New to this site and looking for some help.....im at college and just bought a truck, 99 f150 5.4L and wen the truck is running, it makes a loud PING noise every so often (every 3 to 15 seconds) like throwing a small rock at a piece of steel, really hard. it sounds like it is coming from the starter kicking on for a split second. may sound crazy but it sounds like it only happens when the hood is closed but when its open it doesnt happen......... ive left it stay open for a few minutes to see if it was just a coincidence that it happens but sure enough, when i shut the hood, it happens again. any ideas?? need the 4x4 lol......snow is coming down....and the mustang doesnt like it!! hahaha Thanks!!!

 

Nothing to do with the hood unless you have a remote starter. Sounds like you need to go thru harness and battery cables and clean things up. Also the cable makes a loop right below the starter. If your trapping water in that loop it cause starter issues like the one described.

 

another thing i forgot to mention is that the lights such as; brakes, airbag, seatbelt, battery, mileage (dashed lines. not the actual miles) and all of those lights stay on as well as the stereo, when the truck is shut off and when the key is out. it's as if the key is in the start position the whole time.

Ill start cleaning things up tonight after classes and let ya know what happens. Thanks!!

 

cleaning didnt solve problem but atleast motor is clean!!!! hahaha

 

Don't clean with water !! That's not what I meant

Water and these engines don't mix well..That will make matters worse.

Pulling the harness and cleaning the connections. The ground on the passenger side frame rail is one/ all connections to the starter is what I meant..

 

oh no i just wiped things off lol no water!! hahaha any other ideas???

 

We believe the problem is the new stereo that was installed incorrectly by the previous owner.