drive (only really loud once). It happened twice during another drive, and this morning, it happened as soon as the engine kicked on (temp ~ 16 degrees) and lasted about 3 seconds before going away, and I didn't hear it again.
3. This isn't just a cold weather sound, but I have noticed the 50-63ish mph drivetrain humming/whining from the back of the vehicle since I first started listening for it after reading about it in this forum. It's more noticeable after driving for a little while and the car is warmed up, but it's there.
The first two noises are more annoying than anything... the first definitely sounds like a local mechanical issue within the console, but the 2nd and 3rd make me think that something more serious may be going on. I purchased the extended BaseCARE warranty which covers me until 2009 or 96K miles, and am nearing my first scheduled oil change and need to make an appointment for end of Dec or early Jan. I will try to have the mech's look at these issues then, but we all know about noises and the probability of mech's actually hearing them... any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance.
1. A cracking/crunching/fast clicking noise (hard to describe) coming from the bottom of my radio/fan control console that sounds like fan blades, etc. clicking on startup. This happens as soon as my key hits the ACC setting (before the engine actually kicks over and starts). This happens every time I start up the car (if cold... not if I run an errand and get back out to the lot within a reasonable amount of time), and I started to notice it when the temp started to fall below around 50 degrees.
2. A high-pitched whine (sometimes soft, infrequently loud) that I first noticed a couple days ago while driving in a parking garage shortly after starting the car. Temp was ~ 34 degrees. It came and went several times during the entire 25 minute drive (only really loud once). It happened twice during another drive, and this morning, it happened as soon as the engine kicked on (temp ~ 16 degrees) and lasted about 3 seconds before going away, and I didn't hear it again.
3. This isn't just a cold weather sound, but I have noticed the 50-63ish mph drivetrain humming/whining from the back of the vehicle since I first started listening for it after reading about it in this forum. It's more noticeable after driving for a little while and the car is warmed up, but it's there.
The first two noises are more annoying than anything... the first definitely sounds like a local mechanical issue within the console, but the 2nd and 3rd make me think that something more serious may be going on. I purchased the extended BaseCARE warranty which covers me until 2009 or 96K miles, and am nearing my first scheduled oil change and need to make an appointment for end of Dec or early Jan. I will try to have the mech's look at these issues then, but we all know about noises and the probability of mech's actually hearing them... any ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance.
