Noise when engine off and cooling down
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6
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From: South Florida
Noise when engine off and cooling down
My 99 F150 has a 5.4L V8 and it just started making this noise after I turn the engine off. It makes a loud "ping" noise every 5-10 seconds as it's cooling off. It's not your normal cooling down sounds. It's freaking me out! It definitely is a metal sound. It seems to be coming from the engine compartment on the passenger side. I keep telling myself it's just the cat or exhaust manifold cooling down but it is so much louder than normal. It's running fine so it's not affecting performance at all. I'm just worried it's a precursor to a much bigger problem. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
Luper
Luper
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,550
Likes: 2
From: Mount Airy,MD
The only thing is to check if they are loose at all. If loose, you may want to try and see if they can be tightened up any way.
I have a new 04 and they do this all the time. It just a matter of the metal expanding and shrinking from the heat.
As I have heard many vehicles do this, I don't worry about it any more.
I have a new 04 and they do this all the time. It just a matter of the metal expanding and shrinking from the heat.
As I have heard many vehicles do this, I don't worry about it any more.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
If it is louder than before I would guess that something is wrong.
Get under there and check to make sure that the heat shield has not come loose and is laying on the cat or to make sure that nothing is stuck between the heat shield and the cat.
Another possibility is the heater hose is leaking coolant drip by drip onto your super hot manifold and it is making the "ping" noise you are talking about.
Could be one of your cats is clogged and is getting super hot. drive the truck for 1/2-1 hour than stop and carefully crawl under it and look at the cats to see if one is glowing red.
Good luck-
Get under there and check to make sure that the heat shield has not come loose and is laying on the cat or to make sure that nothing is stuck between the heat shield and the cat.
Another possibility is the heater hose is leaking coolant drip by drip onto your super hot manifold and it is making the "ping" noise you are talking about.
Could be one of your cats is clogged and is getting super hot. drive the truck for 1/2-1 hour than stop and carefully crawl under it and look at the cats to see if one is glowing red.
Good luck-
Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
What kingfish51 said is a good bet, but you will probably find that they are tack-welded in place. A muffler shop can fix a broken weld if you need it. One other item that you might want to check out, especially if you have ever removed the throttle-body cover, (black plastic cover with 5.4L Triton logo) are the three bolts securing it to their mount. My truck had the same symptoms as yours, but only after I installed a K&N FIPK. One of the bolts was loose.
Last edited by What Ranger?; Feb 20, 2004 at 07:49 PM.