Awesome, MikeQBF!!

I think all of us who either lease or own this vehicle knows in our gut something is inherently wrong with the driveshaft/drivetrain assembly. I think Ford knows it and I hope that we collectively as a group can raise our voices and say we are not going to let this matter fade out.

It was a royal pain in the a$$ when I had to drop off the 1st new van to San Tan Ford the week before Christmas and be told that the new driveshaft wouldn't be delivered until after the New Year. The parts didn't show up until yesterday, January 11th, and after the new parts were installed, and the vehicle road tested, that San Tan Ford discovered the humming noise remained.

We shall see what happens next....

 

I think all of us who either lease or own this vehicle knows in our gut something is inherently wrong with the driveshaft/drivetrain assembly.

Not ALL of us.
Some of us have never had the noise.
I didn't in my 2015 nor have I heard or felt it in my 2018 although admittedly it has less than 500 miles on it.
FWIW my 2015 had the giubo, my 2018 is U-joint.

 

For me, the humming/droning noise commenced @ 75 MPH and became much louder @ 80 MPH. Any speed below 75 MPH or above 80 MPH causes the humming/droning to stop.

 

My Dealer found a TSB addressing this for 2015 to 2020 and the part that was ordered was a
Torsional Damper Kit. To be installed 10-30-20, the test drive will tell if that was the fix.

 

MikeQBF: where can I find the rear-axle ratio?

 

Just found this.....

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2017/ford-transit-driveshaft-flexible-coupling-lawsuit.shtml

The lawsuit alleges when Ford Transit owners complain to the automaker about the driveshaft problems, Ford allegedly denies knowledge of the problems and makes owners pay for repairs. However, the plaintiff says Ford has known about the driveshaft flexible coupling problem since 2014 and finally ordered a recall in June 2017.

 

- Model Year
- Wheelbase
- Engine
- Rear drive ratio
- Speed range where you hear the noise

Ours is a 2015 148" T350 wagon with 3.7 engine, regular 3.7 rear end.

It now has 245/75 16 tires and the Giubo was replaced with no change in the drone.

The drone is noticeable and somewhat cyclical yet not terrible at 45-55 mph mostly when letting off the gas and coasting, but no vibration or anything. It seems more acoustic than anything.

 

I am also still curious about the pinion noise damper discussed in one of these threads. I wanted to experiment with one yet haven't had the motivation & time to yet: There is a pre-recall and post-recall version.

 

Here is my info. 2016 148" WB, med height, med length, ecoboost, 3.73 limited slip, 50-55mph.
Hope it helps.

 

I am on the highway constantly and don't really have any. It is possible, however, that I've just gotten used to it. I have a bit of tire noise since I added BFG KO2's which could be drowning it out.

I responded to this because I do have vibration, just different than the original question asked. I have vibration just off the line in first and especially second gear. It goes away as I shift through and get faster. I thought this was just needing a new flex disk and I could swear it went away for a few days after that was replaced but it's back already. It's a pretty good shimmy especially in second. The harder I accelerate the LESS it's noticeable but I don't find comfort in this. I generally drive my cars pretty conservatively.

 

I ordered my Transit (MR T250 148 3.5 3.73LS rear) in May, delivered the end of August with the permanent driveshaft fix. I have the drone, the clunk, the vibration, the resonance, etc. Something in the total design of the van leads to all of the mentioned annoyances. Different speeds result in different annoyances on a daily basis. As long as it will remain reliable, I can live with the nature of the beast, but if problems result from these issues, I sense another purchase after the warranty period expires.

 

Mine is positively car like. Must be the solid ABS bulkhead. Or my congenital deafness. Nobody who's ridden in it has complained though. People always wanted earplugs in my Sprinter.

 

Good stuff! Keep it coming.

I don't want to pollute the data gathering by revealing the apparent consistencies just yet, but it quickly became apparent in the original thread that giubo or universal makes no difference.

The damper/resonator is going to be too difficult to enter into the analysis since we're aware of at least two types that are difficult to distinguish, aside from the presence/absence of one. Besides, given the ice and super-cold here I'm in no mood to crawl under the thing, anyway, and wouldn't blame anybody else for not wanting to check, either!

Scotty, your situation has got to be something different. If it were FWD I'd be looking at CV joints. [shoulder-shrug]

Brian, your 2017s likely have universal joints and not the giubos involved in the class action. It was an in-production change once the giubos were ID'ed as a problem.

 

Have any of you guys had your local Ford dealership perform a NVH test on your vehicle? San Tan Ford Fleet Services performed 2 NVH tests on my original new 2017 Ford Transit (click on the link below):

http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore...ectrical_electronic_test_equipment/noise_vibration_harshness_nvh_test_equipment

After analyzing the data, they concluded the noise was emanating from the drive shaft, however, after they installed the new driveshaft, the noise did not dissipate.

