Why was it making clicking noise around belt area?

When in Park or Neutral does the noise change if you rev the engine? Whining noise generally come from a worn bearing so there will be a few things to check.
First check the serpentine belt. A loose or worn belt will cause noise. Carefully watch the belt with the engine at idle. Does it run smoothly or 'bounce' as it spins? Bouncing could suggest the spring in the belt tensioner is worn and has started to go slack.
Stand in front of the vehicle with the hood open and carefully listen to the engine. Sometimes you can hear if it is on one side of the engine or the other.
The most likely causes of the whine will be...
Power steering pump, A/C pump, Water pump, alternator pulley, belt tensioner and it's pulley or an idler pulley.
Parts like the alternator have more than one bearing in them so that could be another area to check. If the serpentine belt is off you can spin each pulley by hand. Listen and feel for a gritty growl as it spins. Bearings in good condition are usually smooth and quite.
Try this YouTube video. **NOTE** Be VERY CAREFUL if you try the tests in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRHj9_pwx7o

Ford Windstar Starting/Stalling Problems - Car Forums at Edmunds.com

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Oct 16, 2007 - 31 posts - ‎26 authors
Learn more about Ford Windstar at the Edmunds.com Car Forums! ... I tried to startmy van on a 15 degree morning - heard a loud bang and now it won't start. Battery ....The engine will crank, start run about 5 seconds then stop. ... I have a 2003 Ford Windstar, same problem,Ford is covering up the problem.

Why My Car Won't Start? - Reasons and Solutions

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As a rough guideline, problems with the battery, alternator and starter are the most ...Before I even put the key into the ignition I hear a clicking noise on the right side ...started it and then it started making a loud clicking noise while I was driving it ..... i have a 2003 windstar ford it was clicking and wouldn't start had to get a ...

Rough Idle Engine Dies Loud Ticking!?! Please Help! - Ford Focus ...

www.focusfanatics.com/.../103146-rough-idle-engine-dies-loud-ticking-...

Nov 6, 2006 - Rough Idle Engine Dies Loud Ticking! ... down then dies and then i restart and it has no problems but the ticking continues PLEASE HELP ME ... Level Up0% Completed ... 2. my injectors are bad and the ticking sound is one of the injectors.... Another method is to turn the AM radio on to a place where there ...Missing: windstar

start with premium gas or injector cleaner, could be a low octane ping. this may be hard to diagnose with out hearing the noise so the other thing i would have you do is remove the belts and run the engine. sometimes when a bearing in an alternator, idler pulley, a/c compressor or belt tensioner goes bad they can make a clicking noise. try to listen if the noise is coming from the belt area, the transmission area or some other spot. spin all the pulleys with the engine off and wiggle them to see if any are bad

A clicking noise when turning is usually CV joints. If it just clicking the car is probably ok to drive still there may also be minor vibration - if the noise starts to sound more like a grind or the car feels unsafe with vibration or handling then park it till you get it repaired. The repairs are not OMG expensive but they are not cheap probably around $600 each side as a real rough guide.

Have you driven down any dirt roads lately? Belts will sound like that when you have sand stuck in the grooves. It will make a ticking noise when the ribbed part of the belt rides over the pulleys. Usually the sound will jump around.

Im hoping this is only a loose drive belt ck the belt tension by moving it up and down you should only have 1/4 play on the belt more than that you belt is loose

If the Battery warning lamp is coming on, the engine stalls and the starter just clicks, and you have to have it jump started to get going again [I assume anyway] then it sounds like the charging system isn't always working and the battery is getting drained to the point that the engine computer and fuel pump quit working. Low voltage can also affect how the transmission functions and when the transmission goes into a default position you'll only have Park, Reverse, Nuetral, and 2nd gear. [it may seem like first gear however] I'd start by having the charging system tested to make sure it's capable of putting out the full amperage and voltage that it's rated at and have all the battery connections and cables looked over to be sure they are capable of delivering all the current needed to run everything. I think you'll probably find the fix for most of the problems in that area. Hope this helps and good luck!

The noise is coming from the belt tensioner or idler pulley, either one can make this noise. Do not put belt dressing on a serpentine belt.

The serpentine belt area is large. Remove belt and spin the IDLER PULLY of the belt TENSIONER. and listen for a bearing noise. A common failure. Hope this helps

the squeaking sound coming from the engine would very very likely be the serpentine belt, it is probably not properly adjusted but could also be cracking and need replaced, after the belt warms up the belt is more plyable and looses the noise. i would replace it, as for the rough sound i would need more info i.e. exactly where the noise is coming from if it changes when gas is tapped, try putting different conditions that make it worse or better when something is done, this will help detecting the area or problem at hand.