howling in engine bay

[Torinalth]

i really dont know what it is in the slightest, so i'll do my best to describe whats going on and see if yall have any thoughts.

well, from what i can tell it only happens when i first start the car after it has been sitting for a while. i start the car and when it comes down to idle (~750rpm) there is a noticible "howling" sound comming from the front of the car. i opened the hood and poked around, but couldnt see anything out of place. sound SEEMS to be comming from the drivers side of the engine near/at the front. does not matter if the lights, radio, or ac is on at the time. also does not go away when i depress the clutch or brake. if i play with the gas it will go away once i get the RPMs passed 1500, then return once it goes below that point. after i run it for a bit it goes away entirely even at idle. if you turn it off and start it back up it is still gone.

this howling sound has seemed to get a bit worse and is now starting to draw my attention more often. the best way to describe the sound is if you take a larger margaritta glass, put lime around the outside, then run your finger around the edge to get that "harmonic vibration" sound. I'm realy lost on this one.... any ideas?

Torinalth

 

[dsg_gt2004]

could it have anything to do with the Throttle body and plenum??

 

[Torinalth]

i thought about that, but it has not had any issues so far, its all tight against everything else..... and it seems to be comming from farther forward on the block...

T

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think it is an idler pulley getting ready to seize. Cost to fix $15. Time to fix 5 minutes...

Take the belt off and check the pullies just by feeling them...

 

[slow96mustang]

someone sneak a blower in on ya, then take it back off once you drive it for a little bit?
check your alt if its not a pully. they make funnie noises too sometimes.

 

[Torinalth]

think its the idler ehh KT? i'll give that a shot and see what i can find.

T

 

[flashstang04]

couldn't a vacuum leak cause that as well?

 

[Nater]

Try doing a search on this as it was brought up a long time ago. I don't remember what the results were though; maybe something to do with the throttle body. My 2000 GT had the same issue with a cold start. Sounded like you were blowing into an empty Coke bottle. But once the engine warmed a little bit it would go away. Wouldn't heard the driveability and I could not find out what it was. Hasn't done it on my 2002 GT to date and I thought that the issue was corrected by 2001.
On a cold start, open the hood and have someone start the car to see where it is coming from.

 

[redstangracer17]

hey, i just fixed a ford taurus with the same problem, it was the idle air control valve, some of them have little fins that will start to raddle together to make a loud humming noise

 

[Kilgore Trout]

IACs are a known problem, I think that could be it Only $59 for a new one...

 

[blackstalion666]

more then likely its just coming from the intake and nothing to worry about

 

[flashstang04]

Yeah, if you are still driving fine, dont worry about it.

 

[blackstalion666]

i say this becuase after installing many cold air intakes on all types of vehicles most would make that type of noise. and yes it could be a vacuum leak . but if there was the engine light would come on.

 

[flashstang04]

Find someone with a predator to give it a look, maybe something will show up.

 

[csledd]

I'm having this same problem after I installed my TB and plenum. I'm not throwing any codes. Think I should just replace the IAC? The TPS broke a day after the install so maybe that went bad too? GRR. It doesn't seem to be effecting anything but it's not my favorite sound in the world. I guess I'll just replace that damn thing and find out