So here's the $64,000 question: if the NVH data pointed to the driveshaft, and we now know the new driveshaft did not fix the noise issue, where should Ford be looking next?

 

all of my van info is in my signature, where it should be to help anyone to analyze the many transit noises and complaints in a scientific manner.

not long after i bought the transit on my first long trip i could hear fairly loud almost rhythmic droning sound in the 60 to 70 MPH range,
it was so loud that it had me stopping every 50 to 100 miles to check for differential heat. the differential heat never got above the outside air temperature.

i just wrote it off as resonant noise from the unibody itself. (military Humvee unibody noise is so high that hearing protection use is recommended inside the vehicle.)

after installing an insulated front bulkhead a year ago i have not heard any noise from the rear of the van.

 

all of my van info is in my signature, where it should be to help anyone to analyze the many transit noises and complaints in a scientific manner.

not long after i bought the transit on my first long trip i could hear fairly loud almost rhythmic groaning sound in the 60 to 70 MPH range,
it was so loud that it had me stopping every 50 to 100 miles to check for differential heat. the differential heat never got above the outside air temperature.

i just wrote it off as resonant noise from the unibody itself. (military Humvee unibody noise is so high that hearing protection use is recommended inside the vehicle.)

after installing an insulated front bulkhead a year ago i have not heard any noise from the rear of the van.

This. It's a big metal drum. If you don't hear a lot of odd noises get your hearing checked. If it bothers you put in a bulkhead or hang heavy curtains behind the cab.

 

Mine is insulated well. I have no noise or vibration. Nor do I have it in my cars or trucks with interiors. Drove empty Transits with no insulation and heard nothing but noises from road and tires.

 

That Sortimo bulkhead is the cat's a-hole. Seals the cab from the cargo area.

 

You guys raise a valid point - noticing any driveshaft-induced noise could easily be due to trim and finish. In so many words, I suspect it's going to be more apparent in a Wagon given that lesser and higher-frequency noises are suppressed by insulation and panels. I would hazard you have it, it just gets lost in the overall noise and, like has been said, is written off as a fact of life with a big, empty tin box.

I'll go back through the notes here and in the other thread and add this point to the data.

 

So help me out here: the noise(s) I've experienced from both 2017 Ford Transit's could be related to oscillations from the trim/finish on the van? Here are some pictures of the interior of the van; tell me how the trim/finish could possibly cause these sounds.

 

No, what I'm saying is the Wagon trim, insulation, and seats will suppress many if not most of "the usual" van noises of a big empty box on wheels, especially at higher frequencies, making the low-frequency sounds possibly associated with the driveshaft resonance more apparent.

 

A soft (in tone) contact like this will help. But also refer them to the forum and the discussion of the issue. I've mentioned it previously here, so apologies to those who have heard it, but I had a previous and very productive interface with Ford on a similar engineering issue, initiated through this same process.

We, where "we" was a Ford Escape forum, had identified a mutual problem "somewhere in the drivetrain." It manifested itself as a perceptible momentary rumble in steady driving between 35 and 40 mph. Several of us were put in contact with the Ford engineer responsible for driveline issues, in fact, she momentarily joined the forum discussion. The mutual information gathering narrowed the problem down to what is known as "hysteresis" in torque converter bypass clutch engagement. This was eventually traced to premature aging of the transmission fluid. Part of the community input assisting the diagnosis was a couple of us who replaced the original transmission fluid with a synthetic, which exacerbated the issue.

We arrived at a quick fix - to adopt a more aggressive fluid change schedule, and then ONLY using the recommended non-synthetic. The transmission internal clutch material did not tolerate much deviation from fluid design specs, and old fluid or the synthetic changed critical parameters enough to cause the problem. I don't know if there was a longer-term factory solution, we sold the Escape not too soon after figuring it out and I withdrew from the forum.

This lengthy explanation is to say at least in my experience, Ford listens to owner communities and is interested in resolving mutually-observed engineering issues.

 

Thanks, MikeQBF! I'm sure with enough perseverance I will, along with Ford, determine exactly where this defect lies and a mutually agreeable repair will be performed.

 

I have a 2016 T350 MR 148 3.5EB with 3.31(non limited slip)(oops) with vibration drone sound at 40-50mph prior to a full driveshaft replacement from Ford.


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I have a 2016 T350 MR 148 3.5EB with 3.31(non limited slip)(oops) with vibration drone sound at 40-50mph prior to a full driveshaft replacement from Ford.

Are you saying that the drone was fixed with a driveshaft replacement?

