Ford 4.6L & 5.4L Power Steering Whine Type Noise

You can grab some new pulleys for the repair Here-(check fitment guide)
This is the serpentine belt tensioner tool I use Here-
This is the Blue Loctite I use in the video-

In this video I show you what is making all that noise in your engine compartment and it's not the power steering pump!
Torques Specs- Put Medium Strength (blue) Loctite on bolts
Idler 13mm Bolt- 18lb ft
Tensioner 10mm bolts- 18lb ft

[jimfowler]

Wow. You just saved me $1200. My wife took her Mountaineer to NTB / Big-O and told her she needed to change the rack and the power steering pump. I watched your video, went to the Zone, bought the part, and changed it 30 minutes or so. Quiet as a church mouse. Thank you very much. This is my favorite YouTube video ever!

[tbirdguy]

I took my truck into BSG for timing in june of 2022; and they told me I needed pulleys; I had them change them, and this exact whine is now gone; I thought for sure I needed new power steering pump...

Thanks for the great work Brian!

[TJ-qzhr]

I thought my p/s was whining once, but it was just the wife talking

[braxtonjones]

I’ve been trying to diagnose my “whining” for several weeks now. I think you may have just saved me a lot of trouble! I know there is no way it’s my power steering. There is no audible change to the “whine” while turning the wheel. Furthermore when I accelerate, or rev up the truck, the “whine” gets louder as the RPMs climb. As the RPMs fall back down, you guessed it... so does the sound of the whine. I’m going to get the tensioner pulley today and I will update everyone after I replace it! Thanks for the video, brotha.

[TheRobbee]

I really want to thank you for this!! I was going to order a new pump. But I ended up changing 4 of the pulleys (even the pulley on the tensioner). I did all 4 for $120 Canadian Pesos or $70 US. Now my F150 is as quiet as a Church Mouse!

[regthebackyardjackofalltrades]

Thanks a million...I knew this was it. You are the "Angel Mechanic" on my right shoulder. The left shoulder "Greezy Joe" mechanic is the guy at work that cannot spin a wrench but is always steering me the wrong way. I decided to save some cash and start riding my bicycles to work. I lost 30lbs, spent cash on tubes and lights and saved on gas. I only drove the 2004 4.6L Explorer to HD for yard stuff and after two months I heard this noise. The saying "Don't use it Loose it" comes to mind. When facing the engine the pump is on the right, alternator center top, idler pulley tensioner lower left. Now I'm going to go to the "All the Parts I'll Ever Need Store..." Thanks.

[tnitron]

You just diagnosed my whiney 2004 f150 correctly!
I fixed it myself in the driveway today for $20. This is the best car advise channel on youtube if you own a Ford especially! Thanks Again

[StormLaker]

I just bought my 03' F150 a month ago. With over 200K miles on it, I'm going through and "catching up" the little things the previous owner may not have done- this would be next on my list. I flushed and replaced my power steering fluid, that helped with the "whine" when I turn the wheel a lot. Going to replace the water pump and the alternator also while I have the belt off- good Saturday project to work on while I listen to a football game on the stereo in my bombproof my truck a little more. Down the road I plan on getting the engine/transmission rebuilt. Great truck, I'd like to see it live to 400K miles🙂

[El_Zero]

Thank you! After 14 years and 270K miles my f150 has started making this noise. I knew it wasn't the power steering pump but wasn't sure which pulley to go after. Will be ordering an OEM replacement!

[garyyost]

You did it again, saved me a bunch of money and a lot of hassle. My 2007 F150 5.4L had what I thought was a possible vacuum leak but it was indeed the tensioner pulley.

[bobrathfelder]

I wanted to report back to you and say this video is one of the most helpful auto repair tips I have seen on YouTube. I have a 2005 F150 with a 5.4L 3V which has been making a whine noise as you described, which I have been thinking was a Power Steering Pump or Alternator. Never once had I considered that it might be an idler pulley...!

After watching this video and then using a stethoscope to probe around the various locations while the engine was idling, I was able to positively determine that the idler pulley adjacent to the Power Steering Pump was just definitely grinding. I bought what I needed and R&R'd the suspect pulley - feeling the significant roughness in the bearing upon removal. After torquing the bolt and reinstalling the serpentine belt, cranked the engine and "oh baby" no more noise.

You were spot on, my friend.

This tip saved me so much time and money. I had already replaced the Alternator to no avail. Next I was planning to change the PS Pump. I am very glad I did not have to resort to that.

I am now thinking of replacing the other idler pulley and belt tensioner assembly just for good measure. Given the number of miles on engine, they're probably due.

Take care and best regards,
Bob

[jrobinsonchicago]

I love this channel! It's helped me diagnose several of my 2009 F150 problems and saved me thousands of dollars in the process. Thank you from all the DIY mechanics!

[sparkfire]

Worked like a charm, isolated the sound with mechanics stethoscope and bingo! Problem solved for $31.28 and about an hour of time. Thanks for the videos all very helpful.

[jasonbarrette]

Glad I found this video! Could have sworn my pump was going but I figured I had been close to seven years since I replaced the tensioner so ide used to do that before the pump! Whine is gone! Thank you

[mdesousa]

Thank you for this video people were telling me it was power steering but the noise didn’t happen when I turned left or right just when I sped up changed out the tensioner and pulley. noise is now gone thanks again

[Robert-gewd]

yep my Crown Vic is making this exact noise. It just started the other day... coming from the right side of the engine. right where that damn pulley is. Thank you for saving me the headache!

[Da_mafia]

Thank you Thank you for posting this video. I took my truck to my mechanic today because I was told the barrings in my power steering pump where bad and it needed to be replaced. I asked them to check all the pulleys and it turned out 1 of my pulleys was bad so he changed it. He put the belt back on and the sound was gone and it saved my a lot of money.

[realityname]

Dude you are awesome, everytime something happens to my e250 and I can't find any info online I always manage to find something extremely useful on your channel. You've saved my ass on multiple occasions keep up the good work

[Ty_ThatGuy]

Man, thank you so much for this. I know someone with the exact same problem and I thought I fixed it but the noise came back a couple of weeks later. You're right, it sounds just like power steering and since it was below the MIN line, I thought that was the culprit. Now I know where the problem is. Thanks again.

[Lilcloud]

Thank You,
You have saved me many hours of diagnosing the whine.. I replaced the tensioning pulley and that did the trick.. Thanks,    Joel