# 2003 Ford Escape V6 with soft humming noise at stops. HELP! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** escape, ford\ **Created:** [July 16, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368 "2013-07-16T18:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GeauxTigers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GeauxTigers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeauxTigers)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/1 "2013-07-16T18:25:43Z")
I have a 2003 ford escape (V6 Limited/Automatic) that just hit the 145,000 mile mark. With routine maintenance and minor repairs, I am hoping to make the car last at least 200,000 miles. I currently have an annoying, intermittent problem that I have not been able to solve on my own, so I am hoping someone can shed some light on this for or point me in a different direction. The car has no performance issues, but when the vehicle come to a stop while in drive (at a red light, etc) the car make a low humming noise that is coming from the front of the vehicle. The noise stops once I get the vehicle back in motion or when I throw the car into neutral. The humming also changes when I turn the steering wheel, but I think that might have to do with the load on the engine changing. The only thought I have is the torque converter, but I am not sure how I would test or rule that out. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/2 "2013-07-16T18:59:36Z")
Before you go to any extreme measures, have the car put up on a lift and checked for a loose or bent heat shield on the exhaust system. These thin sheet metal parts can produce a variety of noises under specific circumstances (e.g.–only at certain RPMs, only when the transmission is in gear, only at certain ambient temperatures, etc.), and can frequently be fixed by using a large screw-type clamp in the right place. Among the noises that a loose or bent heat shield can produce are sounds that can be described as…buzzing…grinding…rattling, so hopefully your “hum” is just a symptom of a loose/bent heat shield. If this turns out to be a blind alley, then I would suggest a visit to an independent transmission shop. **DO NOT** go to AAMCO, Lee Myles, Cottman, Mr. Transmission, or any other chain operation unless you want to be sold a rebuilt transmission–whether you actually need one or not. ---
**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/3 "2013-07-16T19:08:04Z")
Along with that^ very solid advice, you may want to get yourself an automotive stethoscope (harbor freight, advance auto, pepboys, etc) and probe around to see where it is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/4 "2013-07-16T21:07:47Z")
Could just be a belt or automatic tensioner. The stethoscope would help isolate where the noise is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![GeauxTigers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GeauxTigers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeauxTigers)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/5 "2013-07-16T23:43:17Z")
Thanks for the advice- I will look into all of these suggestions as soon as I can. I also wanted to mention that the past 2 years have included a lot of driving in the city with slow traffic and idle time. That’s another reason I was thinking the torque converter, but I will certainly double check the easy items first. ---
**Author:** ![GeauxTigers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GeauxTigers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeauxTigers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/6 "2013-07-17T05:24:45Z")
I bought a stethoscope and went under the vehicle tonight, and I was able to rule out the heat shield, exhaust, and tensioner as the culprit. I put the stethoscope on the torque converter and transmission housing and there was no sign of the noise. To my surprise, I think the noise is actually coming from the power steering system. Would a bad steering gear, rack and pinion, or pump cause this kind of intermittent humming? The noise is also extremely pronounced within the vehicle if I turn the wheel all the way to either side. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/7 "2013-07-17T05:45:08Z")
The problem might be with the Idle Air Control valve. There have been reports that the IAC valve can make a humming noise at the front of the vehicle on Fords at idle. Now that you have a stethoscope, when the engine is idling and the humming noise occurs place the tip of the stethoscope on the IAC valve. That’ll confirm if that’s where noise is coming from. Tester ---
**Author:** ![GeauxTigers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GeauxTigers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeauxTigers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 6:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/8 "2013-07-17T06:22:49Z")
Hi tester, thank you for the suggestion. I actually recently replaced the IAC valve as a part of my last major maintenance, and I actually did listen to its function with the scope just to make sure. The sound does not seem to be related to the IAC valve. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/9 "2013-07-17T12:32:20Z")
I was thinking the power steering pump when you mentioned the noise changed while making steering changes. I guess you have already made sure the fluid level is where it should be. ---
**Author:** ![GeauxTigers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GeauxTigers](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GeauxTigers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-ford-escape-v6-with-soft-humming-noise-at-stops-help/80368/10 "2013-07-25T01:45:48Z")
Does anyone have suggestions as to how I could differentiate between a bad steering gear and a bad power steering pump? The noise I am hearing changes when I engage/disengage any of the mechanical items that run off the drive belt. For instance, when I turn off the headlights or the a/c, the noise will change and then come back. Perhaps I am hearing the sound at idle as the rpms drop and don’t spin the power steering pump fast enough to compensate for a malfunction? Still shooting in the dark. Thanks again for any suggestions.