Hey, I just had a brain-fart!

You know when someone 'discovers' a new star -- he gets to name it or have it named after him???

Well, how about starting a registry right here on this wonderful gathering point for ****-retentives.

Under this plan, each new 'feature' discovered on an F-150 would have a name and number -- saved for all time.

So, we could have the "jmartinb flutter of Y2K" or something that jmartinb so designates.

The descriptors -- or Feature-features would become the 'fingerprint' -- sort of a patented or (more accurately) Copyright for the Feature.

(god, I need a life)



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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"

 

Y2K7700-
Hope you didn't hurt anything with that cranial gas! ...:-)

How about "Y2K FlutterNutter"??? I leave all of my royalties to you.

Seriously, I thought I was nuts posting this "characteristic" in the 1st place. Sound like this one is going to keep us wondering for awhile.

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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 (2/15/00), Superchip (3/11/00), Airaid (3/23/00), Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00),
Jardine cat-back exhaust (4/6/00), Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00), MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)

 

I am sending this thread through again to see if someone might have an update.

I personally have been to a number of dealerships with no help, conclusions, or thoughts. I have been told that as long as the enginge is running strong (which it is) there shouldn't be a problem.

There might not be a problem but I would sure like to know what the rattle might be????

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Jim
jim@jimshaw.cc

Black 00, Swanson Chip (Superchip re-burn is on the way), 4.10's
super whites, Airaid w/10" Big Mouth filter, chrome wheels
AIM 2" drop shackles, Mobile1 w/FilterMag, clear corners
2000 E320, 1993 Cobra R, 1959 Corvette, 1949 Plymouth Coupe

Looking for a better paying job to support my L

 

BTT. I've still got it too.

 

I've had it since mine was new, but just thought it was the bypass valve recycling compressed air. It only happens at 3K or higher, and only when I've been into boost under acceleration. Today, when I backed off the throttle at about 4K rpm it actually sounded like a metal-on-metal shriek for a split second.
I think it may be the negative load on the engine as it waits for the tranny to upshift...the tranny won't upshift until it senses vacuum, so you have a second or two while the engine freewheels at 3k-4k, then the manifold pressure drops, and it upshifts.
It's just as irritating as the downshift-upshift-downshift at 70 mph. I don't know if Ford planned the delayed shift for the road racers, or if it's just a design flaw. The only way for me to avoid it is to really close the throttle, then open it again when it upshifts.

 

I must agree with Lightningquick. I'll be willing to bet that it is the wastegate for the supercharger. It seems that all of the Lightnings have it. I too thought there was something wrong but after hearing the sound for a while and paying attention what I am doing before I hear it, it appears to happen only when you are in boost and then abruptly let off of the throttle. I may be wrong but it seems to be the only logical explanation.

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Red '00 Lightning
14.020 @ 97.97 mph
Mobil 1
Totally stock

 

Time for my 2 cents? Well, I don't know about the lightnings, but I had/have a "flutter" from my Camaro, and what it was/is on it, is the air rushing into the cabin from the outside. Ya know, the feature, where IF there was an exhaust leak into the cabin, and your windows were rolled up, there would still be fresh air coming in while moving. I notice it especially coming off of the freeway and costing down the off ramp at 45-60 mph. So, who knows? And, yes, don't remind me, Chevy and Ford, are TWO different things, but you never know!!!

 

I had a similar situation, but it is described as more of a funny "buzzy" sound rather than metal on metal. It's pretty loud. I took it to my personal mechanic and he said it was vacuum related due to the onset timing in relation to the throttle. Just my two cents. It doesn't do it much and only when I let off the throttle at around 3k RPM.

 

Finally an answer that I am comfortable with for now. The possible answer has been mentioned on this post but it was a number of possibilities given with out any support. So, my quest keep going. Trying to discover exactly what this rattle problem was. I wanted to ease my mind that either all was OK or something bad was happening to the engine.

Today, I stopped by Sunset Ford (once again) to have someone go out with me to listen. BUT this time a mechanic said, is there a rattle up front when the RPMs hit between 2500-3500 RPMs, disappears when throttle is let off or the trans shifts? I said YES. I was then told that Ford does now know about the problem and that it is an exhaust noise and that Ford is working on the fix and there will be a paper out on it when discovered.

I feel much better knowing that the possibility is that it really is an exhaust noise vs. engine problem.

I can finally sleep at night


[This message has been edited by FORDSALES (edited 08-17-2000).]