fluid or metal grinding sound from Engine

[MatthewT]

OK, i have an 04"(manual) with over 80,000 miles and i have had this fluid or metal grinding sound from the Engine, this sounds REALY BAD when i start up the engine for the first start of the day or cold start. And the same noise during driving but very quite during driving and the loudest during 2nd gear(I have tested this buy driving from 1st to 2nd then to 1st then to 2nd and to 3rd gear) I can't figure out where the noise is specifically coming from when in idle. And there is no problem when shifting while i drive or any binding, and its easy to shift from gear to gear. From what little i have found on the web this was notoriously a bad sign for 03 and older Rangers, and possibility the idler, and have been told it could be my master cylinder but i have no idea. My funds are limited at the moment!!

 

[--weezl--]

video needed for further help youtube it

is it engine speed dependant, or road speed dependant? what about load dependant? (how far you are pushing the throttle) how about what rpm range you hear it in?

 

[Big Jim M]

Hmmm

Not a very good post to start out trouble shooting from..
I do have one direction.. Turn the heater/air conditioning to OFF.. And then drive her a while. See if that makes the sound easier to hear or if it eleminates the sound.. Could be freon you are hearing.
Big JIm

 

[BlackBII]

Pull the serpentine belt off and start it up. If the noise is gone, then you know it's one of the belt driven components, like the water pump or power steering. If the noise is not gone, then it could be something internal.

Of course, don't go driving around with the belt, just start it and let it idle for a few min while you listen for the noise.

 

[--weezl--]

big jim has a point, plus a/c compressors often make nasty noises...

BlackBII, that's a good idea too, though i will let ou know that the newer rangers won't start without the belt... mine would turn over and wouldn't catch, when i was trying to diagnose my startup squeek, but i was using my remote starter, so it COULD be that my installer used an ALT power source for tach? i don't know i should email him... i've got a feeling the new trucks have a protection device in it, so that you don't run the engine with no water pump...