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Odd noise when engine is cold

Old 12-14-2017, 01:16 PM
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Default Odd noise when engine is cold

Not sure if anyone else has heard something similar:

I have roughly 96k miles on my 5.0, and for the last year or so have been noticing a whining-like noise for the first few cold miles. I say whining-like, because it almost sounds like a muffled Chewbacca, for lack of a better explanation. Its not loud, but noticeable over my Borla. Odd thing is, it gets worse when I'm turning the steering wheel and sounds like a power steering pump going bad, even though my 2013 has EPAS. Even weirder, it only makes the noise when the cabin blower is on. If I turn off climate control, there is no noise. It makes me think it has something to do with the blower motor, but the fact it gets worse during a turn has me stumped.

Again, this only happens until the engine is up to temp, then its completely silent. My only other guess would be the alternator, with the blower motor and EPAS causing more draw on it than normal...
Old 12-14-2017, 03:32 PM
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How cold are we talking?

Every vehicle I've owned makes the oddest noises on a cold startup in the 20s-30s. I'm talking "wtf is this thing broken". Never had any other issues and they all went away when warmed up. I don't know if my F150 does it because I remote start it 99% of the time.

Unless something stops working I'd worry about it until then. The cold is extremely tough on vehicles
Old 12-14-2017, 06:31 PM
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Your turning the position of the blower when cornering causing the blower shaft to move in or out of its bushings. It works like a gyroscope and wants to stay in place.
Old 12-14-2017, 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by kbrock
How cold are we talking?
Air temp, first thing after its been sitting for a few hours or overnight. Has been making noise for about a year, winter or summer. I doubt its anything major but its starting to get on my nerves...

Originally Posted by raisin
Your turning the position of the blower when cornering causing the blower shaft to move in or out of its bushings. It works like a gyroscope and wants to stay in place.
Guess I didn't specify. It'll act up even if I turn the wheel in park. Not really dependent on if the truck is moving or not.
Old 12-14-2017, 07:24 PM
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FEAD when temp drops below 35 Degrees, my Mustang does if sits outside instead of garage. goes away after temp goes up.
Old 11-25-2019, 01:42 PM
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Sorry to revive an old thread, but I have this exact same thing happening. Did you ever find the fix?

Only happens when it's cold, changes tone/sound when turning the wheel, after it warms up it goes away. Reminds me of the sound an old computer fan would make when the bearing starts going bad.

I'm assuming it's something to do with the blower motor and/or fan?
Old 04-13-2021, 04:02 AM
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Default Same issue

I'm having the same issue now. Has anyone figured it out?

Originally Posted by alborn98
Sorry to revive an old thread, but I have this exact same thing happening. Did you ever find the fix?

Only happens when it's cold, changes tone/sound when turning the wheel, after it warms up it goes away. Reminds me of the sound an old computer fan would make when the bearing starts going bad.

I'm assuming it's something to do with the blower motor and/or fan?
Old 04-13-2021, 05:38 AM
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Originally Posted by austin ellis
I'm having the same issue now. Has anyone figured it out?
It was a bad bearing in the blower motor for me
Old 04-13-2021, 01:05 PM
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austin ellis ...
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Old 04-13-2021, 03:24 PM
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Does it whine with the truck running but sitting still, or just when moving? Thick oil (or PS fluid) can get really thick when it's cold out, creating gear or pump whine. Listen to a 4WD truck in low range at 10 degrees F, the transfer case sounds supercharged for the first five or ten minutes of driving.


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