Wierd Noise????

[porter72]

I am not sure if anyone can help. I have an 2004 Explorer v8. I do not have the money to have a dealership look at it. I am not sure where the noise is coming from, front or back. It is kind of feels like a shuttering when you step on the gas from a stop. There is a slight grinding noise when it happens. The grinding is not bad enough that it makes you cringe but, its there. I know my front drivers side lower ball joint is bad and have an appointment to have this fixed. Not sure, but, this does not feel like a ball joint. Also, I had the oil changed and they said i should have the differentail fluid changed. I have been holding off because the fluid I need is so expensive. Maybe this is the problem??? Thanks for your help.....Chris

 

[Limited02]

When you are going 35mph and let off the gas, will the sound go away? Does is come back when you give it a little gas(after letting off)? Is the sound constant and high pitch or more like a Rum Rum Rum (medium pitch) that gets faster/slower as speed increases/decreases?

Also, changing the rear fluid is easy and cheaper than you think. Do you know what tow package or rear gear you have?(3.55 or 3.73)

 

[porter72]

It only happens from a stop and is gone within seconds. It does not happen when cruising at speed, speeding up or, slowing down. It is definatly a low rum rum rum.
I am not sure what the tow package is or what rear gears are. I was told the fluid is over a hundred dollars?

 

[Limited02]

If it only happens from a stop, try and rev with the car in park to see if you hear the sound. I'm now thinking it's either a bad clutch fan or something to do with the belt.

Whoever told you that the fluid was over $100 is nuts. Maybe paying a mechanic to do it maybe, but it's easy to change out yourself. Now that I think about it, you say it shudders when you accelerate? Mine use to do that when I would take off from a stop and going into a corner. I changed the rear differential fluid and added friction modifier for the clutch, good as new!(except for the whine)

To buy fluid for the rear end and friction modifier will cost about $20-30 bucks depending on what you buy. Easiest way to know if you have the tow package is if you have the 3" reciever/7 pin plugin.

Hope this is helping