This will test the best

Okay, this is going to be about as vague as descriptions can get. I have a noise coming from under the hood of my 99 Taurus that sounds almost identical to a power steering pump in need of fluid, but is on the opposite side of the motor from the ps pump. When I cold start the vehicle (chicago is cooooldd now) it begins to whine at idle for a period of time and eventually stops. Then when I put it in gear it begins whining immediately again. As I drive the vehicle the noise increase in harmonic with my acceleration. After a period of time, when the vehicle is quite warmed up, it doesn't make the noise as much but still sporadically does when the vehicle hits a certain rpm. It almost sounds like a wind-up siren if I had to try and explain the noise. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

First make sure the transmission fluid is at the proper level and appears/smells to be in good shape.

Next, use the "Search this forum" tool from the Taurus forum main page for "Camshaft Sensor" and see if your noise matches the many descriptions described here before.

-Rod

check the PVC. See if it still makes the noise with the oil cap off.

If it sounds just like a bad power steering pump and it's coming from the tranny bellhousing area, then it may be the tranny is failing. This happened to my sister's '99 Taurus SHO. She was told by a trans shop that the trans' pump drive was failing which can cause a loud whining sound. After the trans was rebuilt, it was then quiet.