2010 4 cyl transmission noise and leak? No, I mean 6 cylinder!
02-21-2014, 04:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
2010 4 cyl transmission noise and leak? No, I mean 6 cylinder!
I have a 2010 4 cyl auto transmission with about 55k miles on it.
When the weather got cold, it started to make this loud obnoxious whining noise on cold starts. It would get worse on days it was colder. As the car warmed up, it would go away. It gets louder and faster (higher pitch) and directly affected by acceleration of RPM. This would last only a few minutes in the beginning.
So I took it to Monroe. They told me the noise was due to a loose tension arm and bad bearings in a part the belt sat on. So they replaced it. Didn't fix it. Then they said they knew for sure it was the power steering unit and said that flushing it would fix it. That did not fix it. Although, something they did made the noise... last for less time on a cold start up. Less than a minute, versus 3 to 5 minutes. So then they keep it for another day. He calls me and says he knows why it makes that noise. That an engine mount bolt is missing and the engine is shaking. I said well why would it be effected by cold? He said it was because of metal expansion. So he says he will call me back with a price. He calls me back and says they also found a transmission leak and that because the fluid was likely low, that is why it is making that noise. At that point, I was fed up so I went for other opinions. This cost me $260, which was later refunded because they never fixed the problem.
I take it to a transmission specialist. They come back and say there was no transmission leak at all and they didn't see any fluid. But that they could hear "the transmission screaming" with their stethoscope and that it sounded like metal grinding. He showed me a part with bearings and said they could be bad. They said they would have to open it up and I would be better off having it rebuilt. Over $1k. I thought if that was true, wouldn't it make that noise all the time?
I go to another transmission specialist. The tech tells me there is definitely a transmission leak, called the other specialist a liar, and shows me transmission fluid near the front of the block. He says it is impossible to know if it is a cracked cooler or leak in the cooler lines. He says he won't know until he takes it apart more. Then the manager, in another room, right after the tech tells me he isn't sure where the leak is coming from, tells me "oh yeah, it is definitely a crack in the cooler! and it will cost you over $1k to repair." Ummm... ok... liar.
So then I go to Ford. I explain the situation I have been through so far. I said the transmission was under manufacturer warranty. They try to say no at first. I argue that it is up to 60k. They come back and tell me that they want to replace the cooler lines and potentially replace the cooler. That it is not the transmission itself and the repairs are not part of the covered warranty. Over $700. I asked why the noise would only occur when the car is cold. He said it was because the fluid had to work its way through the transmission. So I said, ok then filling it now should make the noise go away? He said yes. I said well I don't have that kind of money right now so fill up the fluid and I will come back later. He says the leak is so bad that I shouldn't drive it off the lot. I said I have to do what I have to do and to fill up the transmission fluid. He tells me right then and there that the tech already topped off the fluid. I am pretty sure he lied considering he just said the leak was too bad and also that they normally charge a lot of money to refill transmission fluid on these and they were not charging me. So I get in my car and of course, there is no change to the noise. It still sounds terrible.
So I had to keep driving it a while and now the sound is lasting continuously. It is loud at first, then dies down after a few minutes, but it still there faintly. Now it never completely goes away.
I am quite concerned, but I don't know who to trust or what to do. I really can't afford to pay $1k or more right now. Or afford to pay for something that isn't even wrong with it.
At this point, I am suspicious about the power steering since there was a change when they flushed it, but who knows if that was coincidence. AND I suspect the transmission and also the cooler and lines. But I can't get a definite answer that it is the transmission. If it is, Ford has to fix it under warranty. I worry that they were lying to avoid a warranty repair.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
When the weather got cold, it started to make this loud obnoxious whining noise on cold starts. It would get worse on days it was colder. As the car warmed up, it would go away. It gets louder and faster (higher pitch) and directly affected by acceleration of RPM. This would last only a few minutes in the beginning.
So I took it to Monroe. They told me the noise was due to a loose tension arm and bad bearings in a part the belt sat on. So they replaced it. Didn't fix it. Then they said they knew for sure it was the power steering unit and said that flushing it would fix it. That did not fix it. Although, something they did made the noise... last for less time on a cold start up. Less than a minute, versus 3 to 5 minutes. So then they keep it for another day. He calls me and says he knows why it makes that noise. That an engine mount bolt is missing and the engine is shaking. I said well why would it be effected by cold? He said it was because of metal expansion. So he says he will call me back with a price. He calls me back and says they also found a transmission leak and that because the fluid was likely low, that is why it is making that noise. At that point, I was fed up so I went for other opinions. This cost me $260, which was later refunded because they never fixed the problem.
