Just within the last couple miles of my drive back to Lexington today, I started to hear a noise...kind of a hollow grinding sound....whenever I turned right. Anyone know what this is/might be? Car's a 1997 Ford Taurus, if that makes a difference. I've got my guess (a wheel bearing starting to go) but I thought I'd pose the question here and see if anyone knew

You're right. You have a bad wheel bearing.

Assuming that's what the problem is, who do I need to see to get this fixed?

Any reputable auto repair shop should be able to handle that job. At my shop, you are probably looking at a couple hundred, parts and labor to replace that wheel bearing. Get a couple of estimates from different shops, just remember the least expensive estimate doesn't always mean the best quality job. Good luck. :)

I had a bad wheel bearing myself a few years ago I would turn right, and I would get that funny noise. Yeah, go to any auto shop and get the best estimate. Words of advice, don't go to a big name franchise, you will be paying for the name itself.

No offense Seth, but Fords to me aren't good cars. Fords make better trucks.
Two of my brothers had Ford Taurus, one of them currently has one, a 2001, and the damn transmission went about a month ago. The other one had a 2005 Ford Taurus, it gave him nothing but problems to the point where it wasn't worth to keep getting it repaired. I am not discouraging you, I am just going by what i seen my brothers went through. All automobiles will eventually give out, but we just never been big on Fords.

I don't know what the problem is, Seth, but take it from me - DON'T go to Midas!!! :mad:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=215862

My condolences on having a Ford. :)

I've had this car for just under 40,000 miles (Got it at 108,000) and this is exactly the 2nd problem I've had in that entire time.

I'm not complaining about MY Ford, thankyouverymuch.

An update: I took the car for a little spin around the parking lot. Did lap after lap after lap, both clockwise and counterclockwise and mixed turns and etc.

Could NOT reproduce the exact sound I heard at the volume I heard it yesterday. Didn't hear anything for the first few minutes after starting the car (if it were a wheel bearing, wouldn't it be making the noise no matter what). After a few minutes I started to hear sort of a creaking sound that did get louder whenever I turned BUT was present even when I wasn't.

I don't know what the problem is, Seth, but take it from me - DON'T go to Midas!!! :mad:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=215862Amen.

An update: I took the car for a little spin around the parking lot. Did lap after lap after lap, both clockwise and counterclockwise and mixed turns and etc.

Could NOT reproduce the exact sound I heard at the volume I heard it yesterday. Didn't hear anything for the first few minutes after starting the car (if it were a wheel bearing, wouldn't it be making the noise no matter what). After a few minutes I started to hear sort of a creaking sound that did get louder whenever I turned BUT was present even when I wasn't.Usually when a bearing goes bad the noise is constant. Maybe you ran over something that got caught up in the wheel, then dropped out. The way you described your problem I would have bet the house you had a bad bearing.

The noise doesn't seem to be coming from either specific wheel. I tried playing with the steering - turning it left and right - while parked and the noise seemed to be coming almost from the steering column itself.

I don't know what the problem is, Seth, but take it from me - DON'T go to Midas!!! :mad:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=215862
Oh my, I remember that thread very well. :eek:

Is it a whining noise? maybe check the p/s fluid. Fords are notorious for noisy power steering pumps.

Usually when a bearing goes bad the noise is constant. Maybe you ran over something that got caught up in the wheel, then dropped out. The way you described your problem I would have bet the house you had a bad bearing.
I've had bearing problems in the past, too, so you may want to have that checked out. Let us know what happens.

Between the coolant tank and passenger-front headlight is a dark cylinder of some sort - with the alternator and place I check the PS fluid a bit off towards the driver's side. There are a couple of hoses that run in and out of this cylinder. When I stopped the car after a test run today there was some sort of liquid around the base where the hose ran into this cylinder. Elsewhere, this liquid had gotten onto some paint covering a metal tubing, removing the paint completely from those areas. Another tube that runs out of this cylinder later connects to some sort of shaft that appears to be related to the drivability of the car.

The car, when driven from a cold start, gradually develops a creaking sound that gets worse the longer the car is driven.

I know the above seems like nonsense, but it's just my observations this afternoon. If anyone can decipher the above into anything salvagable, let me know. I apologize that I wasn't able to give a more technical description, but I readily admit I just don't know a lot about the mechanics of cars (though I'm gradually learning)

I'm no mechanic, Seth, but it sounds serious. Get it checked out as soon as you can!

Between the coolant tank and passenger-front headlight is a dark cylinder of some sort - with the alternator and place I check the PS fluid a bit off towards the driver's side. There are a couple of hoses that run in and out of this cylinder. When I stopped the car after a test run today there was some sort of liquid around the base where the hose ran into this cylinder. Elsewhere, this liquid had gotten onto some paint covering a metal tubing, removing the paint completely from those areas. Another tube that runs out of this cylinder later connects to some sort of shaft that appears to be related to the drivability of the car.

The car, when driven from a cold start, gradually develops a creaking sound that gets worse the longer the car is driven.

