Diagnosing horrible sound

[Kyle Levin]

2007 dodge ram 2500 mega cab
5.9 Cummins
48re

I'm getting a sound that's really hard to describe ...it actually sounds just like white noise, or that static sound when someone presses a button to talk on a walkie talkie...and the noise remains constant while my foot is on the accelerator. It happens when I accelerate at any speed. It doesn't happen when the truck is in neutral....even if I Rev the engine while coasting in neutral, the noise goes away. It sounds the worst when I'm accelerating through a left turn. Lastly, the noise fluctuates hand in hand with the engine rpms, and is not dependant on wheel speed. Everything seems to run fine...i just want to avoid a potential breakdown this weekend while towing a camper. Any thoughts?

 

[Ozymandias]

Oil level in tyranny, checked idling in neutral?

 

[Kyle Levin]

Oil level in tyranny, checked idling in neutral?

Oil level in the transmission is good

 

[Joe Mc]

Maybe a vacuum leak under dash? Do you have boost gage, possibly the gage hose blew a little hole? Look in eng compt and make sure there aren't any boost hoses leaking, or could be a bad gasket on the intake horn?

Is the power still good or does it seem a little off? Any abnormal smoke when you accelerate?

 

[Kyle Levin]

Maybe a vacuum leak under dash? Do you have boost gage, possibly the gage hose blew a little hole? Look in eng compt and make sure there aren't any boost hoses leaking, or could be a bad gasket on the intake horn?

Is the power still good or does it seem a little off? Any abnormal smoke when you accelerate?

Checked for leaks and everything seems to be fine. It performs as normal and no more smoke than usual. I've also checked the differentials, rear wheel bearings, front wheel hubs, engine pulleys...all are fine. Is it possible for a tire to be making that kind of noise? It seems like it's coming from around the front driver side wheel area.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Wheel bearing?

 

[Kyle Levin]

Wheel bearing?

That was my initial guess, so I ended up buying 2 new wheel hubs for the front and new bearings (inner and outer) for the rear. Imagine my surprise when I replaced them all yesterday just to find out the noise is still there.

 

[DavidC]

Maybe chock the front wheels, jack stands on the rear and see if the noise is there while in gear. I have had to do that to pin point some noises.

 

[DavidC]

I guess someone should ask just to make sure, 2wd or 4wd ?

 

[Kyle Levin]

4wd. I had the transfer case rebuilt last month

 

[DavidC]

4wd. I had the transfer case rebuilt last month

Could be wrong but last thing touched.

 

[seafish]

I am gonna GUESS a boost leak, but honestly it will be a lot easier and more EFFECTIVE for people to help you if you can post up a sound or video recording (from your phone??) of the noise as it is happening. Prolly should have someone drive with you to make doing it safe. Just my .02

 

[Wiredawg]

I am gonna GUESS a boost leak, but honestly it will be a lot easier and more EFFECTIVE for people to help you if you can post up a sound or video recording (from your phone??) of the noise as it is happening. Prolly should have someone drive with you to make doing it safe. Just my .02

I'm thinking the same it's a boost noise. Maybe remove and inspect boost hoses and clamps. if they check out, try snuggling real good.

If you have a tapped egt gauge, I had one develop a leak that had hissing sound at higher boost. This one is a reach, but worth checking.

Not sure if they make a long diagnostic engine stethoscope where you can move it around the engine bay and monitor inside the cab. some of these are just metal probe inserted in surgical tubing to ear pieces, like the doctors wear. I'm sure there's an electronic version too. You would just have to tie wrap the probe to the suspected area. Just a thought.

This will be interesting to see what it ends up being.

Cheers. Ron

 

[Joe Mc]

Check the front propeller shaft double cardigan joint and all universals. Does it make the noise when in 4-wheel?

 

[cerberusiam]

Hasn't been vacuum in these trucks for 15 years.

Couple things come to mind:

1. Power steering hose line slips and causes noise when the wheel is turned but it could be slight all the time.

2. Transmission level check tube is hitting something and causing noise.

3. Transmission PR regulator is wearing out and making noise when pressures are up.

4. Transmission filter is getting plugged.

5. Pin hole or crack in hump hose.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Could be the electronics going on the go pedal.

 

[Kyle Levin]

I will try and get a recording of the noise. That being said, I was greasing my driveshaft u joints today and noticed a decent size dent on the bottom of the transmission pan (definitely wasn't there last time I was under the truck) . Is there any way that this could be behind the noise?

 

[BigPapa]

Stock exhaust?

-Scott

 

[cerberusiam]

I will try and get a recording of the noise. That being said, I was greasing my driveshaft u joints today and noticed a decent size dent on the bottom of the transmission pan (definitely wasn't there last time I was under the truck) . Is there any way that this could be behind the noise?

Entirely possible it is right on the filter inlet restricting flow, or, it dinged something else up in there.

 

[BigPapa]

I ask about the exhaust because mine was making a noise like you describe, worse accelerating into a turn. I finally found the exhaust BARELY contacting the frame. There was very little visible sign of the contact and there looked to be enough clearance when you crawled under it. A little tweaking at the turbo and the mount off the transmission mount and it’s been good since.

-Scott