# Fan coming on, whining sound

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** thunderbird, ford\
**Created:** [February 16, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379 "2013-02-16T00:51:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BlueTBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@BlueTBird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BlueTBird)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/1 "2013-02-16T00:51:11Z")

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My 2003 T-Bird (52,000 miles, original owner and only driver) has a fan coming on occasionally (in front) while I am driving. No warning lights. It goes off when I shut off the engine but then I get a high pitched whining sound (in front) that shuts off after a few minutes. I took into the dealer and they checked out my radiator level (full) but found a pinhole leak in the radiator hose. “The engine is not overheating, not to worry, fan is electronic and is normal”. I don’t think its normal since this is the first time its doing this after 9 years. Could this be the same problem as Elaina is having: An evaporative emissions pump sticky valve or leak in this system?

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/2 "2013-02-16T04:15:38Z")

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I think a pin hole leak in the radiator hose is something to worry about. Get the hose replaced. Maybe what you are hearing is steam escaping through the pin hole.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/3 "2013-02-16T04:26:54Z")

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+1 for Triedaq. A pinhole leak combined with high pressure and a rubber hose can make a sound loud enough to wake up the neighbors.

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/4 "2013-02-16T04:44:59Z")

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Get s second opinion.

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**Author:** ![BlueTBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@BlueTBird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BlueTBird)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/5 "2013-02-16T22:38:02Z")

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The whining sound is not coming from the hose. Its coming from the passenger side below the hose, next to the engine, close to the front of the car.

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**Author:** ![BlueTBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@BlueTBird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BlueTBird)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fan-coming-on-whining-sound/77379/6 "2013-02-17T05:54:00Z")

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I went to justanswer.ford and someone had the exact same thing happen to their 2003 T-Bird. They told them it was the engine cooling fan motor that needs replacing. I will go to the dealer with this information.