Symptom Chart

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford Explorer. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION - NVH

Condition	Possible Sources	Actions
Axle howling or whine - front or rear axle	Axle lubricant low Axle housing damage Damaged or worn wheel hub bearings Damaged or worn differential ring and pinion Damaged or worn differential side or pinion bearings	CHECK the lubricant level. FILL the axle to specification. INSPECT the axle housing for damage. INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY CHECK for abnormal wheel hub bearing play or roughness. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REFER to REAR SUSPENSION . INSPECT and INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY INSPECT and INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY
Driveline clunk - loud clunk when shifting from REVERSE to DRIVE	Incorrect axle lubricant level Excessive backlash in the axle Damaged or worn pinion bearings Damaged or worn U-joints Loose hub nut	CHECK the lubricant level. FILL the axle to specification. CHECK the axle backlash. INSPECT and INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY INSPECT the U-joints for wear or damage. INSTALL new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT CHECK the torque on the hub nut. REPLACE the hub nut if the torque is not at specification. For front hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH or for rear hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT
Driveline clunk - occurs as the vehicle starts to move forward following a stop	Worn driveshaft CV joint or U-joint with excessive play Loose rear axle mount Loose hub nut	INSPECT the CV joint and U-joint for a worn condition. INSTALL a new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT CHECK the axle for loose bolts. TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to REAR DRIVE AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL . CHECK the torque on the hub nut. REPLACE the hub nut if the torque is not at specification. For front hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH or for rear hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT .
Driveline clunk FWD vehicles - occurs during acceleration or from cruise to coast/deceleration	Damaged or worn inner CV joint Loose hub nut	INSPECT the inner CV joint and boot. INSTALL a new CV joint as necessary. REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH CHECK the torque on the hub nut. REPLACE the hub nut if the torque is not at specification. For front hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH or for rear hub nuts REFER to HALFSHAFT .
Clicking, popping or grinding - occurs while the vehicle is turning	Inadequate or contaminated lubrication in the CV joints Another component contacting the halfshaft	CHECK the CV boots and joints for wear or damage. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH CHECK the halfshafts and the area around the halfshafts. REPAIR as necessary. CHECK the halfshafts and the area around the halfshafts. Install an outer halfshaft washer (part # BB5Z-7G422-AB) as necessary.
High pitched chattering - noise from the rear axle when the vehicle is turning	Incorrect or contaminated lubricant Damaged or worn differential (differential side gears and pinion gears)	CHECK the vehicle by driving in tight circles (5 clockwise, 5 counterclockwise). FLUSH and REFILL with the specified rear axle lubricant. INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY
Buzz - buzzing noise is the same at cruise or coast/deceleration	Incorrect driveline angles	CHECK for correct driveline angles. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DRIVELINE ANGLE MEASUREMENT .
Rumble or boom - noise occurs at coast/deceleration, usually driveshaft speed related and noticeable over a wide range of speeds	Driveshaft is out of balance Universal-Joint (U-Joint) are binding or seized	CHECK the driveshaft for damage, missing balance weights or undercoating. REFER to DRIVESHAFT RUNOUT AND BALANCING . ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation or seized U-joints. INSTALL new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT
Grunting - normally associated with a shudder experienced during acceleration from a complete stop	Driveshaft CV joint binding Loose rear axle mount bolts or suspension fasteners	INSTALL a new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT INSPECT the rear suspension and axle. TIGHTEN the fasteners to specification. REFER to REAR DRIVE AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL .
Howl - can occur at various speeds and driving conditions. Affected by acceleration and deceleration	Incorrect ring and pinion contact, incorrect bearing preload or gear damage	INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY .
Chuckle - heard at coast/deceleration. Also described as a knock	Incorrect ring and pinion contact or damaged teeth on the coast side of the ring and pinion	INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY .
Knock - noise occurs at various speeds. Not affected by acceleration or deceleration	Gear tooth damage to the drive side of the ring and pinion	INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY .
Scraping noise - a continuous low pitched noise starting at low speeds	Worn or damaged pinion bearings	INSTALL a new RDU as necessary. REFER to AXLE ASSEMBLY
Driveline shudder - occurs during acceleration from a slow speed or stop	Rear drive axle assembly mispositioned Loose rear axle bolts Driveline angles out of specification U-joint binding or seized Binding or damaged driveshaft CV joint	CHECK the axle mounts and the rear suspension for damage or wear. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to REAR DRIVE AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL . CHECK the rear axle for loose bolts. TIGHTEN the bolts to specification. REFER to REAR DRIVE AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL . CHECK for correct driveline angles. REFER to DRIVELINE ANGLE MEASUREMENT . ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation or seized U-joints. INSTALL new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT INSPECT the driveshaft CV joint and coupling shaft for wear or damage. INSTALL a new driveshaft as necessary. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT
Driveline vibration - occurs at cruising speeds	Worn U-joint Worn or damaged driveshaft center bearing support Loose axle pinion flange bolts Excessive axle pinion flange runout Driveshaft is out of balance Binding or damaged driveshaft CV joint Excessive driveshaft runout Driveline angles out of specification Incorrectly seated CV joint in the wheel hub	CHECK for wear or incorrect seating. INSTALL new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT . CHECK the insulator for damage or wear. ROTATE the driveshaft and CHECK for rough operation. INSTALL a new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT . INSPECT the axle pinion flange. TIGHTEN the pinion flange bolts to specification. REFER to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . CARRY OUT a runout check. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT RUNOUT AND BALANCING . CHECK the driveshaft for damage, missing balance weights or undercoating. CHECK the driveshaft balance. CARRY OUT a driveline vibration test. REFER to DRIVESHAFT RUNOUT AND BALANCING . INSPECT the driveshaft CV joint for wear or damage. INSTALL a new driveshaft as necessary. REFER to DRIVESHAFT CARRY OUT a runout check. REFER to DRIVESHAFT RUNOUT AND BALANCING . CHECK the outer CV joint for correct seating into the hub. REPAIR as necessary. REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) , REFER to HALFSHAFT - RH, FWD , REFER to HALFSHAFT - LH for the front CV joints or REFER to HALFSHAFT for the rear CV joints.