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98 Taurus - Mystery rubbing/grinding sound ?
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jshphilly
New User
Apr 11, 2013, 5:46 PM
Post #1 of 3
(1616 views)
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98 Taurus - Mystery rubbing/grinding sound ?
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Hi, and Thanks in Advance !
My old Taurus needs expensive transmission repair. Before spending the money, it seems wise to make sure the rest of the car is working well. Although mostly OK, there is a mystery noise that has me worried, and stumped. Here is the (complex / contradictory ?) set of symptoms.
1) The sound is like rubbing (or an electric motor straining - think blender), which makes me think of bearings, brakes, or something mechanical. { If you remember old Honda Civics -- when they ran in reverse, there's a "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" whining/rubbing sound. That is almost exactly the sound I hear (not as loud).}
2) But -- it only happens at low speed, AND, only when the car is 'coasting' (foot off the gas) on level or downhill.
3) To add to the mystery, the noise mostly goes away (although not 100%) once the car is slightly warmed-up (after I have driven 4-5 miles). This makes me wonder if the transmission is somehow involved (fluid warms up and expands ?).
4) It can't be brakes (?) -- if I'm coasting on level or slight downhill, with NO touching of gas or brakes, the sound gets loud (and higher-pitched if car speeds up) -- BUT, if I touch the accelerator (even the slightest amount), the sound ceases instantly ! It is somehow related to the engine/transmission, no ?
5) Even weirder: I tried coasting on gentle downhill, got the noise, popped car into Neutral and turned the ignition OFF and continued coasting. The noise persists, even though the engine is off !
6) So is there some way the transmission is connected to a rolling car, even in neutral, even with the ignition off ? If so -- that probably points to the source of the noise.
I recorded a 30 second MP3 -- low quality, but you can hear the relative silence of driving for 10 seconds, then hear the noise coming in pretty clearly.
http://renegademorris.com/Taurus-noise-5.mp3
My hope is that this problem is not unique to me, and that there is something obvious that should be followed-up. Thanks for sharing your knowledge !
1998 Taurus SE wagon
24v DOHC engine
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 11, 2013, 7:51 PM
Post #2 of 3
(1570 views)
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Re: 98 Taurus - Mystery rubbing/grinding sound ?
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Just some comments for now: The noise in reverse in standards in particular is normal for many cars not just Honda Civics. I couldn't make you link to the noise work but doesn't matter much. Just that slight load makes it go away suggests bearing issue but certainly look at your brakes, make sure splash shields are not touching rotors, spin wheels with front hoisted.
Again, can on make a wild guess that this is a problem in the trans-axle and probably needs tearing it al down. Many noises are simply going to have to be witnessed in person by a tech to isolate cause but you still should take a look at brakes at least and the splash guards that they are not touching rotor(s) doubt both,
T
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jshphilly
New User
Apr 12, 2013, 8:46 AM
Post #3 of 3
(1553 views)
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Re: 98 Taurus - Mystery rubbing/grinding sound ?
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Thanks for your insights. I took it to the shop this morning -- fingers crossed that this isn't another major repair ...
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