Squeaking noises from back of engine - SOLVED

[08EddieCA]

That is very interesting. I know I have an exhaust leak on the passenger side. I have the ticking on start up but goes away after about 30 seconds. Never thought that noise would come from the exhaust. Any idea what troubleshooting procedures they did to diagnose the exhaust issues making that noise?

Try your local muffler shop. I know I missed the crack in the pipe due to where the crack was located. They spotted the issue with the exhaust manifold stud too. Unless you can safely get yourself under the truck while it's running... but I did that a number of times and never could pinpoint anything. Ears play tricks on you too.

 

[08EddieCA]

Very happy you got it fixed without yanking the trans! After hearing the video I would have also thought torque converter

Roger that!!! I seriously thought it was the TC based on the sound. Quite surprised it was a cracked exhaust pipe. The video provided by EAukland was so similar to how my engine sounded toward the back of the engine bay.

 

[EAuckland]

08EddieCA,
Eddie is a good name, mine too! So, where in the exhaust was the crack? Did they replace the whole thing, or just the manifold? I know I have a broken stud on the manifold causing the ticking at start up, but the squeaking noise doesn't come until after it's hot and been driven a good bit.

 

[08EddieCA]

Great name!
Cracked behind the driver side cat. The manifold stud was broken on the driver side too.
I bought the truck at a dealer wholesale auction in PA. Truck spent first three years as part of a fleet in NJ. The exhaust is very rusted. I wanted to replace the exhaust entirely but Rockauto doesn't have a cat that can be mailed to CA due to smog regulations.

 

[Explorer_PL]

EAucland -

so your problem is still there - correct ?

Eddie's was fixed with the exhaust manifold repair.
Your sound like TC, I had an exhaust leak on my v8 and it was just the ticking noise for the first 30 seconds or so.

The noise from you google doc sounds like TC or some type of bearing unfortunately.

I just wanted to clarify since we diverted from your original question.

 

[EAuckland]

Explorer_PL,

Yes, my problem is still there. I, like the rest, was thinking the noise is TC, however when Eddie came back with his update he stated his transmission shop diagnosed that same noise as an exhaust issue and sent it over the exhaust shop. After the exhaust shop fixed it, noise is gone.

I've never had a TC fail on any car I've had, however I do know that I have a broken exhaust stud. So, I'm thinking it's more likely that squeaking noise could have something to do with the exhaust since I know there is something broken on it. I do agree with you though as that sound from my video sounds just like some kind of bearing failure.

 

[Explorer_PL]

I had broken studs on my v8 and there is my post somewhere how I replaced both side manifolds..

I also have a thread somewhere since my TC failed at 200k, basically it locked up and my engine was always in gear with the transmission, and it would try to stall the motor while on a red light and in gear.
I replaced the whole motor thinking that was an issue while it was just TC all along.

But the noises were very different.

 

[EAuckland]

I have 0 symptoms of a TC failure. Eddie said his explorer was making the same noise as mine after having a new TC installed after about 100 miles. Took it back to the shop and turns out it was an exhaust issue. I'm just wondering how they figured out that noise was an exhaust issue.

 

[EAuckland]

Also, since I've never had a TC issue, what other signs or symptoms would there be with a TC failure? I have no shifting issues at all, everything is still silky smooth. No hesitation in downshifting, or upshifting. When stopped there is no stalling, or rough idle at all. Anything else I could look for? Or could notice?

 

[EAuckland]

UPDATE!!! - SOLVED

So, took it over to the tranny shop this morning. After about 40 minutes of looking all over, and calling in 3 other mechanics, one of them pulled the oil cap off. There was a huge rush of air, and the noise was gone. Put the oil cap back on, and noise comes back after about a minute. Way too much vacuum in the crankcase!!!! I start looking around for the PCV valve and notice that when I put the air intake back together after changing the spark plugs, and I somehow pinched the hose from the intake to the crankcase. I straitened the hose, and all is great with the world again!!! The thinking is that squeaking noise was air being sucked in through the rear main seal which is why the noise was coming from the bell housing.
Anything like this ever happened to anyone? I have never heard of or seen such a thing!!!!

 

[nleipziger]

Never saw anything like this. Nice troubleshooting though.

 

[08EddieCA]

Here is a pic of the weld repair of my exhaust crack. Glad to hear you found a solution. Very glad to hear you're back up and running again.

View attachment DSC_0728.JPG

View attachment Exhaust Pipe Repair 02162017.jpg

 

[tripplec]

Wow, looks like the old pipe is inserting into a new collar and welded on. Looks like a arc welder was used as well.

I hope it hold on the rusty old pipe surface but at least a nice collar type repair. Not seen this done before.

 

[Explorer_PL]

It only shows how easy it is do mis-diagnose a noise.

I was dealing with that on my engine,



went to 2 shops, and both told me that at 200k that engine is shot. Valve train and all other stuff needs to be replaced, not worth on that mileage.

So I got a used motor with 55k miles from a wrecked Mountaineer for $ 1600 and replaced it. Started the car, put it in gear, and same noise was there. I was not a happy camper.
So I went to a Ford dealer that diagnosed it as a locked up torque converter......
$ 250 later the car was running like new again.
The engine and tranny were always engaged even on a red light with the brake on, the tranny was trying to stall the motor, oil pressure was dropping, and the valves were making that noise.
So it sounded like the motor is shot.
I still have that old one in my garage as a spare in case I need to put it back.

 

[tripplec]

I never thought a torque convertor could lock. A fluid free wheeling coupler of power. I know there are a variety with different load/slip characteristics at low RPM's

 

[EAuckland]

I am a huge fan of diagnostics over throwing parts at it. However, you know what you don't know. I can't believe it was just a simple pinched hose!

Tripplec,
In doing my research of torque converters trying to figure out what this noise was, it looks like these torque converts have a clutch that locks it up in 6th gear when traveling at speed. Supposed to get better miliage.

 

[tripplec]

Lockup of torque converters for OD where always handles by a clutch pad electronically engaged attached to the converter so it would not slip. I doubt there is another way of doing it.
But torque converters are selected and matched by the engineers for the desired response, slip amount and power being transferred. The more responsive the more heat they generate as I recall. I read a detailed accounting when I had a Jeep and saw various options available by tranny rebuilders.