Moan wail whine groan

zrxinch

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2001 LS 3.9L V8. So my car makes this horrible noise which I believe to possibly be the IAC (idle air control) valve. I have removed and cleaned it and the noise has stayed the same if not possibly worse. I have also read on here that it may be impending transmission failure. Tranny has 30k after rebuild with new TC and upgraded to Merc V. So I really hope that is not the issue. I also removed the belt and found my water pump is a little squeaky when rotated by hand but all other pulleys and idlers are solid. The belt had a bunch of little rocks imbedded in it but I cleaned those out. Ran the car for a few seconds with the belt off and nothing stood out.
This noise is very elusive and actually hard to record. It makes the noise almost every afternoon on my drive home RIGHT after I exit the freeway as I am coming to a stop and def after I have stopped and first hit the gas to go again. By the time I get to my house the noise is usually gone and hard to reproduce. If I get in the car after it has sat for an hour it will sometimes make the noise right away. It doesn't stay consistent with RPM and sounds like it on its own frequency. Sounds very much like air in a hydraulic system. Both power steering and fan pump have been drained and filled with merc V and even threw in friction modifier for the power steering. Have applied a vacuum on both of these for 30 min while running and have also replaced the power steering pump sensor and the fan pump high / low speed sensor. The noise is def on the drivers side and from the front corner. Haven't been able to def say it is in the intake because it goes away by the time I can get it open (trying to verify if IAC). I have heard about the new IAC not working nightmare and don't want to throw away $100 on a bad brand new IAC and that not be the problem. My A/C is Luke warm and most def low on refrigerant so it could also be the compressor but it makes the noise if A/C is on or off and the clutch doesn't feel crunchy when rotated with the belt removed. No yellow liquid under the pump either.

What I would really like to do is find anyone who has heard this noise and found the problem maybe help shed some light on my predicament. Here are a few vid clips of the noise...under the hood is most noticeable around the 11 sec mark. The interior is not as loud but more of the change in pitch is caught on camera. (Feels like I am chasing nessy!)
Thank you in advance for any help on this mystery.
[youtube]WW-EeeIlnyU[/youtube]
[youtube]UANr81MUXZw[/youtube]
[youtube]7CBGNJBXOww[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBGNJBXOww&feature=share&list=UU-29FE_6JK76vyFt-SiqRSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW-EeeIlnyU&feature=share&list=UU-29FE_6JK76vyFt-SiqRSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANr81MUXZw&feature=share&list=UU-29FE_6JK76vyFt-SiqRSg
 
[video=youtube;WW-EeeIlnyU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW-EeeIlnyU[/video]
[video=youtube;UANr81MUXZw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UANr81MUXZw[/video]
[video=youtube;7CBGNJBXOww]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBGNJBXOww[/video]
 
Any changes in the sound if you turn the steering wheel slightly?

It sounded to me like the engine RPM was changing (hunting up and down) during the event. Was someone stepping on the gas pedal to cause that? If not, it very likely is your IAC. I had a couple on other cars (4.6L engine) that cleaning did not make any improvement, but replacement did correct it.
 
Any changes in the sound if you turn the steering wheel slightly?

It sounded to me like the engine RPM was changing (hunting up and down) during the event. Was someone stepping on the gas pedal to cause that? If not, it very likely is your IAC. I had a couple on other cars (4.6L engine) that cleaning did not make any improvement, but replacement did correct it.

That is me flipping the trottle, it only does it when I step on the gas or flick the throttle. the idle is low 600-650 and it doesnt move on the tach but i can hear it hunting a little at idle. I am def going to replace the IAC but will save smoe $ and order the motorcraft, as i dont trust the other brands right now. still hope to find another with this problem.
 
The IAC will make that noise thru the air intake tube, kinda like a tuning fork. Even tho my IAC worked perfectly, it made the moaning sounds, replaced it and no more moaning.
 
UPDATE...

turned out it was my alternator, doesn't make any noise now that I have a motorcraft reman in her now.

The old one doesn't make an unusual noises when I spin it by hand so I am not sure if it is the bearing after it gets hot or a diode. Hope they figure it out when it gets remaned
 
Finally someone with the same symptoms as me with spot on noises! Mine seems to go away after I drive but sometimes stays.
 

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