I just bought a 99 L ..55k miles..there is a light ticking noise coming from passengers side,,not noticable when your under the hood,,almost sounds like an exhaust leak,,put it on the lift today and cant find any leak..i'm thinking lifter noise now,,any known probs, or suggestions? thanks in advance..

 

STOP DRIVEING IT IMMEDIATLEY!!!!!!!!!CHECK/TIGHTEN ALL OF THE SPARK PLUGS!!!!The early model heads have problems blowing the spark plugs out of the heads because of only haveing 4 threads in them,03 up have 8=9 threads in them, some loosen up and sound like an exhaust leak right before they launch out of the head and take all of the threads with them........use the search engine on here for more info............

 

too late,,,it happened on the way to work..now what? ...whats the best solution...??

 

Have a tech install an insert in that cylinder head. Our plugs should be run down finger-tight and then just 1/16th of a turn more. My 2001 L has over 101,000 miles on it and no plug has ever blown out.


Dan

 

Insall a timsert or upgrade to the 03 heads

 

installed an insert....gonna check all the plugs tommorrow..i now see post all over the net about this problem...but highly doubt ford will ever do anything about it..heres another question...do you think an extended warranty ( thru chrysler ) will cover replacing the head?

 

no they wont because its not a "safety issue" very stupid.

 

whats the avg cost of labor in head removal and replacement,,any ideas?

 

GOOD SAVE
DONT BOTHER (yet) if it's back to normal and running perfect
ALL BUILT HEADS have inserts in them, (or heli coils, or timeserts, or or or),
so you'd only be replacing it with what you already fixed in one cylinder

Save the New Head thought for when you go with a Built Motor