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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.0 3, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 445 (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) >> Diagnosis And Testing >> Symptom Charts >> Symptom Chart-Driveline Noise/Vibration

Symptom Chart-Driveline Noise/Vibration

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Ford Ranger. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
SYMPTOM CHART-DRIVELINE NOISE/VIBRATION

Condition Possible Sources Action
  • Axle howling or whine-front or rear axle
  • Axle lubricant low.
  • CHECK the lubricant level. FILL the axle to specification.
  • Axle housing damage.
  • Damaged or worn wheel bearings or axle bearings.
  • CHECK for abnormal wheel bearing play or roughness. REFER to WHEEL BEARING CHECK  . ADJUST or INSTALL new wheel bearings as necessary.
  • Damaged or worn differential ring and pinion.
  • Damaged or worn differential side or pinion bearings.
  • Damaged or worn differential side gears and pinion gears.
  • Driveline clunk-loud clunk when shifting from reverse to drive
  • Incorrect axle lubricant level.
  • CHECK the lubricant level. FILL the axle to specification.
  • Excessive backlash in the axle or transmission.
  • Damaged or worn pinion bearings.
  • CHECK for abnormal bearing play or roughness. INSTALL new bearings as necessary
  • Damaged or worn universal joints (U-joints).
  • INSPECT the U-joints for wear or damage. INSTALL new U-joints as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Loose suspension components.
  • INSPECT the suspension for damage or wear. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary.
  • Broken powertrain mounts.
  • INSPECT the powertrain mounts. INSTALL new mounts as necessary. Refer to the appropriate ENGINE article.
  • Idle speed too high.
  • CHECK for the correct idle speed.
  • Driveline clunk-occurs as the vehicle starts to move forward following a stop
  • Worn or galled driveshaft slipyoke splines.
  • CLEAN and INSPECT the splines of the yoke for a worn or galled condition. INSTALL a new yoke as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Worn or galled driveshaft and coupling shaft splines.
  • CLEAN and INSPECT the splines of the driveshaft and coupling shaft for a worn or galled condition. INSTALL a new driveshaft assembly as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Loose rear leaf spring U-bolts.
  • CHECK the U-bolts for loose nuts. TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to REAR article.
  • Driveline clunk (FWD vehicles)-occurs during acceleration or from cruise to coast/deceleration
  • Damaged or worn inboard constant velocity (CV) joint.
  • INSPECT the inboard CV joint and boot. REPAIR or INSTALL a new CV joint as necessary.
  • Driveline clunk (4WD vehicles)-occurs during shift-on-the-fly engagement
  • Clutch relay.
  • Shift motor.
  • Transfer case.
  • GEM.
  • Clicking, popping or grinding-occurs while vehicle is turning
  • Inadequate or contaminated lubrication in the (CV) joints.
  • Another component contacting the halfshaft
  • CHECK the halfshafts and the area around the halfshafts. REPAIR as necessary.
  • Brake components.
  • INSPECT the front brakes for wear or damage. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DISC & DRUM article.
  • Steering components.
  • INSPECT the drag link, inner and outer tie-rods or idler arm for wear or damage. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
  • Suspension components.
  • INSPECT the upper and lower ball joints for wear or damage. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to FRONT - 2WD for 2-wheel drive vehicles or FRONT - 4WD TORSION BAR for 4-wheel drive vehicles.
  • Suspension components.
  • CHECK for abnormal wheel bearing play or roughness. Refer to WHEEL BEARING CHECK  . ADJUST or INSTALL new wheel bearings as necessary.
  • Clicking or snapping-occurs when accelerating around a corner
  • Damaged or worn outboard CV joint.
  • High pitched chattering-noise from the rear axle when the vehicle is turning
  • Incorrect or contaminated lubricant.
  • CHECK the vehicle by driving in tight circles (5 clockwise, 5 counterclockwise). FLUSH and REFILL with the specified rear axle lubricant and friction modifier as necessary.
  • Damaged or worn differential (differential side gears and pinion gears).
  • Buzz-buzzing noise is the same at cruise or coast/deceleration
  • Damaged or worn tires.
  • CHECK for abnormal tire wear or damage. INSTALL a new tire as necessary. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES article.
  • Incorrect driveline angles.
  • Rumble or boom-noise occurs at coast/deceleration, usually driveshaft speed related and noticeable over a wide range of speeds
  • Driveshaft is out-of-balance.
