Strange howling noise

[Casto0208]

the problem is that when i slip the clutch alittle on take off on an incline i hear a howling noise and it does it until i let of the clutch or until i quit slipping it. it doesnt do it any other time, and its not that i dont know how to drive a standard, ive driven them all my life. my last truck had no problems then when i got to this one, im stumped at what this noise could be, any ideas? its been this way since ive bought it used, and about the only thing i havent fixed yet. ive replaced all the universal joints, they were completely destroyed and lubed up about everything that can rotate or move on or around most of the driveterrain. its bugging me to death!

 

[Bruce]

The only thing i can think of would be maybe the pilot bearing in the end of the crankshaft bad that the input shaft fits into.

 

[tanbuddy]

that sounds exactly like what my truck does. Only grinds when the clutch is 1/2 way out pulling out from a stop.

 

[99B4000]

yeah, definitely pilot bearing or possibly release bearing, thats what wen on mine.

 

[Casto0208]

any idea on a price and how hard it is to fix? ive never had to deal with a pilot bearing, do they go bad that often cause ive never had any trouble with any of my other vehicles with them?

 

[rboyer]

The pilot bearing should be less than $10. Replacing it involves removing the transmission. If you are going to dig into it that far then you might want to take into consideration how many miles you have on your clutch already because you're going to have the old clutch out anyway and a pilot bearing actually comes with a clutch kit. Also most people like to replace their slave cylinder while they're in there because of the fact that you already have that much labor into removing the transmission. You could do all of that for no more than a few hundred in parts and have the satisfaction of knowing that you have brand new clutch components in your truck.

 

[Casto0208]

well ive only got 44k miles on the truck. i dont really want to have to dig into all of that. the clutch is strong and everything runs fine, except that one little howling when slipping the clutch on an incline. other than that everythings in good working order. so i dont know what to do.

 

[Earl43P]

I wouldn't do a single thing to try to fix that hoot noise.

Mine has done it to some degree since new.

Ford had a TSB out on that "hoot" sound on several model years: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/tsbs/results.cfm

Service Bulletins Summary


Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
FORD / RANGER 1998-2002

Service Bulletin Number : 0255
NHTSA Item Number : 636047
Summary Description :
HOOTING, EEKING OR MOANING NOISE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TT


It only happens if you SLIP the clutch. It is not detrimental to clutch service life and tends to occur more often when cold. Once my truck has been driving for a while, it won't do it unless I REALLY slip the clutch, which is bad for it anyway. It will do it consistently when cold, more cold=more hoot. Less clutch slippage, less hoot.

I wouldn't fix this until something MAKES you replace the clutch, which is THE FIX (new clutch).

I've also found (while pulling a tree stump out) that if you slip the piss out of it (novice driver, not me) to the point that you smell it, it'll quit hooting. My guess is that this is similar to the rear brakes getting grabby, just a light coat of rust.

 

[rboyer]

well ive only got 44k miles on the truck. i dont really want to have to dig into all of that. the clutch is strong and everything runs fine, except that one little howling when slipping the clutch on an incline. other than that everythings in good working order. so i dont know what to do.

Yeah with that many miles it's really not worth digging into it. I'm so used to seeing Rangers with 150k+ on them. I think Earl may be right about the clutch, try slipping it and see if it goes away. The only thing I would worry about is that if it was a bad pilot bearing that can lead to future transmission problems after it's done grinding down the tip of your input shaft!

 

[Bruce]

If the bearing is bad and it continues to run ..it will only eat up the end of the input shaft(is only about 150 bucks new)