Has anyone heard anything new on the so called "piston slap" ticking & knocking noise on initial start up-Has FORD stepped up & took responsibility? I dont know if it does any long term harm, but i do now i would have a hard time selling it. has 85k on it, im 2nd owner, talked to 1st owner &he said it did it off the lot and FORD wouldnt do any thing about it!

 

Get this: Our 2000 Windstar with a 3.8 V-6 was knocking like you wouldnt believe. It was so loud, i sounded like piston slap, or rod knock. It was especially loud when you came to a stop sign or red light. This is what the dealer diagnosed it as. Appanrently, there's a screen under the intake, and if it gets clogged, will cause a TREMENDOUS knock. So bring it to the dealership, and BE AGGRESSIVE! Tell them you want to check out this screen, and see if it's the cause, cause it sure does sound the same to me! Try it out, see what happens!

Jim

 

I have a 97 that does the same thing. It seems to mellow out after warmup and driving.

I have a freind that just got a brand new Mustang Mach 1 and it has a knock. After talking to the dealer, it is a common ford engine noise.

 

Change oil with Valvoline or Mobile 1 synthetic oil and the slap won't be audible any more. Wont fix it, but Ford tech. buletin says that slap won't cause long-term damage, but synthetic oil will make noise go away. I tried it this weekend on '99 Expy w/4.6 and it worked! Car never ran so good.

 

Dood a NEW Mach 1?

Talk about pi$$ed. I understand a little piston slap in a pickup, but arent the mustangs supposed to have a bit tighter tolerances, being a performance thing? At any rate, the pickup screen seems suspect.