I take it to a transmission specialist. They come back and say there was no transmission leak at all and they didn't see any fluid. But that they could hear "the transmission screaming" with their stethoscope and that it sounded like metal grinding. He showed me a part with bearings and said they could be bad. They said they would have to open it up and I would be better off having it rebuilt. Over $1k. I thought if that was true, wouldn't it make that noise all the time?
I go to another transmission specialist. The tech tells me there is definitely a transmission leak, called the other specialist a liar, and shows me transmission fluid near the front of the block. He says it is impossible to know if it is a cracked cooler or leak in the cooler lines. He says he won't know until he takes it apart more. Then the manager, in another room, right after the tech tells me he isn't sure where the leak is coming from, tells me "oh yeah, it is definitely a crack in the cooler! and it will cost you over $1k to repair." Ummm... ok... liar.
So then I go to Ford. I explain the situation I have been through so far. I said the transmission was under manufacturer warranty. They try to say no at first. I argue that it is up to 60k. They come back and tell me that they want to replace the cooler lines and potentially replace the cooler. That it is not the transmission itself and the repairs are not part of the covered warranty. Over $700. I asked why the noise would only occur when the car is cold. He said it was because the fluid had to work its way through the transmission. So I said, ok then filling it now should make the noise go away? He said yes. I said well I don't have that kind of money right now so fill up the fluid and I will come back later. He says the leak is so bad that I shouldn't drive it off the lot. I said I have to do what I have to do and to fill up the transmission fluid. He tells me right then and there that the tech already topped off the fluid. I am pretty sure he lied considering he just said the leak was too bad and also that they normally charge a lot of money to refill transmission fluid on these and they were not charging me. So I get in my car and of course, there is no change to the noise. It still sounds terrible.
So I had to keep driving it a while and now the sound is lasting continuously. It is loud at first, then dies down after a few minutes, but it still there faintly. Now it never completely goes away.
I am quite concerned, but I don't know who to trust or what to do. I really can't afford to pay $1k or more right now. Or afford to pay for something that isn't even wrong with it.
At this point, I am suspicious about the power steering since there was a change when they flushed it, but who knows if that was coincidence. AND I suspect the transmission and also the cooler and lines. But I can't get a definite answer that it is the transmission. If it is, Ford has to fix it under warranty. I worry that they were lying to avoid a warranty repair.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
02-21-2014, 04:36 PM
#2
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Utah
Posts: 730
Your car isn't a 4 cylinder, LOL. Most likely a 6.
Have you looked under the car for leaks after it has sat for a while? If you do, then look above the leak for the source. Take a picture of the leaking part and post it here so we can tell you what it is and how much it should cost for Ford to fix it. Get your phone down in there and get a close up of the leaking part or at least the spot under the car/engine where it is dripping down. We need to see where the leak is coming from because both transmission and power steering use the same fluid and it's pink, oily, and tasteless (don't taste it though).
The mechanics are messing with you because of your inexperience with cars. A loose engine mount would cause a really loud clunk and not a whine.
Have you looked under the car for leaks after it has sat for a while? If you do, then look above the leak for the source. Take a picture of the leaking part and post it here so we can tell you what it is and how much it should cost for Ford to fix it. Get your phone down in there and get a close up of the leaking part or at least the spot under the car/engine where it is dripping down. We need to see where the leak is coming from because both transmission and power steering use the same fluid and it's pink, oily, and tasteless (don't taste it though).
The mechanics are messing with you because of your inexperience with cars. A loose engine mount would cause a really loud clunk and not a whine.
Last edited by Ricardo; 02-21-2014 at 04:43 PM.
02-21-2014, 04:41 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
Your car isn't a 4 cylinder
Have you looked under the car for leaks after it has sat for a while? If you do, then look above the leak for the source. Take a picture of the leaking part and post it here so we can tell you what it is and how much it should cost for Ford to fix it. We need to see where the leak is coming from because both transmission and power steering use the same fluid and it's pink, oily, and tasteless (don't taste it though).
