Annoying Idle sound! Please Help

[beavis195]

Okay, whenever I idle my engine, it makes a sound that almost sounds like a faint grinding noise, but nothing is grinding (I hope). It is almost as bad inside the car as it is outside. The sound is like a pattern that repeats itself. When I take people places, they tell me my engine is running like crap. The car drives excellent when in drive, but what could be causing this, should I clean the MAF? Or is something else the problem? Anyone have any ideas about the transmission post I posted about a week ago? Won't someone please help out a 16 year old kid on that one, anything please! It's pissing me off!

 

[n2knee]

Mine had a whirring noise. The problem was the idler pulley.

 

[beavis195]

Where is the idler pulley, and did you have to get a new one, or is it something you can service? When I took it to the dealership to get the earlier transmission problem fixed, it came back with 2 new sounds. One sounded like a whirrling noise. So I took it back until they got it right. But this sound I didn't notice. Oh well, that post is
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=20795 about the earlier transmission post. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Maniak]

If you have a 4.0 OHV motor (not sure about the OHC), the Idler pully is just under the tension pully.

First thing I would do is check if you are loosing a bearing in a pulley. We had the sound on our Explorer for a while.. I took the belt off and then spun each pulley by hand. I found that the bearings in the Alternator were going bad. Once you know which pully is bad you can either replace it (if possible) or replace the components (like alternator etc)..

Mark

 

[shagg44]

Beavis, i noticed that u have a 94 like myself, mine makes a clanking type sound when i idle sometimes. it sounds like a heat gaurd hitting my exhaust pipe. but i've checked that, and it doesn't seem to be it. basically i'm just trying to compare prob's here. and by the way, where did u get your lighted ford emblem?

 

[beavis195]

well, I got the lumilogos at some auto expo in Salt Lake City. Well, mine doesn't sound like its hitting the exhaust pipe. Why can't our engines just operate without annoying noises. Good luck on finding your problem. I will check the bearings tonight. Let you know how it goes. Thanks

 

[SteveVB]

Heres a shot; try turning your steering wheel may be the power steering pump- they make a sound I would call grating, or grinding noise. It may need fluid or replacement.

I dont know what trans you have but check the fluid could in an Auto, could be a bad converter, or pump.

Just shots in the dark here , very hard to determine what sounds are from descriptions. But anyway good luck.

 

[beavis195]

Isn't it a pain trying to describe noises. The power steering pump was one of the first things I checked, but I replaced the fluid just in case. I found a way to get rid of the noise for about ten miles, though. Disconnect and then reconnect the battery. After the engine adjusts after about eight to ten miles, it comes back. So this is pissing me off even more that I can't find it. Any ideas? Thanks for the replies.