Hey everyone, this is my first post so take it easy on the rookie. I have a 2000 4.6 HSE. I bought the car with 5,000 miles on it when I was 19 and have had it ever since. I truly love this truck and will never let it go. Recently I noticed a loud almost chirping sound coming from the engine. This started rather abruptly. The engine seems to be running great and I have not noticed any loss in power. No warning lights, plenty of oil, just the sound. It only comes when accelerating. it will not make the sound when not in gear, and I have to give it a little juice to make it happen. A friend who works on cars said that it is probably a vacuum leak. Is this a big deal? where do I look under to hood to locate the problem? Thanks in advance!!

 

Oh, also the sound quickens and increases in volume with the engine RPM (Chirp, Chirp Chirp)

 

I just had this happen. Search my name for vibration under acceleration. There is a picture of what to look for. Likely your Driveshaft and if it comes apart the consequences are catastrophic. I'm on my phone so I can't get the link but it is recent...

 

Just go to the last page... When I put another Driveshaft in the problem went away. You could probably get the u joints replaced and be fine... I just had a spare Driveshaft.

 

The front drive shaft has sealed u-joints on one end, when they dry out, chirp, then split under power and bash the snot out of the transmission.

 

take it out and bring it to a drive line shop to have it rebuilt with greasable u joints or just buy a new one from tom woods

 

Thanks you guys! The truck has no vibrations, just the sound. It has 110,00 miles on it and I have retired it from off-road driving for the last 7 years as it is my daily driver. The only issue is the chirping almost whining, tapping noise. I was worried about rod knock but the last person I had listen to to said immediately that it was a vacuum leak sound. I was just wondering how big of an issue a vacuum leak is? And where to look for the leak. When I get it into my mechanic I will have him check out the drive shafts and U-joints.

 

2000 4.6 HSE I'm assuming its a Range Rover, drive shaft is a good bet.
You do not have a double Cardone joint so it is a simple matter of replacing u-joints.

 

A drive shaft that has come apart is still being turned and can do quite a bit of damage - to your wallet.

 

STOP, fix the drive shaft NOW, or you will be buying a new transmission and a drive shaft when it explodes!