The mechanics are messing with you because of your inexperience with cars. Mechanics like this that try to take advantage of people instead of being straight forward and helping out are a huge pet peeve of mine. A loose engine mount would cause a really loud clunk and not a whine. That mechanic deserves to be punched in the face.
Have you looked under the car for leaks after it has sat for a while? If you do, then look above the leak for the source. Take a picture of the leaking part and post it here so we can tell you what it is and how much it should cost for Ford to fix it. We need to see where the leak is coming from because both transmission and power steering use the same fluid and it's pink, oily, and tasteless (don't taste it though).
The mechanics are messing with you because of your inexperience with cars. Mechanics like this that try to take advantage of people instead of being straight forward and helping out are a huge pet peeve of mine. A loose engine mount would cause a really loud clunk and not a whine. That mechanic deserves to be punched in the face.
02-21-2014, 07:05 PM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 202
That doesn't sound like the transmission to me, as it was either in park or neutral right? I suspect one of the accessories driven by the fan belt. My first bet would be the power steering. My brother-in-law had a Ranger that made almost exactly the same sound and it was his power steering pump. Have you checked the PS fluid level? What happens to the sound if you rev the engine like that and turn the steering wheel slightly?
02-21-2014, 08:20 PM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
That doesn't sound like the transmission to me, as it was either in park or neutral right? I suspect one of the accessories driven by the fan belt. My first bet would be the power steering. My brother-in-law had a Ranger that made almost exactly the same sound and it was his power steering pump. Have you checked the PS fluid level? What happens to the sound if you rev the engine like that and turn the steering wheel slightly?
And I took that video while in park.
03-27-2014, 02:57 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
Sorry it took me a while to reply. So I ended up having one of my clients (I'm a web developer and he builds race cars) do some work for me as suggested by Ford and other mechanics. There was a leak in the transmission cooler line. In particular, the line that is permanently attached to the cooler. So he replaced the whole cooler and lines. Then I took it to a transmission specialist to flush and fill the transmission. They confirmed there are no leaks now. However, the noise is still there on a cold start and it has not improved at all. I am also noticing that the duration of the noise seems to be getting progressively longer. It still seems directly effected by temperature. As the engine warms up, the noise goes away. But I also noted that some times, on a cold start, it will whine real loud, get quite for a minute, then get loud again. Sometimes it is just consistently loud for the full duration until the engine heats up and the sound gradually fades. The sound is directly effected by an increase in RPMs either while in park or while moving. The sound appears "faster" and louder with increased RPMs. After the engine heats up, I can shut it off, leave it for several hours, and start it up with no noise. It need prolonged periods of sitting off for the noise to come back. Using any controls such as power steering, AC, or anything like that has no impact on the noise.
I have another appointment scheduled with Ford on Monday. I will be dropping it off Sunday so they can test it on a cold start.
Anyone have any ideas about this?
I have another appointment scheduled with Ford on Monday. I will be dropping it off Sunday so they can test it on a cold start.
Anyone have any ideas about this?
03-27-2014, 03:01 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
I also want to add that the last time I took it to Ford, I said that I wanted them to check out the transmission. They refused to do it until I fixed the leak in the cooler line first. When I asked about what would happen if it were still a problem internally with the transmission and would be covered under my power train warranty, he said no because I drove it with low transmission fluid. Can they really do that? Deny me coverage if the transmission goes bad? I mean, I stopped driving the car when I found out there was a transmission leak. How can I be blamed for that? Anyone know about this? I have about 4k miles left before that warranty expires.
03-27-2014, 03:04 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: OH
Posts: 11
That doesn't sound like the transmission to me, as it was either in park or neutral right? I suspect one of the accessories driven by the fan belt. My first bet would be the power steering. My brother-in-law had a Ranger that made almost exactly the same sound and it was his power steering pump. Have you checked the PS fluid level? What happens to the sound if you rev the engine like that and turn the steering wheel slightly?
03-27-2014, 04:25 PM
#10
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Zimbabwe
Posts: 1,925
Sounds like BS to me that they'd deny coverage like that. The transmission fluid didn't just disintegrate on its own; it was caused by a leak, i.e. a failure of another Ford factory part that's under their warranty.
