Maybe a ford tech could tell me if this is normal. The place that installed my exhaust said I had a bad manifold gasket, plus the studs are shot from rust. Next, the ford dealership tells me it sounds like the followers, they want $200 to take valve covers off to diagnose and estimated between 1400 and 1600 to fix the followers. A lot of threads on here say it could be the phasers or lashers. I took a video of the noise so everyone could here. Any suggestions would be appreciated, and if it is the manifold, which is releasing an exhaust noise when I accelerate, I think that is still covered under warranty, which my 04 xlt 5.4 is currently at 70400 miles. Correct me if I am wrong, but owners manual states that exhaust components are covered 8yrs/80,000 miles, right? Here is a video link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y93dGUy6DEU

 

I also know about the noisy injectors, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

rust? in florida? in an 04 pickup? sounds weird to me but i cant say they are wrong.
did the dealership take a look at it? or did they just hear it and take a guess? if the manifold gasket is leaking then you could feel the exhaust wherever its leaking from. when did it start? whatever it is it sounds like its both sides of the engine in the vid so i guess its internal.

 

Yes, Florida..lol, the truck was a lease from dearborn, I bought with 38k in 06. The service tech just listened to the sound and gave a pre-diagnosis. I think its the manifold that is leaking exhaust noise because it gets louder when I accelerate. I guess I crawl under there and have someone rev it to find out, but I did notice one of the studs that holds the bottom of the passenger side manifold to the cat converter on that side does not stick out as far as the other one on the opposite side. The ticking I think is the injectors. I have some pics of the connector stud, but the suspect one is not that great. I will try to stick a tape measure up there and get a pic with that and post them. Thanks for your insight, this round is on me ----->

 

Ok, first, I'm a 13 yr Ford tech, and a 20 year mechanic. It sounds as if in the video that you may have more than one noise. Pass side sounds like an exhaust leak, and the drivers side is definitely a phaser. You are wrong on the warranty. The catalytic converters are covered 8/80. Exhaust is considered base engine. Just because the studs are longer on one side doesn't mean squat. It is hard to tell from some computer speakers exactly what is wrong, just remember that. BTW, I have repaired about two dozen or so of these noises and have yet to replace the lifters/"followers". It is always the phasers, unless the engine hasn't been taken care of on oil changes, then it doesn't matter.


Yes, these engines have loud injectors. You may have an exhaust leak on pass side, though.

 

Thank you for your expertise bigBronc, I really do appreciate it! As for the phasers, should I just go ahead and replace both of them?

 

Use a stethescope on the front of each valve cover and replace the one that is noisey. If both are noisey, do both.

 

lol, sounds like you got cams runnin...

 

I have exactly the same noise in my truck. 2004 5.4l 80K miles. It's got considerably louder in the last few days. One time I slowed to a stop and truck started vibrating in time with the clicking. I have no idea what's wrong. Let me know if you figure it out.