Grinding, metal noise

2002 FORD ESCAPE
170,000 MILES • 2.0L • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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RACHAELTHORN20
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I took my vehicle to a mechanic, they said my strut, control arm, and bushings were bad. I bought a brand new control arm and someone helped me replace it. Turns out only the ball joint was bad. It is still making a grinding metal sound. It does it when in park, and when accelerating. It doesn't really do it in reverse. It's only on the left side.
Jul 18, 2019 at 12:52 PM
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STEVE W.
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Welcome to 2CarPros. If there is a noise that is there with the engine running but the vehicle in park so it isn't moving try this test. Have someone watch the engine wile you do this - Put your foot on the brake and hold it down, now put the car in drive, now rev the engine a bit, does the noise get louder? Do the same thing but with the transmission in reverse. What does the noise do? Does the engine move around more than about an inch or two? If it does you likely have at least one bad engine mount. If it stays in place and doesn't move much, shut it off and remove the front drive belt. With the belt off start the engine, is the noise gone? If yes move and spin all of the pulleys and idlers, you are listening and feeling for a loose or rough bearing.
If the noise is still there with the belt off but you don't see the engine moving then look around the transmission/engine bell housing for anything that is damaged, check that the starter isn't binding.
Jul 18, 2019 at 1:15 PM
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RACHAELTHORN20
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Thank you!I will check!
Jul 18, 2019 at 1:26 PM
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RACHAELTHORN20
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This is what it did in drive. It made no noise in reverse. Can't really hear the metal sound, but I'm assuming I have atleast one motor mount out.
Jul 18, 2019 at 7:01 PM
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STEVE W.
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That isn't as bad as some I've seen. Does the noise happen while in motion? Or when do you normally hear it?
Jul 18, 2019 at 10:22 PM
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RACHAELTHORN20
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The grinding noise happens in drive, or when in park and I give it gas. When I turn the car on the engine moves on it's own too. When I accelerate, it becomes worse. At first if I was going at a high rate of speed it would not do it.
Jul 19, 2019 at 5:17 AM
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RACHAELTHORN20
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Would a bad idler pulley cause that sound? Or a belt tensioner?
Jul 19, 2019 at 7:00 AM
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STEVE W.
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A bad idler or tensioner will make noise with just the engine running. It wouldn't need to be in gear or even given any throttle. Your description sounds like a bad mount that lets the engine move enough that something is hitting, either the exhaust or engine.
Jul 19, 2019 at 3:24 PM