  • CHECK the driveshaft for damage, missing balance weights or undercoating. CHECK the driveshaft balance. CARRY OUT a driveline vibration test. REFER to DRIVELINE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
  • U-joints binding or seized.
  • ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation or seized U-joints. INSTALL new U-joints as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Excessive pinion flange runout.
  • Grunting-normally associated with a shudder experienced during acceleration from a dead stop
  • Driveshaft slip yoke binding.
  • CLEAN and LUBRICATE the male and female splines.
  • Loose rear spring U-bolts.
  • INSPECT the rear suspension. TIGHTEN the U-bolt nuts to specification. REFER to REAR article.
  • Howl-can occur at various speeds and driving conditions. Affected by acceleration and deceleration
  • Incorrect ring and pinion contact, incorrect bearing preload or gear damage.
  • Chuckle-heard at coast/deceleration. Also described as a knock
  • Incorrect ring and pinion contact or by damaged teeth on the coast side of the ring and pinion.
  • Knock-noise occurs at various speeds. Not affected by acceleration or deceleration
  • Gear tooth damage to the drive side of the ring and pinion.
  • Excessive axle shaft end play. (Vehicles with integral axles).
  • Scraping noise-a continuous low pitched noise starting at low speeds
  • Worn or damaged pinion bearings.
  • Driveline shudder-occurs during acceleration from a slow speed or stop
  • Rear drive axle assembly mispositioned.
  • CHECK the axle mounts and the rear suspension for damage or wear. REPAIR as necessary.
  • Loose rear spring U-bolts
  • INSPECT the U-bolts. TIGHTEN the U-bolt nuts to specification. REFER to REAR article.
  • Incorrect or high CV joint operating angle.
  • CHECK vehicle ride height is within limits. REPAIR as necessary.
  • Damaged or worn front suspension components.
  • CHECK for a loose stabilizer bar, damaged or loose strut/strut bushings or loose or worn ball joints. INSPECT the steering linkage for wear or damage. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary.
  • Driveline angles out of specification.
  • U-joints binding or seized.
  • ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation or seized U-joints. INSTALL new U-joints as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Binding, damaged or galled splines on the driveshaft slip-yoke
  • CLEAN and INSPECT the splines of the slip-yoke, driveshaft and coupling shaft for a worn, damaged or galled condition. INSTALL a new slip-yoke or driveshaft assembly as necessary. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Driveline vibration-occurs at cruising speeds
  • U-joints are worn.
  • CHECK for wear or incorrect seating. INSTALL new U-joints as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Worn or damaged driveshaft center bearing support.
  • CHECK the insulator for damage or wear. ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation. INSTALL a new center bearing support as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Loose axle pinion flange bolts
  • INSPECT the axle pinion flange. TIGHTEN the pinion flange bolts to specification. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Excessive axle pinion flange runout.
  • CARRY OUT a Runout Check. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT .
  • Driveshaft is out-of-balance.
  • CHECK the driveshaft for damage, missing balance weights or undercoating. CHECK driveshaft balance. CARRY OUT a driveline vibration test. REFER to DRIVELINE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . REPAIR as necessary.
  • Binding or damaged splines on the driveshaft slipyoke
  • CLEAN and INSPECT the splines of the slip-yoke, driveshaft and coupling shaft for wear or damage. INSTALL a new slip-yoke or driveshaft assembly as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT . REPAIR as necessary.
  • Driveshaft runout.
  • Incorrect lateral and radial tire/wheel runout.
  • CHECK the driveshaft for damage, missing balance weights or undercoating. CHECK driveshaft balance. CARRY OUT a driveline vibration test. REFER to DRIVELINE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . REPAIR as necessary.
  • Driveline angles out of specification.
  • Incorrectly seated CV joint in the front wheel hub.
  • Thump or clunk noise and vibration-occurs on light acceleration from or coming to a stop with light to moderate braking. (4x4 Supercab vehicles)
  • Driveshaft.
    NOTE: It is normal for a 4-cylinder engine to have a nominal level of powertrain boom, vibration or rough idle. Compare the concern vehicle to a similar Ranger vehicle to determine if the level of boom, vibration or rough idle is normal before proceeding with any repairs.
  • Engine - boom/vibration at 1800-2200 RPM - rough idle - 2.3L engine
  • Exhaust system tuning, powertrain and exhaust neutralization.
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