My neighbor asked me to look at his Fusion yesterday because it was making a weird noise. Actually, first he asked me if I could hear it to which I replied, “It was so loud I stopped washing my car to see what the hell you were doing over there”.
Basics, with the car idling the sound starts every 45 seconds or so. When it was cold it would go for a longer time, the more we let the car warm up the shorter duration the sound was. By the time I shot the video below it had been going on for a while.
It’s coming from the power steering side, though turning the wheel while it’s making the noise doesn’t change it’s pitch so I’m thinking it’s not power steering related. Voltage is 14.23 and doesn’t change when it’s quiet or making the noise. The noise does change when you rev the engine up. No change turning the AC on or off. Radiator fan is working just fine. No check engine light.
I think it’s a 2010ish Fusion. He said the warranty just ran out so it’s go to be around there.
My neighbor said this all started when the battery was changed.
It’s kind of hard to make out that noise. I would suggest pulling the serpentine belt off and starting the car. The noise is definitely rotational. I would like to see if it’s accessory drive related or if it’s behind the timing cover.
WINNER. I walked back over tonight and got behind the wheel myself to make sure the HVAC controls were set so the AC wasn’t coming on and sure enough, no noise. 3 seconds after flipping them to AC the noise came back and went away as soon as I turned the AC off.
Apparently when I was telling him to turn the AC off he was just hitting the AC button but leaving the fan on and the dial set to foot/defrost and the car is smart enough to leave the AC running even though the light goes out.