It only ticks when I put it in gear (forward or reverse) and have the brake on. I hear the ticking it sounds like it's coming from the lower half of the engine. If I put it in park, the tick goes away. any suggestions? Also, if I should check the plugs, what plugs should I go with as replacements? Stockers? If so what kind are they and what is the part #? Thanks guys, I'm really worried about this one.

BTW - I am completely bone stock except for the magnaflow and stock airbox mod.

Jim

 

You could do what I did. Slap 8# of pulley on her with the stock plugs and change them once a week and make sure you buy an off the shelf chip and not dyno tune the truck. Then whoop the hell out of her for a few months til she melts a piston. Make sure you got money for a built motor to replace her. She ran like a raped ape when she was working right. Seriously though, CHECK YOUR PLUGS NOW!!! Since you are stock I would stay with the stockers for now. I can't remember the part # but it's on the side of the plug. BTW, I'm from Ashtabula Stuck in Hawaii.

 

Wow, from Ashtabula and in Hawaii, I envy you!!! I'm guessing when I take the plugs out, I can just pick them up at local auto parts store? Also, since this only happens when I put it in gear, do you think it could be a tranny tick? I think I'll be doing the plugs tomorrow. Hope it's just a loose one. The truck still runs fine so I'm crossing my fingers for now.

Thanks, Jim

 

I don't think it's your plugs. You should hear an exhaust-like sound if you have a loose plug. I guess it could "tick" if the plug was rattling around in the plug hole but the exhaust sound should be louder.

I think you have a trans., linkage, torque converter problem. Not sure of course, but with a load on it and the "tick", I'm guessing trans's related.

Dan

 

That's what I was leaning toward, I hope that it's just nothing and it will go away. Haha yeah right!

Thanks for the input

 

hmmmm.....mine did the same thing when the tranny was about to let go......

 

say it aint so, say it aint so

 

My trucks got 29K on her and she's a 2000, will Ford replace the tranny under the powertrain warranty?

 

Good luck on getting the dealer to do anything. My truck is doing the same thing and they are telling me that the noise my 5.4 is making is normal. What a joke, why don't they all sound like diesels. Please let us know if you find out what is causing this noise.

Thanks

 

Just posted about my 1995 F-150 doing the same thing. Has ~105K on the clock, and the dealer id'd the noise as injectors. I don't think so - so I'm on the hunt for other suggestions. So far, comments / thoughts are on the exhaust side of the equation, but the noise only happens when the truck is in gear. Any help would be appreciated!

 

The jury is still out on this one, the injectors do make a noise but I can hear them while in park as well. I'm thinking it's the power steering pump or something.

Jim

 

Trust me on this one, its not the power steering pump. That is another issue all by itself. I have taken my truck to the dealership for the third time now for the same noise that everyone here is describing. I have been told once again that this noise is normal and is nothing to worry about. They also told me that its going to get a lot worse as the weather gets colder. I left the dealership and went to my friends house to check out his truck, its the same as mine, 03 F-150 5.4. His truck is quiet when it is in gear, nothing like mine.

Still looking for answers

 

Yeah, I would love to get this one resolved. It is driving me nuts!!!

 

simmy....where about in Ohio...I live in Fairport Harbor....I have a very mod friendly dealership here....very good and very understanding!!!

 

I'm in the Akron area.