# Dull grinding noise when accelerating

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/dull-grinding-noise-when-accelerating/39386>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** focus, ford\
**Created:** [November 12, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dull-grinding-noise-when-accelerating/39386 "2009-11-12T08:11:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![adriannamartin06](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@adriannamartin06](https://community.cartalk.com/u/adriannamartin06)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dull-grinding-noise-when-accelerating/39386/1 "2009-11-12T08:11:28Z")

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I have a 2003 Ford Focus Wagon which about 133,000 miles on it. When I accelerate I hear a dull grinding or scraping sound coming from the passenger side.  
  
 Any ideas as to what the problem could be?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dull-grinding-noise-when-accelerating/39386/2 "2009-11-12T12:25:06Z")

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Here’s a wild guess:

The passenger side is where the accessory drive belts and pulleys are. If a broken motor mount is allowing the engine to shift under acceleration one of the pulleys could be contacting something and making the noise.

Another possibility is a vibration in the exhaust system (loose heat shield?), but without being able to hear the noise it’s really hard to say.

Have you looked under the hood for any indication of scraping or grinding?