Intermittent hum or howl from front end

[Murrk847]

I have the problem too. Happened earlier in the year when it was cold. Didn't do it all summer and then started the first morning it was in the 20's. Noise starts and stops in the same stretch of road every morning during my commute. Happens between 40-50mph. I take a left turn out of my driveway, drive about a mile 40-50mph, take another left turn, drive about another mile 40-50mph before it does it. Not sure how much more specific I can get lol. Goes away after about 30 seconds like everyone else is saying.

Doesnt seem to have any impact on driveability. If it chews up the wheel bearing or IWE then its a ford warranty problem. Hopefully Ford figures it out so I don't have to play the back and forth game with the Dealer. I dont have time for my truck to be sitting at the dealer for a month while they thumb their asses trying to figure it out.

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[Jerome10]

Just chiming in had this issue tonight. I think I’m at about 3600 miles. Powerboost XLT 2023.
Right about 48 miles per hour. Probably 32 degrees out. Been driving in 2H for months.
Tapped brakes and noise stopped.
Will monitor.

 

[uncommon_name44]

I'm having the same problems. I haven't tried to induce the problem with the 4H to 2H. But when it first started happening I figured out the trick to engage 4H to stop it. I haven't been able to pinpoint what/when causes it other than cold weather. I'm at 12,000 miles now and bought it new in July. First time was a cold 30 degree morning about 1,500 miles ago. It doesn't do it on every cold start so I'm not sure what to do about it. Currently at the dealer replacing the turn signal switch. I told them I suspected an EIWE problem but the dealer says they can't recreate, no solution.

2023 XLT EB

 

[Murrk847]

@Ford Motor Company Lot of people with the issue and dealers aren't doing anything. Is someone looking into it at Ford?

I took this video this morning when it was ~15*F this morning. Was able to pre-record because I knew it was going to happen. Starts up then cuts out.

 

[Jerome10]

Post #92 is mine. Its 3 days later and occurred again. 30F. About 28mph. Pushed the 4H button and it immediately stopped. Pushed 2H a few seconds later and it returned. Repeated 4H button again and back to 2H and it stopped.

I'm not really sure what I'm gonna do. There is no way I am gonna be able to duplicate this for the dealership.

 

[Eric]

Where is that dickhead from Ford that used to ask us what our Vin number is and he would look into it? We could really use you right now you soft pussy azz hoe.

 

[Murrk847]

Where is that dickhead from Ford that used to ask us what our Vin number is and he would look into it? We could really use you right now you soft pussy azz hoe.

Because they know its an issue but cant publicly say it because it will be their 4th or 5th widespread TSB this year for the f-150 so they choose to ignore it until the NTSB looks into complaints.

 

[TJE]

Where is that dickhead from Ford that used to ask us what our Vin number is and he would look into it? We could really use you right now you soft pussy azz hoe.

They sent me a direct message instead of posting a reply.

 

[Jerome10]

@Ford Motor Company Lot of people with the issue and dealers aren't doing anything. Is someone looking into it at Ford?

I took this video this morning when it was ~15*F this morning. Was able to pre-record because I knew it was going to happen. Starts up then cuts out.

Just now listened to your video and exact sound mine is making.

If this is just a "warm up the diff fluid" thing on cold days.... then can Ford please update us or the dealerships to let us know this is intended function?

Otherwise I think there is an issue here, clearly.

 

[Murrk847]

Just now listened to your video and exact sound mine is making.

If this is just a "warm up the diff fluid" thing on cold days.... then can Ford please update us or the dealerships to let us know this is intended function?

Otherwise I think there is an issue here, clearly.

I have heard the fluid warming reason a couple of times. It makes no sense. The wheels are disconnected from the axle via the hubs unless IWE are engaged. Front axle is disconnected from the transfer case unless in 4WD. Why would they need to warm up a fluid that has no impact on MPG while in 2WD?

 

[Eric]

I have heard the fluid warming reason a couple of times. It makes no sense. The wheels are disconnected from the axle via the hubs unless IWE are engaged. Front axle is disconnected from the transfer case unless in 4WD. Why would they need to warm up a fluid that has no impact on MPG while in 2WD?

I could be wrong as I’m not even half as mechanically inclined as most of you on here but I don’t think it has anything to do with warming anything because it happened to me a couple of times last week while I was on the highway while I’ve already been driving around for at least half an hour before it happened.

During those instances on the highway it only lasted for about 10 seconds then the noise went away but it happened on two or three different occasions going at least 100 km/hour

 

[Jerome10]

Yeah, I mean to my eye (engineer but not a powertrain or axle one), warming doesn't make any sense to me either.

Does anyone know how the system engages or disengages? I'm new to truck ownership so even things like IWE's are new to me. But, for example, in 2H, does the E-IWE hold the hubs unlocked and in the event of failure the hubs / IWE default to locked hubs? Or is the the opposite (in event of failure the hubs remain unlocked)?

Do we even know what is making the humming noise? I'll have to play with 4H again on my XLT (on a straight road) but I don't seem to recall any humming when 4H was activated. And certainly in 2H there shouldn't be anything locked or activated right... so again.... shouldn't be any noise. Is something slipping and that is the hum? Like gears that are half and not fully engaged or something? This might make sense (if I'm understanding the IWE correctly) if in the event of failure the hubs default to trying to lock. Perhaps there is a partial failure somewhere or something has just expanded or contracted just enough to partially engage the hubs and that is the humming noise?

And then I think if the system is electrical or electrical-mechanical why on earth would cold weather affect it. And then beyond that why is it not constant in low temps? Trucks seem to be fine, then the problem starts, then it stops? You'd think the hum would just be all the time.

Could it be that the hubs are unlocked. There is a slow failure, and the hubs gradually end up locked over the course of 10-30 seconds and once the sound stops you're actually now driving with fully engaged hubs, you just have no idea they're engaged?

Are we sure this is even IWE related? The couple of older F150's I've listened to on youtube it sounds more like griding than humming to me. It kinda makes sense to be IWE since hitting 4H seems to immediately stop the noise but anything else it could be?

I unfortunately do not have a go-pro but would someone perhaps be able to get a video under the truck so see if the CVs start spinning when the hum occurs?


I guess bottom line as well... is the consensus to just let the hum go until it stops? Or to quickly engage 4H and force it to stop? Can't help but feel this hum is something that is going to cause abnormal wear on something.

 

[Jerome10]

Where is that dickhead from Ford that used to ask us what our Vin number is and he would look into it? We could really use you right now you soft pussy azz hoe.

I just wanted to say this reply made me laugh. Appreciate that

 

[Jerome10]

Doing more pondering again today.... Is there anything regarding the assembly plants here?

Powerboost so mine is from Dearborn.

 

[Jwademn]

Joined just for this thread. 23 PB XLT and have noticed this 3 times now. Sounds exactly like the video Murrk847 posted. I’ll add it to the list of issues I’ve had in the first 3500 miles, about 1500 of which happened while trying to get into the dealer the first time.

I’ll try the 4WD cycling while it happens next time. This last time I manually shifted down through the gears to eliminate that as I’ve always been in 8th when I look down when it’s happening. Also changed drive modes to rule out some potential generator behavior in Eco mode.

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