99 ranger, automatic w/ some type of grinding sound.....

[frenchy chan]

i have a 99 flex fuel ranger automatic with 76K
we bought it used last year, but i think it sat for a while....

recently we've noticed some type of "grinding"?? noise
the best way for me to describe the sound is...like when you are driving on older, rougher pavement and then you suddenly get to nicely new paved road...but the issue is that i never changed pavement types.
i also do not think it is tire noise because it isn't constant. my boyfriend got under the truck and made sure nothing was loose and the brakes are not catching.
i don't know if it may be a transmission problem. my boyfriend thinks that we are starting to have issues with the transmission....not shifting right, etc

it is driving us nuts....if anyone has any thoughts, that would be great. we'd like to fix it ourselves

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Are you sure it isnt in the rear end?

Normally a trans wont "grind" well, an auto wont.

later,
Dustin

 

[LearjetMinako]

If it sounds like that pavement hum. I would say to check the diff. May have chipped a tooth.

 

[kansas 4x4]

i have a 99 flex fuel ranger automatic with 76K
we bought it used last year, but i think it sat for a while....

recently we've noticed some type of "grinding"?? noise
the best way for me to describe the sound is...like when you are driving on older, rougher pavement and then you suddenly get to nicely new paved road...but the issue is that i never changed pavement types.
i also do not think it is tire noise because it isn't constant. my boyfriend got under the truck and made sure nothing was loose and the brakes are not catching.
i don't know if it may be a transmission problem. my boyfriend thinks that we are starting to have issues with the transmission....not shifting right, etc

it is driving us nuts....if anyone has any thoughts, that would be great. we'd like to fix it ourselves

IMO you should pay the fee at a ford dealership to have it properly diagnosed, then take it home and fix it your self.

Seems a lot of people throw all kinds of cash at a problem and replace something and BAM you still have the exact same issue, by the time you take every bodies advice replacing shit you have already spent the DIAGNOSTIC FEE money you would of payed ford in the first place.

Yea ford isn't PERFECT but you will have legal recourse if for example you take it to them and they tell you that your left front hub/wheel bearing is making the noise then you take it home and replace that exact part and you still have the noise.

just my opinion