 

I'm new to owning a transit and new to this forum - but I drove my van on its first long trip this weekend. I heard a load drone noise come in at around 70-75 mph on my 2017 HR T250 148 3.5 3.31LS. I have never driven an empty cargo van at that speed, but the sound I heard did not seem normal. I will be updating this thread once I get more time in the van.

 

As Axle Rose sang many years ago, "Welcome to The Jungle"!!:blush:

I just sent a lengthy e-mail to the owner of San Tan Ford in Gilbert, AZ, about this issue and included several screenshots of posts on this Forum.

I will let this community know what this gentleman has to say about this problem.

 

Mine is 2015 148WB, 3.7L, 3.73 Limited slip. I've had had the guido replaced.

Took it in at the end of November for the drumming noise - after 2 weeks of them pulling it apart for the 'cost analysis' they determined it's due to the torque converter. Apparently there's an issue going on with the torque converters, as there were none available and I was told it would be after the New Year. Still haven't heard anything back. I used to only hear it in 6th gear in the 50+mph range... now I'm starting to hear it in lower gears too, but at a much lower volume. Or I'm driving myself crazy and hearing things :s

 

UPDATE: Torque converter was replaced on Friday. Droning noise is gone! Hopefully for good - I'll post any changes.

 

Good info and differing point of view on origin. As I know firsthand, torque converter problems are a recurring issue for Ford.

 

Hi, I am a new Transit250 owner and I am also having the rattling/shaking at 45-60mph, light acceleration. Question about the Torque Converter isn't that in the engine area and would that noise continue to rear as most describe noise comes from? Not sure I am not a mechanic, just asking.

 

What drone and noise?

 

Yes, my van has the drone, vibration, growl, whatever you want to call it. It is worst at highway speeds (around 65-73 mph), and when going up a hill or when accelerating. I also discovered the vibration mostly goes away if I shift down to 5th gear at highway speeds. My strategy now is to upshift to 6th when going down hills, because that is the only time it's not droning at highway speeds in 6th gear.
It is so loud that it shakes the whole van, making it impossible to hear the radio or have a conversation. The sound is a very low frequency hum, like putting your head inside a subwoofer that only plays one note, the resonant frequency of the van.
My upgrades of insulation and paneling and flooring certainly helped quiet it down a lot, but this vibration is so severe that it can't be ignored. People who ride in my van are always alarmed at the severity of the noise and vibration. "What's that sound? Is it safe?" is what they usually say.
I have had the giubo replaced twice, at 25K and 28K miles.

 

I did a simple test with my 2015 cargo van that has the drone noise at it's worst ~69 MPH and engine speed of ~2,250 RPM.
So I got up to the 69 MPH and as always the drone noise started after which I put the Tranny in manual mode and shifted to 5th gear.
In manual mode in 5th gear and still traveling at 69 MPH the drone noise stopped. This procedure was repeatable several time.

Since my speed was a constant 69 MPH the drive shaft RPM's should be the same regardless of the tranny gear I am in. Right?
Obviously shifting from 6th to 5th does change the speed of the engine RPM's so I think this issue is more related to the Engine RPM's effect on the
torque converter and Tranny.

 

That doesn't sound good. I was holding off on summarizing until we picked-up our new van this weekend. I confirmed the "6th only" observations we saw later in the thread when I was driving the old van to the buyer.

 

My van has the drone noise too, but only at 77 mph or higher. About 12,000 miles on it now, I got it Dec 1, 2017.

 

I just purchased a 2016 HR EXT with 3.5 and 4.10 gears. I heard the drone noise during the test drive at all speeds even when in neutral. I hear it upon deceleration too.

The volume of the drone is not super load but noticeable at all times. The rear door gasket needs replacement so I am sure that will eliminate some tire noise
The van has 42K and the temp recall fix for the guibo was done at 34k. It really sounds like a rearend/drive line harmonic to me. I accepted that I may need the rearend replaced but it still has 8k on the warranty so I'm going to get the permanent fix for the guibo and see if that helps and fight with the dealer if it doesn't.

I did spray lizard skin sound deadener, then added 1" of polyiso insulation and 1/2" sheet of plywood. This really helped the cab noise but it doesn't fix the origin of the sound, only deaden it.

There seems to be two types of issues reported here. Oneis at a certain speed that may be stopped by shifting out of six gear into 5th. Possibly caused by a faulty torque converter

The other is not speed specific but probably drive line/rearend alignment? Possibly caused by driving many miles on a broken guibo joint which could cause wear on the rear end bearings. Also, having 3 drive shafts makes it highly probable that there is misalignment some where. I'm probably going to jack mine up and try and pinpoint where the sounds is coming from.