annoying whine coming from my Ranger

[littleredrangergirl97]

since I bought my Ranger a year and a half ago, it has made this annoying whining sound coming from under the hood. Its a very low, but sound and only happens sometime. I haven't figured out a correlation between the whine and anything else (weather conditions, going up/down hill, brakes, gas, heat, ac, 4wd, etc). I'm not sure if it is coming from the engine, but I didn't know where else to post this.

anyone have any ideas or have had the same problem?


I have a 97 4.0 liter v6 4wd.

thanks in advance.

 

[compleckz]

power steering whine? vacuum leak?

 

[littleredrangergirl97]

not power steering. I know that noise. Vacuum leak sounds possible. How would I fix that.

 

[Ranger5.0]

alternator whine maybe? thats a sign that things are gonna krap out soon. Um, you need to track down the vacume leak, which can be a pain. I've used propaneand have had good luck

 

[woodyedmiston]

Check your air filter to see if it's getting a little dirty - change if necesssary - and then snap down, clamp down - however it works - the top really well. Before you do, make sure there is no dust on the mating surface. Sometimes - my filter housing makes a similar noise. That usually stops it.

 

[naford]

Can you hear this when your standing in front with the hood up?

 

[Jason]

Belt tensioners love to make that type of sound too.

 

[littleredrangergirl97]

yes, I can hear the noise standing in front. it's not constant though.

 

[mhughes165]

dont the idle air control valves on the 4.0's love to make a sound like that when there dirty from time to time

 

[Ranger44]

I believe so.....like a humming whine.

 

[BigRedDangerRanger]

Same weird noise

I have a 97 4.0 as well, and sometimes (with no real reason when) I get a harmonic hum coming from under the hood. I've taken the entire air cleaner off before and it didn't change anything.

 

[woodyedmiston]

Noise

We have a Mercury Marquis with a 4.6 in the family. It makes the noise too. I can't say that the air box trick is what is causing the noise. I just know it stops after I wipe it down. It will start again eventually - but it only does it at idle.

If there is another source I'd like to know that too. Where is an idle control valve and is it an easy replacement?