Since the day I purchased my Expy, I have this fluttering-like sound on acceleration. It almost sounds like an engine ping, but it's different. I took the truck back with the first few weeks for a couple of minor adjustments, including this acceleration "flutter". The dealership said the engine sounds normal to them, even upon hitting the gas.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Or, is this a normal engine characteristic for my vehicle?

Any help\information is greatly appreciated.

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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L

535 Towing package
comfort\convenience group
beige leather
captain's chairs
6 CD Changer
Ford Bug Deflector
Superchip - installed 3/11/2000
Airaid - installed 3/23/2000
Edelbrock IAS shocks - installed 3/23/2000

 

Just adding some symtpoms...
I hear the sound the entire time while accelerating, or whenever I demand power. Once I'm at speed on level, it goes away, but to gain speed, or pull a small grade, it will make the sound...almost like a VW Beetle.

(see sig above)

 

Does it sound somewhat like valve clatter? Almost like an idling diesel? Only happens for a brief period on initial acceleration?

Noticed that a lot on automatics, not just on the Expy, especially when you give it too much gas from idle. It's intermittent on mine though...hard to duplicate when I'm at the dealers.

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Thunder
rainmaker@attglobal.net

Black 97 Expedition EB 5.4L 4WD

pics temporarily available at www.itsaboutthemusicstupid.com

Mods: Lightning front fascia, Clear Corner Lenses, Lightning Wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Zero 285/55VR18, K&N Gen II Kit

Brembo 14" disc brake kit coming right up!!! And hopefully a Lightning engine too!!!

Audio: McIntosh MX406, McIntosh MCD4000, Zapco SX-SL, Zapco EQ30, Genesis Monoblocks (3), Genesis Dual Mono, Dynaudio System 340, Dynaudio System 220, JL Audio Stealthbox

 

Thunder-
Yes, it does sound a bit like "valve clatter", or an "idling diesel". It's very noticable upon initial acceleration up an incline (even at highway speeds). Don't know about towing, have hitched anything up to it yet!

My Expy has had this characteristic from Day 1 and has continued through my modifications, weather changes, different gas manufacturers and octanes.



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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L

535 Towing package
comfort\convenience group
beige leather
captain's chairs
6 CD Changer
Ford Bug Deflector
Superchip - installed 3/11/2000
Airaid - installed 3/23/2000
Edelbrock IAS shocks - installed 3/23/2000

 

jmartinb

I also have a 2000 Expy 5.4L 2X4 W/4K
and I just started to notice this sound about 2 months ago.
I asked my dealer about it and he asked me to identify the sound and I could not figure it out. He takes it for a drive and says he does not hear anything.
I am glad I am not the only one that hears it. It is a fluttering sound, Almost like the old VW beatles used to sound like but real quiet. My wife just started to notice it and she said it almost sounds like our cat's
bell collar jingling from far away.
And the sound does not change with the window up or down.
Did you ever figure it out??

Roger
GO STARSS!!



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Roger In DFW. Home of the 1999 Stanley Cup Champion ****Dallas Stars****
99 F-150 Sport XL Bright Red, 50 Series Flowmaster, Lower front valance painted to match truck!
99.5 L Wheels And Michelin Pilots 285/55/18

 

B777-

Unfortunately, no, I haven't figurd out what this "fluttering" noise is all about. My dealership too said "we don't hear anything.".

Here's a thought...since I installed my Airaid air intake and Jardine cat-back exhuast, I can't even hear it at all!!! :-) Problem with that is now the dealership REALLY can't hear it.

Wish I had better news for you. Please let you know if you ever get this noise diagnosed.

My beloved Capitals choked early again this year...resolved to routing for the Flyers (ugggh).

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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L

comfort\convenience group
towing package
beige interior
captain's chairs
6 CD Changer
16" AT/S

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector
Superchip - installed 3/11/2000
Airaid - installed 3/23/2000
Edelbrock IAS shocks - installed 3/23/2000
Jardine cat-back exhaust - installed 4/6/2000

 

I have leased two Expeditions a 97 and now a 99 with the 5.4L. I notice the ping like sound in the morning when its cold and I am on the surface streets on my way to the freeway. It appears to be coming from the right(passenger front) side of the engine compartment. I especially notice this sound when I have put ARCO gas in. I have noticed that when I use Chevron ( Regular) the sound is minimal. I beive the pinging is related to higher alcohol volume in the newer blended more cleaner gas. The OEM manual says not to use premium withinthe US since Higher octane gasoline has more alcohol to pump up the octane rating. ARCO has more that the other brands that is why its cheaper. I have found that the pinging has disappeared when I add fuel stabilizer or MArvel Oil to the tank. Its basically kerosene, but about 3 oz. per ten gallons, seems to conditon the fuel and eliminates that pinging sound



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Go to:
https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/003180.html

I used the word "flutter" myself when posting a similar problem on my Lightning.

See if this is what you are describing.

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Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc
www.cars-n-trucks.com/lightning.htm
Black 00
Superchip
clear fronts
Airaid
Thinking about a 2" drop in the rear of truck
Also thinging about 3.73's or 4.10's
2000 E320
1993 Cobra R
1959 Corvette
1949 Plymouth
Looking for a better paying job to support my L

 

There is a new post started on the Lightning Message Board regarding this subjet.

Does anyone this board have a clue as to the flutter/rattle might be?
https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/004419.html

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Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc

Black 00, Swanson Chip, clear corners, super whites
Airaid w/10" Big Mouth filter, chrome wheels,
AIM 2" drop shackles, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, 35% tint
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette, 1949 Plymouth Coupe

Looking for a better paying job to support my L

 

FORDSALES-
Thanx for the heads-up. Maybe with the more-numerous Lightning owners, we can get some more light shed on this topic.

Unfortunately, I have nothing to add to this "interesting" engine characteristic.



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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector - 2/15/2000
Superchip - 3/11/2000
Airaid - 3/23/2000
Edelbrock IAS shocks - 3/23/2000
Jardine cat-back exhaust - 4/6/2000
Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer - 6/6/00

 

I have this same noise in my super duty....sounds like the engine is straining to me....sounds like crap too, i hate it...please keep this updated so maybe we can find an answer from someone on here.

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 5inch National Spring lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter,2 JL audio 10's behind rear seat, audio art 6channel amp

 

Well, the descriptions of this 'feature' suck - but I cannot do any better.

I just hooked up my 219-days-without-piston-slap/door-crack truck with 10K on the clock to my trailer for some camping with the family beginning tomorrow.

Well, in trying out the trailer for the first time on this truck, of course I put my foot in it's throat just-because.

Well, as it was gaining momentum at around the 3,500-4,500 range I heard a raspiness (had to change at least a word from the descriptions just to keep you thinking) that I didn't think should be there -- and immediately got out of the throttle.

I'm hoping that it is valve noise coming through the plastic intake manifold -- and that it's really normal.

I haven't sprung for a set of real Ford manuals yet -- but think I heard someone talking about some valve that opens somewhere in the intake manifold to open the left-bank into the right bank (or perhaps it was that nice Manhattan the little woman brought me).

You know that it is a curse of mechanics to always hear the worst in their engines -- while the blissfully-ignorant never seem to have problems.

Go figure...

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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

All of a sudden, my rattle is gone (so far). Look at the tread where I talk about it. It is a post regarding spark plugs. https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/006192.html

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Jim
Jim@FordMotor.cc

Black 00, 4.10's, SuperChip/R9, super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, chrome wheels, AIM 2" drop, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette,
1949 Plymouth Coupe