Headed out to work this morning & discover my 2001 L has a tapping noise coming from the engine bay. Haven't had much of a chance to investigate beyond poking around for a couple of minutes with the hood up.

It is a little difficult to pinpoint but seems to be from the front center of the motor or the pulley assembly & is easy to hear while in the truck at idle. Definately changes with RPM, but doesn't get louder as RPM increases. Not an exhasut leak (already been through a plug blow out) & doesn't sound like your typical rod or lifter tap. Almost sounds like the fan is just barely catching the edge of something....

Anyone had a similar problem!?!?

Thanks in advance,

Doug C.

 

Hum.. At what frequency? Is it 1/2 the speed of the motor/crankshaft? Or slower? Or faster?

Some things that come to mind is a injector, a valve, a partialy broken link on the timing chain, or something in the FEAD. (bad bearing in one of the components)
The speed compared to the crank can sure give a big clue.

Rich

 

It tracks with the engine RPM & seems to tap once per crank revolution.

I'm just going to go ahead & take it in for service I guess, but unfortunately my local "hookup" is no longer working at the dealer shop I've used before.

If anyone has a recommendation for GOOD service in the Houston area that will over look a mod or two Please let me know by email or private message!!

Doug C.

 

spark plug anyone?????

 

Does it get louder when you put it in gear? It could be a broken motor mount that allows the fan to hit the shroud when the driveline is under load.

 

I would bet that a plug is loose and ready to spit out....

 

I am not thrilled with Lone Star Fords service, I bought both of mine from them but I am beginning to look elsewhere for service. I think I am going to try the dealer on I-10 in Katy, Champion Ford I think.

 

93Cobra:

I'm 99.9% sure it is not a loose plug, the noise is from the front end of the motor & this is not the same noise. Been there done that on plug blowout unfortunately...

Couple of people on the HALO site suggested the tabs for the fan shroud may have popped loose. Will take a more thorough look this evening & update.

Thanks again & keep that feedback rollin in!

Doug C.

 

Give me a direct email @ cglenn@entouch.net

 

I say plug also

 

Doug maybe try the old rubber hose or wooden broom handle trick, and pin point that sound if you positive it isn't a Plug on the way out.

If the fan was hitting, even lightly, you should be able to see where it scrapes. The Jeep Cherokee I just dumped hit when you made certain turns, but it was pretty easy to pin point the sound,
"and where it was hitting"

Good luck ?

 

Try changing your accesory drive belt and lube the bearing in the idler pulleys.
A lot of the early trucks (99/00) had a nasty noise like this, mine did and I found out it was the drive belt. I know a guy right now that has this noise and he swears its detonation and I have driven his truck(its a 00') and I know the noise but I can't hardly convince him that is what it is.
Dale

PS Ford has a new design upgraded belt and pulleys for this.

 

CaptainInsane-O, It sounds like your lower aftermarket pulley is loose. (if you have one )

A loose pulley will make a ticking sound that " tracks with the engine RPM & seems to tap once per crank revolution".

 

Well I dropped it off at a local SVT dealer so they could have a looksee & just got some BAD & kinda off the wall news. Service guy had all of the plugs checked, no luck they were tight. Tried the belt assembly/pullies & again no luck hunting down the tapping noise. So they decided to pull a valve cover... VOILA he said the passenger head (which was replaced at 27,000 because of plug blow out damage) looks like it was seriously starved for oil & the rockers all have wear/heat damage! Thank God for extended warranties, just have to wait on approval from them to get the dealer to drop the oil pan & pull the upper end apart. Hopefully it won't be a problem getting the work covered by the warranty!!!

I have ALWAYS changed the oil every 3000 miles with 5w20 synthetic & a new Motorcraft oil filter. I have fun with the truck but I DON'T beat on it & have always taken good care of the thing. It showed absolutely ZERO signs that anything at all was wrong until the other morning when the tapping started up. I really have enjoyed this truck but am getting worried about how it's going to hold up 20, 30, 40K down the road.

Doug C.