almostjesus

This has only happened 2-3 times but it's pretty loud/obnoxious and makes the truck sound like it's going to fall apart/explode when it's cold. Once it warms up it goes away.

For some time it sounds like an electric baseboard heater crackling/starting to heat up from the interior.

Is this a major problem or an easy fix?

ltcslick

sounds like a bearing in a pully or water pump.

Mr.Bones

Try takeing the belt off on first start up when its cold and see if it still make the same noise.

akdoggie

I'd take the belt off and check the pulley bearings and also the water pump. Your noise seems to be coming from the accessory drive pulleys or at least the area of them. Good luck.

dmbfan128

Mine started makin that sound last winter right before the tensioner seized up. I don't know if that's your problem but if you have a stethoscope put it to each of the pulleys and you can hear if anything is going on with them. I don't think you'll be able to test the tensioner like that but you can eliminate some possibilities.

countryboyedition

I just had this happen to my truck and found out it was the bearing in the alternator. It would only make a noise when it was cold and almost completely disappear when it warmed up. I just took a long metal rod and put one end on the alternator housing while it was running and my ear up to the other end and that was definitely the noise. Replaced the alternator and no more noise.

almostjesus

You know what, that's where I thought the sound was coming from. When the hood is shut it sounds like it's coming from the fan but when I open the hood the crackling/tinging sounds like it's coming from the alternator area.

countryboyedition

Yeah I replaced the tensioner pulley assembly and idler pulley before figuring out it was the alternator. I would try that metal rod up the the bolt that holds the idler pulley on and see if its making any noise but that sounds a lot like what I had on mine.

almostjesus

It was definitely the alternator. I crossed the border to go to Bellingham yesterday to shop and I noticed my dashboard lights and headlights were dimming off and on. Got home safely that night. Went to visit my fiancee's mom this morning, noticed that my battery voltage meter was dropping slowly...got to her house, truck wouldn't start. I immediately knew it was the alternator.

Called the local garage and they quoted me $400-$500 to replace it. I was thinking no ****ing way it would cost that much.

Called Pick-A-Part, asked if they had any alternators for the f150. They said the had a few in the yard but I'd have to take it out myself. Got to the yard within the hour, gutted an alternator out of an expedition. $30 dollars and half an hour later my truck starts up like a beauty!

The strange thing is I thought I was having transmission issues because it would shift oddly and it would CLUNK like crazy.

After replacing the Alternator it's shifting normal, no clunks! What could replacing the alternator do for that? Any ideas?

Thanks to EVERYONE! for helping me. I love this forum.

countryboyedition

Glad to help!