ticking/ knocking sound

[almostxevil]

ok i read a couple of post about engine knocking and or ticking when i start my 96 3.8 i hear a sound that sounds kinda like i have a diesel like metal ratteling and i dont hear the sound til i get up to about 2000rpm my boss told me it sounds like a rod knocking ive been driving it like this for about a year now any ideas of what it could be?

[Brent]

Quote: Originally Posted by almostxevil ok i read a couple of post about engine knocking and or ticking when i start my 96 3.8 i hear a sound that sounds kinda like i have a diesel like metal ratteling and i dont hear the sound til i get up to about 2000rpm my boss told me it sounds like a rod knocking ive been driving it like this for about a year now any ideas of what it could be?

I thought I was the only one with weird stuff like this going on. Any chance you can get a sound clip of it and post it up?

No mechanic can tell me what my knock is but I have been driving it even longer than you with it knocking. It started a few months after I got my car. That would be around July 2004.

[Scut95]

It could be piston slap....but if the noise goes away I'm pretty sure its a rod.

[almostxevil]

well i stopped at a shop 2day a guy i know works there knows everything and anything about mustangs he told me its not a rod its either a lifter or wrist pin but the only way to find out which one is 2 tear the engine down

[38special]

Mines had a tick at start up for about 30k miles now. It lasts for 15-20 seconds after start up. I'm guessing it's a lifter that's having a hard time filling.

[bullitt482]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scut95 It could be piston slap.....

Agreed, a lot engines that are built on assembly line(almost all) are built within a certain tolerance instead of installing the crank/rod/piston/etc. and checking for clearances. This can sometime cause a "loose" motor to come off of the assembly line. The reason why you only hear it when the engine is cold is because when the metal gets hot, it expands and fills in the gap that it may have. Just FYI.

[38special]

It doesn't matter if mines hot or cold, Every time I start it, it ticks for about 15-20 seconds

[mitch]

I had the same problem.took off my exhaust manifolds and they had a shitty weld job from the factory. Welded them up. No more tappin noise at start up.

[38special]

Thanks, I'll check it out, Oh ya, watch out, they freak out if you bring up old stuff. I'm still not sure what they consider old yet

[bbunt302]

The 99-04 3.8 "headers" are notorious for developing cracks and make a God-awful exhaust leak when they do.

If you ever hear a tick on a 99-04 V6, the "headers" are probably the first place you should look.

[lowflyn]

Yupp, just replaced another set saturday for a friend. His were shot. Should have pics up sometime for proof of what exactly happens.

[38special]

Thanks guys, No more tick. It was the drivers side manifold, right at the bottom of the front tube. It sure had me fooled into thinking that it was a slow filling lifter. The way the ticking stopped after about 30 seconds. Anyways thanks again!

[meteorachick]

is the tick coming from the front or the back? my friends car had a tick and it ended up being the exhaust hitting the back of the car lol

[lowflyn]

Quote: Originally Posted by 38special Thanks guys, No more tick. It was the drivers side manifold, right at the bottom of the front tube. It sure had me fooled into thinking that it was a slow filling lifter. The way the ticking stopped after about 30 seconds. Anyways thanks again!

And ford thought I was crazy when I told them this is a recurring problem. It's one of those things they know is a problem, they know it is going to break, but they take the chance that noone will put 2 and 2 together and blame ford.
I just thought it was funny that one of the smallest dealerships in the state of mississippi just happened to have a passenger side manifold for a 99-04 V6 mustang in the back room.

[greenpony02]

If it is the manifold does it tick all the time or just for a short time when you start the car?

[lowflyn]

The manifolds I have heard are louder to you in the car at idle. I could always hear mine when passing a truck or in an overpass or something.
I know when mine was getting really bad you could hear it over the exhaust all the time.

As far as when you first start the car or not...I think it does it all the time. It is a very distinct sound though.

[38special]

Mine just did it at start up (15-30 seconds). I took a spray bottle and spayed a stream of water where I could hear it ticking and I could see it bubble up. As soon as the ticking stopped, so did the bubbles. It was a crappy weld job on the front tube into the head flange. It's all good now