Newbie question on '01 AWD Merc.

[1CEBITN]

Hello all, I just purchased a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer a few months back and I love the vehicle. There is one minor annoyance that I wanted to check on though. Whenever I turn the steering wheel almost to the lock in one direction or the other, like when I am parking or pulling through the levels of a parking garage, I hear this groan coming from the front end. It is not the power steering groan/whine you get when doing a full lock turn either. There is no bouncing or slipping that I can feel from the steering wheel and it doesn't make any noise when driving straight or through mild turning maneuvers. I have never owned an AWD vehicle before so my question is: is the noise I am hearing normal AWD noise similar to what you hear with 4WD engaged or is there something going out like the CV or Xfer case?? The car only has 37k on it so I wouldn't expect things to start wearing out yet. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Alec]

I would check the condition of your front drivetrain paying special attention to the CV joints. They may be binding at those times. Of course, it could just be normal steering or AWD movement.

 

[Holty]

1CEBITN

Welcome to the site! You should find answers to all of your questions here.

Now, for the problem at hand. I would say if it is not the usual power steering whine/growl that you are hearing than there maybe something wrong. I would suggest taking it to a shop that has a lift and lift it up enough to get all four wheels off the ground and have somoene turn the wheel lock to lock while it's in the air to try to tell what the noise is. Hope this helps good luck.

 

[LiKuiD]

My AWD Explorer does that too but only when you cut the wheel to its farthest position (left or right). I always figured it was normal b/c it only does it when the wheel is competely turned as far as it would go. Maybe im wrong?

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by LiKuiD
Maybe im wrong?

I don't think so, I think it's pretty normal to hear that slight sound in an awd vehicle.

In every awd vehicle I've driven or been in from a Ruf Porsche to a WRX has always made a slight sound when at a stop and turning the wheel, or when backing out with the wheel turned from a stop. Just the way the front differential is I guess.

By the way we a have an 00' 5.0 2wd Mounty, it rocks

 

[1CEBITN]

Thanks guys, yeah I love the Mounty so far. I will crawl under there tonight and have a look at the CV joints but from what several of you said, it sounds normal. It only does it at each extreme end of the steering spectrum so it sounds like what a few of you described. Thanks for the information and the warm welcome!