loud noise on startup this morning

[Tractorat]

This morning about 7:00 I went out and started my truck. It was about 40 degrees out and not quite raining

As it always does, it started by just touching the start position. However, when it started this morning, it was making a loud howling noise that I can only believe the fan would make. I sat in the truck warming the engine for maybe 5 or 10 minutes waiting for my wife to come out and the noise didnt stop. I did notice that if I goosed the throttle just a little, or when I started driving down the street, the noise would speed up or slow down with the throttle. After maybe 10 or 15 miles the noise seemed to stop. When I started the truck again to go home, the noise did not come back.

I did notice what may have been the same noise a couple of years ago. I was up in the mountains and it was 16 degrees out when I started it that morning. I dont know how cold it got overnight. Just like this morning, the engine roared until it warmed up quite a bit.

The only time I ever notice that fan coming on is when Im pulling my trailer over a steep pass in utah in the summer. Otherwise, if it ever does come on, I just dont hear or at least notice it. So, I dont think it was running when I parked the truck the other day and just got stuck in the on condition.

Any ideas ? Sticking relay ?

 

[BigPapa]

No relay on the ‘02. It uses the viscous clutch.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks, that occured to me as I hit send. Had it replaced with an oem just 2 years ago with the opposite problem.

 

[brucejohnson]

Sounds like the fan clutch.

 

[Tractorat]

Sounds like the fan clutch.

I think youre right. That occurred to me just after I hit send in my original post. I had it replaced just 2 years ago with an oem right out of the box from dodge for not coming on at all. Guess Ill get to go thru that process again.

 

[brucejohnson]

I think youre right. That occurred to me just after I hit send in my original post. I had it replaced just 2 years ago with an oem right out of the box from dodge for not coming on at all. Guess Ill get to go thru that process again.

Maybe give it a chance or two to repeat its defiant activities. Mine did the similar howl a few times in the past 10 years...still had the same OE clutch when it was sent down the road a few months ago just below 200K miles. Absolutely no issues towing in the heat, crawling up to Eisenhower tunnel or traversing Death Valley in the heat of summer. Kept waiting but no other issues besides howling in the cool/cold on the rare occasion.
Try giving it a visual inspection and a good wobble. If it passes, let her go a bit longer. Keep an eye on it.

 

[SnoKing]

Could be the bearing in the belt tensioner, take the belt off/loose and check it, or the fan clutch! Try turning the fan by hand on another morning.

 

[Tractorat]

Could be the bearing in the belt tensioner, take the belt off/loose and check it, or the fan clutch! Try turning the fan by hand on another morning.

Thanks, Ill give that it try. It seems like when I replaced that maybe 10 years ago, I got it from napa (cheap chinese junk. But I was leaving in the morning and had to settle. Surprised its lasted this long if it is bad.) Why would the belt tensioner cause the fan to start up ?

 

[SnoKing]

Thanks, Ill give that it try. It seems like when I replaced that maybe 10 years ago, I got it from napa (cheap chinese junk. But I was leaving in the morning and had to settle. Surprised its lasted this long if it is bad.) Why would the belt tensioner cause the fan to start up ?

So you are sure it is fan noise?

 

[GAmes]

That is totally normal for the fan clutch. It is most noticeable if you are parked in a campground with dirt roads or a dirt parking lot and start moving in the morning. The viscous liquid needs to warm up a bit to release the clutch.

 

[Tractorat]

So you are sure it is fan noise?

Nope, not at all. But my best uneducated guess.

That is totally normal for the fan clutch. It is most noticeable if you are parked in a campground with dirt roads or a dirt parking lot and start moving in the morning. The viscous liquid needs to warm up a bit to release the clutch.

Well, this morning it was in my driveway. No dirt road etc. If it was the same thing a few years ago, it was in an icy parking lot in front of the motel. Colder than a witches tit. That was the first time Ive ever had the door key locks get frozen.

 

[GAmes]

I mean it is really noticeable because you get drowned in dust. I hear my fan all the time when I start out in the morning.

 

[NIsaacs]

That is totally normal for the fan clutch. It is most noticeable if you are parked in a campground with dirt roads or a dirt parking lot and start moving in the morning. The viscous liquid needs to warm up a bit to release the clutch.

I agree, mine is always locked after an overnight shut down. How long it stays locked is based on overnight temps and how high I rev it leaving.

 

[Tractorat]

I agree, mine is always locked after an overnight shut down. How long it stays locked is based on overnight temps and how high I rev it leaving.

Mine has only done this twice now. Once when it was extremely cold outside, and the other day when it was about 40d.

 

[brucejohnson]

FSM states that it is normal for fan noise to be louder (roaring) when:

[third bullet point]… "Cool silicone fluid within the fan drive unit is being redistributed back to its normal disengaged (warm) position. This can occur during the first 15 seconds to one minute after engine start-up on a cold engine."​

On a few cold occasions mine would go over three miles before it would quiet down; normally it would quiet down within a couple minutes.

 

[KATOOM]

Next time you hear an unidentifiable noise go on for that long, get your phone out and start recording... Then post the video so people can hear what you were hearing instead of guessing. Best way to internet diagnose vehicle questions.

 

[NIsaacs]

Mine has only done this twice now. Once when it was extremely cold outside, and the other day when it was about 40d.

Is you cowl seal out of place? When mine slips out I hear all kinds of engine noises.

 

[Tractorat]

Is you cowl seal out of place? When mine slips out I hear all kinds of engine noises.

Nope, mine does that a lot with no increase in noise that I can tell. Im prettysure this is the fan clutch. If it does it again Ill take it in

 

[Tractorat]

I think its the power steering. Went to back out of the driveway and had no power steering. The reservoir is almost empty per the stick. Just had an oil change the other day at a dealer where they recommended a power steering flush. I dont think they even checked it.