I know the above seems like nonsense, but it's just my observations this afternoon. If anyone can decipher the above into anything salvagable, let me know. I apologize that I wasn't able to give a more technical description, but I readily admit I just don't know a lot about the mechanics of cars (though I'm gradually learning)The cylinder you describe should be your a/c compressor, you will have pressure lines coming out of it. Freon runs thru them. Maybe you heard your a/c compressor making that noise.

How would *that* be causing the noise, though? Particularly given when the noise seems to be occuring...(Thanks for all your help on this, by the way. I wish I could just bring the car straight to you in person)

How would *that* be causing the noise, though? Particularly given when the noise seems to be occuring...(Thanks for all your help on this, by the way. I wish I could just bring the car straight to you in person)I wish you could too! :lol: When you turn the steering wheel your putting tension on the belt, thus causing the noise? Unless I can acually hear the noise it's so hard to try and diagnose. The creaking noise is probably the need for a good grease job.

Don't suppose by any miracle you happen to be within distance of Lexington, KY? :lol:

If I could pinpoint exactly where the sound was coming from, my day would be so much easier. I know it's coming from the front half of the car, at the very least.

Don't suppose by any miracle you happen to be within distance of Lexington, KY? :lol:

If I could pinpoint exactly where the sound was coming from, my day would be so much easier. I know it's coming from the front half of the car, at the very least.I'm in Pittsburgh so I guess that's out lol.

You know, I wonder if it could be suspension-related? My car goes through hell, and it's still got the exact same suspension elements (shocks, struts, you name it) that it did when I got the car used 40,000 miles ago. It's possible the liquid's entirely unrelated.

BTW, would a sporadic creaking noise have anything to do with shock absorbers? This is a noise I hear once in a great while while driving and slowly coming to a stop or proceeding forward from a stopped position. It happens like I said, so sporadically that I know if I take it into the dealership, the noise won't occur (of course) and I will waste my time.

I'm in Pittsburgh so I guess that's out lol.
Maybe you could exchange numbers and Seth could hold up the phone when the noise in his car happens. Just a thought...

Maybe you could exchange numbers and Seth could hold up the phone when the noise in his car happens. Just a thought...
:lol:

Or how abt using a cell phone and videotaping the whole thing?


I feel for you Seth, being in college and having a tight budget, the last thing one needs to deal with is a car problem. :crazy:

You know, I wonder if it could be suspension-related? My car goes through hell, and it's still got the exact same suspension elements (shocks, struts, you name it) that it did when I got the car used 40,000 miles ago. It's possible the liquid's entirely unrelated.It just might be. I have a feeling you are probably going to have to take it to a garage. Don't take it to a Sears,Pepboys,Procare,Midas,ect. BIG RIPOFFS, they will sell you things you don't need. Ask around from friends,family who they take thier vehicles to and who they trust. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, If you ever need to ask abt another problem,don't hesitate to ask i'd be glad to help. :)

BTW, would a sporadic creaking noise have anything to do with shock absorbers? This is a noise I hear once in a great while while driving and slowly coming to a stop or proceeding forward from a stopped position. It happens like I said, so sporadically that I know if I take it into the dealership, the noise won't occur (of course) and I will waste my time.Irene, what kind of car do you have? And BTW what's with all these creaking noises? :lol:

A GMC Envoy.

Yeah, when Seth mentioned the creaking noise, it dawned on me to ask. :lol:

A GMC Envoy.

Yeah, when Seth mentioned the creaking noise, it dawned on me to ask. :lol:That's a nice vehicle. It could be shocks. Have you had it lubed lately? theres bushings, body mounts ect that could cause a creak. Get a real good lube, and see if it doesn't go away. If it's not under warranty don't go to the dealer, unless you're a millionaire. :lol:

That's a nice vehicle. It could be shocks. Have you had it lubed lately? theres bushings, body mounts ect that could cause a creak. Get a real good lube, and see if it doesn't go away. If it's not under warranty don't go to the dealer, unless you're a millionaire. :lol:
I did have a lube job done on it less than a year ago. It is one of those noises that happens so sporadically that I know if I take it in just to have it checked out, the noise won't exist.

I actually do take my car into the dealership. I feel better that way. :cool: They know the history of my car and all the things that I have had done. I took my car to a regular place for an oil change and the oil change light remained on. I finally took it to the dealership and they told me those places don't know how to adjust the setting so the oil change light goes off. :crazy:

so, loose nut behind the wheel - problem solved !! :dance:

That's great, Seth - hope everything is fine now with the car. :cool:

I'm an arrogant idiot whose indecision bites him time and time again. I seriously doubt it was the lugs. I may well have been right from the get-go (this is the automotive drama that just won't give up, and I'm getting tired of it)

Following dad's advice, I jacked up the car and pushed inward on both the left and right sides of the driver-front wheel as well as forward and backwards along the tread. While spinning the wheel forward and backward I could hear....wait for it....a grinding sound. And the wheel had a decent bit of give whenever I psuhed inwards on it.