I have a 02 screw 5.4L 4x4. when I start it in the morning it sounds as though I have an exhaust leak. Also when I acellerate up hills the "tick" sounds like it is coming from under the truck on the drivers side. I also have heard when a plug is about ready to go AWOL it sounds like this as well. Are exhaust leaks common on the 97-03 5.4s? if so what is the fix? My Dad seems to think it is a vaccum leak. could it be this?

 

The thing you need to do is... On a cold start, crawl under there, look and feel around all the seams to see if you can find a leak or not. Typical there will be a little black mark where the leak is. You will also be able to feel the exhaust pulsing out of the hole.

Step 2. If you can't find a leak, then get some carb cleaner or starting fluid and spray around all of your vac hoses and intake and stuff. If the motor revs up, then you have a vac leak.

 

I will try that but I will not be able to until the weekend. the noise seems to come from the drivers floorboard area

 

Your only 2.5 hours away from me! But ya, you'll just have to look when ever you get time.

 

You can also here a ticking sound on a cold start up next to a wall or in a garage. I know I've got a few leaks, the curse of a completely custom exhaust.

 

my exhaust is all oem

 

Then the leak is probably at the joints. My old OEM exhaust used to drip a little at one of the joints, right at the intermediate pipe.

 

if that is the case could I take it to a muffler shop and have it re-welded?

 

If it drives you too crazy you could. I would replace it with a new tighter clamp personally, so in the future if you want to go custom you can. Your exhaust should still be in fine condition, but the low grade stainless rusts out after ten years or so.

 

Thanks Darren- I eventually want to run headers and some magnaflow stainless exhaust. Could I use the factory cats or could I run some high flo ones? My truck has 133xxx miles on it and I dont know what the converter replacement laws are in Missouri where I live.

 

Well you're over 80,000 miles which means you can legally change out your cats to whatever you wish, within factory specs. Replace them with Magnaflow hi-flow cats if you want the most volume you can get.

You could re-use your cats ( you will not be able to re-use the front ones due to the length of the Longtube header ). Ihave heard a few people have sucessfully re-used OEM cats, but I would change to aftermarket hi-flow anyways since your cats are so mature, there is a change at them burning up or clogging.

 

133k, time for hi flows with those headers! If your in St. Louis they do a "sniff test" for emissions. No cats will fail instantly, but hi flows will be just fine, and perfectly legal in or out of St. Louis.

 

sweet! Yes I live in stl co what type of headers/ cats you recommend? anything other than magnaflow?

 

OBX long tubes and magnaflow cats FTW!

Or... OBX kits can be ordered with OBX cats, This is an other great way to go.