My first negative engine sound. Any one have an idea on this?

[Crunch]

In the last month I've noticed a strange sound coming from my engine. It only happens at start up and lasts until everything heats up. Its sounds like a low moan that vibrates the steering column when I turn to the right. It sounds a lot like what you hear when you drive a vehicle with no power steering fluid in the box. The difference is that this only occurs in two circumstances. The first is when I turn to the right, usually 90* turn at an intersection, Sometimes however, the vibration and moan are still there when the truck isn't moving and is in park. If I step on the accelerator the pitch rises and falls with the RPMs. Once the truck heats up the sound and vibration are gone.



I've checked the power steering fluid, and it is full and clean looking. There is no sign of leaking in the steering, either. I originally thought it might be a problem with the steering column and the U-joints, but the fact that the sound and vibration are present when sitting still and the transmission is in park pretty much eliminate that possibility. The fact that the pitch changes with the engine RPMs indicate that the problem is with a moving part that might be driven by the serpentine belt. I suspect and hope that this sound is coming from the belt. I have 75K on the odometer, so I'm sure there is some wear on the belt, but my quick check didn't find any visible wear on it. Anyone have an idea what this is, or suggestions as to where to look next? I've looked for the source, but I can't pinpoint where it is coming from.

 

[jjdiesel]

Did you have a cold snap down there in Texas? Many times these new engine sounds appear and it is due to the temperature change more than anything. Don't mean to sound too elementary but it's true. Squeaks, humms, rattles, buzzes, groans, moans, etc, etc, all come on when the weather changes. That real cold front we had recently brought this to mind... when it warms back to normal, all is well. FWIW

 

[rbattelle]

jjdiesel said what I was going to say. It's probably just a temperature thing (made worse by your own imagination). If there's nothing visibly wrong with anything, you'll have to wait until something breaks.



Ryan

 

[JSellers]

Its sounds like a low moan that vibrates the steering column when I turn to the right. It sounds a lot like what you hear when you drive a vehicle with no power steering fluid in the box. The difference is that this only occurs in two circumstances. The first is when I turn to the right, usually 90* turn at an intersection, Sometimes however, the vibration and moan are still there when the truck isn't moving and is in park. If I step on the accelerator the pitch rises and falls with the RPMs. Once the truck heats up the sound and vibration are gone. .

Your description seems to indicate this noise is from the power steering. My truck does this in cold weather. I have a PSC Motorsports gear and pump, and thought the noise was from the steering gear. PSC told me it most likely is pump noise - from having to work harder when the gear is turned to specific points. Apparently, this is common when the fluid is more viscous when cold.



Are you sure your noise isn't the steering system?



John

 

[Grey Wolf]

Crunch,



Did your truck get the vibration TSB?



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/19-008-03.htm

 

[sag2]

Pull the belt and go for a ride around the block. Do it cold as the water pump is disabled, and not very long. At least this will confirm it is something belt driven. If it is the steering, try changing the fluid. I believe the TSB says all vehicles now use ATF+4 in the steering. The ATF+4 is better than the old factory fill PS fluid. If you change it, be sure to blow out as much of the old fluid if it is not already +4.

 

[Cummins724]

My friends 04 had a similar problem & it was the harmonic balancer. The balancer was coming apart. It was wobbling & making the belt just do a lite pitched "chirp" when turning the wheel. It was most noticable in the mornings.

 

[cojhl2]

I'll bet its the power steering pump. I go through this every year about the time it gets cold.



I really can't hear it until I get on the road with it. Then it sounds like the front end bearings are going to pieces. The engine compartment never warms up enough to quiet it down if the ambient temp is 30deg or less.



Scares heck outta me every fall!!!

 

[dalexander]

I agree the power steering is the culprit. I had the same issue on my '02. Low growl and vibration through the steering column, happens on cold mornings and goes away when warmed up. There is a TSB that suggests special low temperature fluid in cold climates.



Dennis

 

[Crunch]

Thanks for the responses. I haven't had the vibration TSB done, because up until now there hasn't been any vibration at all. I'm suspecting it is the power steering because it first started when the weather got cold. But we have had nightime temps in the 50s, and daytime highs in the 70s and the sound has been there throughout. What's strange is that the sound only occurs when I turn to the right. The vibration the is present at idle and changes pitch with the engine RPM occurs when I have driven a short distance, turn off the engine and drive it later. The most common time for this is when I go to church. I hear the sound when I make right hand turn. I get to church and park the car. About an hour later I fire it up and head home. About half way home the vibration starts in and sticks around, even when I am stopped and the transmission is in park. In all the vehicles I've owned never once have I flushed the power steering system. I'm thinking about getting it done now though. With 75K racked up it's getting close to a good round of maintenance anyway--serpentine belt, brakes, another transmission and diff flushing, etc.



Still by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. And based on the prices I have seen for the comparable Dodge diesels of the same year the resale value has held up very well. Seems the price, depending on options is consistently between $20K and $25K. That means that after 3. 5 years my truck has only lost about a third of its value.

 

[cojhl2]

What's strange is that the sound only occurs when I turn to the right. .

And mine quits whenever I turn just slightly to the right!!!! Turning to the left has no effect.



These darn things drive me crazt!!! :{

 

[Grey Wolf]

Well my friends '03 had the same symptoms your describing Crunch and he had the TSB done by the dealer, after that the vibration went away. That's why I asked