Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Rattle/Whirr sound when cold.

After the car is started first thing in the morning, I hear a whining kind of sound. It lasts only a few minutes until the engine has warmed up a little.

The timming belt was changed a month or so ago.
I was hopping that someone may be able to help me to figure out what the sound is caused by.

Exhaust?
Timming belt?
Oil starvation-valve lifters?
Water pump?

Checked the oil level and transmission fluid level and the transmission level was 1 liter low (hot).

I put the car in park and reved up the engine a little to try and pinpoint the sound. The sound gets faster and louder when I rev up the engine in park.

Please help,

Stephen

If the sound goes away once warm
and
If the car is shut off and restared the sound is still gone.
and
it normally only occurs after the car has been sitting a few hours/overnight

it is timing chain/belt rattle due to lack of oil pressure..

get an oil filter with a quality anti-drainback valve



Ray

Dont forget the power steering - its motor whines really bad when it gets low and it gets worse from there. Many Contiques develop leaks from the return coolant line - I have a leak right now from the hose coming out of the resevoir and a few weeks ago I had this horrible wine that got louder and faster when I accelerated. Filled it up with PS fluid and it went away...

It isn't timing chain rattle: The Zetec has a timing belt and doesn't use oil pressure for tension.

But there is an idler on the timing belt; it should have been replaced along with the timing belt itself.

I've also seen noises like this come from idler pulleys on the serpentine belt.

Open the hood before you start it the next time, and walk around in front of the car, listening to the noise. You should be able to discover approximately where it's coming from.

Actually, the serpentine idler pulley on my Contour is failing now. Mine shows up as a squeak that goes away as the car warms up. Using the "long-screwdriver-to-my-ear" method, I was able to pinpoint exactly where the noise was coming from.

I've got an appointment for Friday morning to get the oil & filter replaced. I have 10W40 in there right now and will go with 5W40 or whatever "winter" oil is recomended at the shop.
I'll post here again to let you know if that helps with the noise (oil pressure).
I'll look at the power steering fluid level too.

It was not that long ago that the timing belt, pulleys and yes, the idler were replaced at the stealership.

If the oil change does not help with the noise, I'll take it back to them and ask for them to check it out.

No doubt that they will charge me for the noise to be found never mind fixed.

It could be the valves. Our valves are already loud, and with a cold start, and not having the oil there right away, that could cause more noise. I think that thicker oil your using could be part of it.

The 5W30 did not help with the weird noise.

The power steering level was low and after topping it up, the noise is still there.

One thing I did notice though was that when I turn off the blower (defrost, heater, etc), the noise is almost gone. When I turn the blower back on, the noise returns.

Any ideas? What should I check for?

Thanks,

Stephen

TTT

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Stephen