# Noise like a single engine airplane! **URL:** \ **Category:** Auto Type/Class\ **Tags:** trucks, ford, ranger\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098 "2009-09-24T19:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/1 "2009-09-24T19:05:43Z")
I have an '89 Ford Ranger 2.3L std transmission with 220K mis. A couple weeks ago I noticed what sounds like a pretty, loud low hum at speeds \>45mph. Otherwise it runs great with no apparent transmission problems. Should I be worried? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/2 "2009-09-24T19:31:05Z")
At that age anything is possible. the first places to look IMHO are at the tires (for wear), at the exhaust (for holes and loose hangers or parts like a heat shield), and at the driveshaft (for a bad U-joint). ---
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/3 "2009-09-24T19:52:43Z")
Can rule out tires, just put two new ones on and the remaining two checked out okay. U-joint is possible. I’ve pertually had problems with them on this truck even after replacing the drive shaft. Must be a “factory setting” we’re unaware of ;-). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/4 "2009-09-24T20:47:40Z")
What cab? Does the driveshaft have a carrier bearing? ---
**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:** [September 24, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/5 "2009-09-24T21:03:14Z")
The radiator fan speed is thermostatically controlled via a fan clutch. With the engine cold, try spinning the radiator fan by hand. It should spin a few times. If not, the fan clutch is locked up and requires replacement. Tester ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/6 "2009-09-24T21:04:25Z")
I’d put odds on a wheel bearing. Especially so if the noise changes at all when you turn. (e.g. reduces or disappears while turning one way or the other). ---
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/7 "2009-09-24T21:22:40Z")
That was my first thought but there is no noise at low speed or on turning. ---
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/8 "2009-09-24T22:31:05Z")
Fan turns freely. ---
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/9 "2009-09-24T22:31:48Z")
Extended cab…and I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/10 "2009-09-24T22:36:51Z")
If it’s an extended cab it’ll probably have a carrier bearing. That’s still a possibility in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/11 "2009-09-25T00:46:30Z")
The low speed noise wouldn’t shake my bets - but if it doesn’t change at all when turning…well, that’s a different story. The one possibility there is that they are noisy on both sides. Its worth jacking it up & giving the wheels a spin. Of course I’m also not saying to rule out other things - like the carrier bearing (mtnbike above & below) ---
**Author:** ![KimElaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@KimElaine](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KimElaine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/12 "2009-11-08T20:44:31Z")
Thanks everyone! It turned out to be the bearings. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-like-a-single-engine-airplane/37098/13 "2009-11-09T00:57:21Z")
Hold up a minute,we deserve to know what bearings and what test led them to this conclusion. Was it just one side and you were pursuaded with the old “if one is bad the rest are sure to follow” Even though you don’t answer many questions your info is still valuable to readers of CarTalk,contribute, it will be appreciated.