Thank you all for responding, I feel much better now. I love this truck and so far I have had no problems with it. In fact I talked my father into buying one too. He just ordered a 2003.


Thanks again

 

I will not argue with you. If you feel it is your power steering then it must be.

However, I will tell you that there is no gear grinding noise when your starter is still spinning when it is NOT engaged with the fly wheel. The starter gear is operated by 2 solenoids one pushes the gear out so it will contact the fly wheel and the other provides power to spin the starter motor. The second mentioned solenoid is slow to dis-engage in the cold because of the very large amount of power/amps/voltage going through it.

Try a full power steering flush it might help out your noise.

Peace-

 

Getting Colder!!! It depends on what you mean by colder. It is only -20F right now, and to be honest with you that is pretty warm considering the time of the year. I walk around in short sleaved shirts in this kinda weather. I guess I'm kind of weird when it comes to cold weather, I've grown use to it so it just doesn't bother me all that much. Up here we normally receive our cold air from Siberia and then pass it on to you guys down south, but do to the jet stream being so eratic this winter we haven't been as cold as normal. It has only been as low as -50F for us all winter, and it only lasted for a little less than two weeks at that. Global warming is becoming extremely evident up here, and it is really starting to cause problems for the polar bear population.

hcmq

What made you come to conclusion that the noise is from the starter? I don't doubt what you are saying, because the noise may very well be from the starter.

 

I live in a cold climate with the last couple of weeks very cold -30 w/-45 windchill!!!! Both of my 97's done this and was traced back to the powersteering pump. Its normal......don't worry about it says Ford. So I haven't and everything is all okeedokee. I had my original 97 for 4 yrs.

 

There is a chance that we are talking about 2 different sounds here.

I traced the sound back to my starter by being under the hood when the truck was started by a friend.

The sound is a short (a few seconds) really loud high speed motor sound. Not the loud hissing/squealing sound of a PS pump.

Have you ever heard the sound a vehicle makes when the sarter won't engage the flywheel? It is not a gear grinding noise it is a high speed/spinning noise.

The PS pump isn't spinning nearly fast enough at start up to make this noise.

later-

 

hcmq

Considering how you explained everything your conclusion seems quite logical. Now you got me thinking more about it.

 

It does make sense that they are two different sounds. The Whine varies with the RPM as it moves around on PS pump, I'm guessing it wouldn't be the same for the other noise!

 

Since the dawn of time Ford ps pumps have whined in the cold weather. Not sure why , it just happens. It usually goes away afte 10-20 seconds. I can see how you could get mixed up as the starter drag sounds similar but the ps is unique. If you live in the warmer climates and want to hear it just drain and then refill your pump. when you start it up and crank the wheel to blead the pump you will hear the noise. It is one you wont forget.

 

Ford's power steering pumps aren't the only ones that whine in cold weather, you should hear what a chevy sounds like if it starts when it is cold.

 

I laugh

I'll go along with anything you say about starting a truck in the cold. You definately have the experience here. I'm still waiting to hear what the lowest temp is for the temp gage.

I have heard that when it gets to -60 you have to warm up the oil pan and both axles with a gas torch before you can start a truck.

I did a test Monday morning when the temp was -2. I used the HEC Instrument Cluster Diagnostics to get a reading of the water temp in the head of my 01 4.2 engine. I set the odometer to dislpay dEGC. I started the truck at 7:44 and the engine hit operating temp at 8:11 which was 9 miles into my commute. That includes a five minute warm up before I started driving. I needed to scrape off the windows first. Total time 25 minutes to operating temp.

The temp climbed up to 99C then quickly dropped back to 91C which is 196F. I expect that is when the thermostat opened.

I would be intereste in your results at -30 or -40. All you have to do is hold the TRIP/REST button while you start the truck until the odometer reads TEST. Then push the reset button until the dislpay reads dEGC.

The record temp here was -26 in 82. I'll never see -40.

 

I'm still waiting to hear what the lowest temp is for the temp gage.

I didn't realize anyone really wanted to know, but since you asked the temp gauge will stop reading at -40F. For some reason Ford just didn't program them to read any lower than that, but then again how many will ever experience temperatures lower than that. My guess is not many, so why bother making the gauge read any lower. My very first winter in interior Alaska is when I found out that it only reads to -40F, because the actual outside temp was -70F. I have never experienced cold like that before. You have know idea how hard it is to breath when the temperature gets that cold. I am not asthmatic, but the cold makes it seem as if you are. You should see the ice fog at that temperature, it is extremely thick and ice crystals are floating every where. What is weird is that there are a few places in Alaska that get far colder than where I live. Oh yeah, the Northern Lights seem to be more prominent in the sky when it gets colder as well.

I have heard that when it gets to -60 you have to warm up the oil pan and both axles with a gas torch before you can start a truck.

That's not true for all vehicles, but for some it is. I had to push someones van into their garage with my truck because every fluid in the vehicle froze overnight, including the gasoline. This van was completely winterized with all the heaters you can think of, but it just got way too cold for it. Your axles do tend to freeze up a bit, but you can still move if you put it in 4x4 to free up the front axle (don't try it with a chevy those plastic pieces in 4x4 transfer case will shatter some times, Ford uses rubber which is more durable in cold temps). For some reason the front axle tends to freeze more easily than the rear axle. I can go on and on and tell you guys what I have seen happen to certain makes when the temp really starts to drop, but all I will say is that when it is extremely cold nothing is more dependable than a Ford truck. You would understand why I say that if you ever drive up and down the highway up here when the temperature is below -50F, all you see are Ford trucks running.

 

I've read through the discussion about a noise at startup and mine is different. I have a 2002 F150 with 5.4L and I get more of a whistle at startup but also throughout the time until the engine has warmed up and sometimes longer. It's much worse (in volume and duration) when it's cold outside - last week as low at -5F. The noise will come and go with acceleration and at steady throttle. I've not been able to pinpoint it to any one system - for instance, powersteering pump. Not having the time to track it down, I took it to the dealer and they have changed a PCV hose (hard plastic to rubber) and a heater modulation valve and hose. They now think it's the IAC (not sure of the acronym, but part of the intake system), which sounds more likely as it usually goes away after the engine is warm, although I have heard it afterwards. However, before they try this or something else that may or may not fix the problem, I wonder if any of you have any ideas. I really like my truck and first heard this whistle after only 3 months and 3300 miles - of course, about the time that it started to get cold. Thanks.