2005 Ford Escape V6 Rattles under acceleration

[DGXSER]

My sister has a 2005 Ford Escape. Has about 95,000 miles on it. She told me it was making "a noise" under accelleration. She could only hear it with the windows down and next to a wall or something similar.

I went for a test ride with her and we could only hear it when accelerating at a slow speed and near a wall or something like that from in the cabin. I could also hear it walking next to the car when she moved it on my driveway. It sounds very much liek a loose piece of sheet metal running against something but at a higher rate than anything is moving.

I put it on ramp stands and climbed underneath, I could not see anythign that could be rubbing against any of the drive train. I pulled the drivers side wheel and pushed/ slightly bent the dust shield on the brake disc back a little bit. No change. I did notice that the flexible sleeve on the exhaust has pulled loose form its end. I am concerned the noise sounded like it might be internal to the drivetrain.

Appreciate any thoughts.

[Montreux_Blue]

I've heard a similar rattle before, it was some rocks between the heat shield and the catalytic converter.

[wa407mpp]

Bad knock sensor?

It sounds like spark knock, the newer model cars have what is called a knock sensor, that signals the computer to retard the timing when it senses spark knock, and prevent damage to the engine. check and see if it is working.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Check engine light on?

[kirmit77]

most likely somewhere along the exhaust system.....

but if you could drive it here to houston I would do a FREE check on the car

[XSokieSPECIAL]

most likely somewhere along the exhaust system.....

but if you could drive it here to houston I would do a FREE check on the car

Ha ha.... your probably right kermit it's probably one of those MANY usless heat shields popped a spot weld.

[DGXSER]

The check engine light is not on.

I tried pushing and prodding every heat sheild I could find and the only thing that moved at all was that flex hose piece on the exhaust.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

If the engine light isn't on it's probably not a sensor Don.

I agree with kermit, it's probably something in the exhaust. Awfully hard to diagnose noises on a key board though.

Can you replicate it sitting in the driveway? With the brake on put it in gear and ease into the throttle until you hit that sweet spot that produces the noise.

Get some help and trace it by ear.

[kirmit77]

Cat. Converters have a honey comb type material inside of them. Sometimes they can break down and rattle in the system. Also parts in the mufflers can rattle too. Whatever you do, do not get under that car while your wife has it in gear and trying to mash both brake and gas pedals..... You might laugh but it has happened. Not being able to have it in front of me like Okie said, it is hard to diag. the problem.

Good luck to yah... and watch out for the exhuast... it gets HOT

[DGXSER]

Thanks for the suggestions, and yes, I ain't about to get under the car while anyone (especially my sister) has it in gear or even them in it with it turned on. That would be very similar to cleaning your bike chain by running the bike in gear with a cloth (yeah, I read that story).

When I walked.jogged beside the car while she drove up the driveway, it sounded like it is very forward on the car. She says it is worse now and pretty loud in the garage at her place, so I am going over tonight and see if I can figure anything out.

Thanks again for the ideas. And yeah, noises are the worst thign to try and figure out from 1000 miles away through a keyboard, so I certainly appreciate any thoughts.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

good luck





I'll check the repair database at work tomorrow and see if there is anything.

2005 Escape 3.0 OHC right? Automatic?

[motoman]

Dgxser.......If your not running the reccomended 5-20w oil you WILL have at the least a lifter issue...........had changed oil in our 03 escape and put in Vav.10-30w...........only in 4 days luckily and was informed to get it out immediatley! Fortunately, under accelleration noise went away with 5-20w Vav.! Clearances are too tight on new stuff, so run what is reccomended oil weights. Not sure on your 05, but my 03 is an XSessive motor......yeppers, its a Yammie!..........so should run indefinitely like our scoots. Also, no timing belts as you may have noticed when oil fill cap is off.....tis roller chains. Ours has 80K on it and have never even put plugs in it. Ford does NOT even reccomend a change till 70K. Problen is when changing plugs is the WHOLE intake has to be removed to access the back three plugs......and intake nuts only torque at 7foot pounds, and if intake cracks(plastic), has to be replaced to the tune of 3grand........so as long as it's gettin 24mpg and runs good, original plugs can stay for now. Just a bit of info that hopefully helps ya.
also, alot of the new stuff out there uses 0-10w.....now that's some really close tolerances. Hopefully your unit has always had the reccomended 5-20w or damage has already been done. Likeley won't cause engine failure, just noisey. Here, I know the service managers, parts people, etc. at my local Ford dealer and service manager even told me that one of the first questions asked when vehicle comes in is "when was last oil change and what weight are you using"..........better have correct answer or factory warrenty is immediately voided and you will be asked to leave shop with your vehicle! Just my 2cents, and likely not worth a penny.......

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Well.....motoman is absolutly right about the type of oil to use 5/20. If you don't it will void the manufacturers warranty.

But not changing the oil for 70k?

I think he better check his manual for maintanence service again!!!!

But then----Ford has always held a couple of extra quarts just because they'll burn it off or leak it between oil changes.

[DGXSER]

Actually, I just did an oil change last weekend. Yes, put 5W-30 Castrol GTX in it. Yep, it took 6 quarts And has the 3.0 with automatic trans. Same amount of oil as my 5.4L in my F150!

So, I let my sis use my truck while her car is being investigated. So I took another look at it. At this point, it makes the noise when in Neutral or drive but not in park and only when lightly on the gas but not in upper RPMS. It definitely is in the front area as in not behind the front wheels. I also raised the hood and could not hear it from above at all. I had it in neutral with blocks on the wheels and the parking brake set climbed under it and put my hand on the flex connector in front of the cat converter. I could feel the same vibration as the noise in the exhaust pipe. Putting my hand on any part fo the exhaust did NOT change the noise at all.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Actually, I just did an oil change last weekend. Yes, put 5W-30 Castrol GTX in it. Yep, it took 6 quarts And has the 3.0 with automatic trans. Same amount of oil as my 5.4L in my F150!

5w20 Don! It's printed right on the oil cap.

These newer engines have a LOT tighter tolerences and require thinner oil.

Check the cap on your F150 too. The 5.4s and 4.6s have had problems with the timing chain tesioners if you don't treat them right.

Those dammed things have about 6' of timing chain.