Sorry this is so long, but it's a major issue for me right now. IF you know anything about cars, engines, etc, PLEASE help me!

So this summer I got my first car, a 2003 Ford Focus ZX5 hatchback (in a spiffy red!) from my uncle. Now, my uncle tends to drive his cars pretty hard, but he's also meticulous about their maintenance, so I'm pretty sure this problem isn't the result of his ownership.

The problem: At first, I started to hear this sort of squeek / light rattle noise from the front right corner of the vehicle anytime I hit a small bump or a shift in the road. This escalated to a loud rattling noise under the same circumstances. This then escalated into a constant, loud rattling / squeeking noise after the engine had been on for more than 15-20 minutes, audible at all times; it sounded like, to quote my sister, "a rusty hampster wheel," except it was a helluva lot louder and more instrusive. So I took the car to a Ford dealer, and they've done everything from tightening loose parts in the suspension to replacing the alternator and countless idler pulleys and other shit (sorry, I'm not a car person). Heres' the trick though: The noise has changed, but it's STILL THERE. Now, instead of the loose, rattling noise, it's a vibration and a mechanical "spin-up" sound that is most audible when the car hits about 40mph. The noise reminds me of a CD spinning up to speed, except it's far more mechanical sounding, and has an audible vibration that goes with it. Again, this is coming from the front right end of the car alone. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH MY CAR?! I've taken it to the dealer 3 times (first to fix the air conditioning, which was leaking coolant; they fixed that instantly and it's been fine since, and then twice for these noises), and while their report says that the alternator and idler pulley were making noise and have been replaced, I'm still getting this SHIT and I'm really tired of sending my car to shops that can't seem to find the problem. While the car seems fine to drive, I'm about to go back to college, and am not going to have time to deal with this stuff then, and it's just damned annoying to hear these noises coming from a car that's a year old and has less than 13,000 miles on it!

PLEASE, if any of this sounds familiar or you know what it might be, PLEASE tell me!

Its a FORD! Theres your problem!!

But seriously, I am not experienced with the vehicle, but listening to your complaints it seemed like it could be a suspension bushing shot, or a fucked up brake caliper.

Then again, if it is always there then its something in the engine, and not plugs and whatnot. A spinning sound means it could be in the drivetrain or engine, but it certainly wont be good. Since its not a tire issue or something, I would ask for the RPMs at which the sound is worst, not the speed of the car. If the speed of the engine (RPMs) affects the noise you could have metal filings in the engine from lack of oil, lack of oil altogether, or something else seedy that is going to cost you some cash. Fords occasionally seem to get a knocking sound from the camshafts as well. If the sound is always there but unaffected by RPMs directly it sould be your clutch or transmission.

Does the car lose acceleration at high RPMs as in it goes and then loses muster like something is slipping? Then its a clutch problem - but generally wouldnt make a horrendous noise. If there is always a spinning/grinding noise its probably the transmission. If you have a manual (which I suspect) then this will be easily fixable and not too expensive. If you have an automatic its gonna be pricey.

Any help?

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Maybe a cracked strut? If your uncle tends to drive his cars hard, this is a possible problem, which I had in the past. The symptoms were somewhat similar...

Sounds like a blown input shaft bearing...

Are you leaking any fluid from the transmission area?

Also could be a bad driveshaft (axle), torn boot, bad CV joint, etc.

Yeah, no shit on the Ford comment.

The car is an automatic. The oil was just changed 2 weeks ago, so I'm pretty sure that's not the issue. I'll have to watch the RPMs and listen for the sounds, so I'll post that info tomorrow after I drive it again.

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