I have a new 99 XLT 4.6 with 560 miles on it that is making some awful clanking sound but it is very intermittent and does it all temps. It sounds like someone is banging on the exhaust with a hammer. It will do it more cold (1 bang every 3-5 seconds) as opposed to warm (1 bang every 20-30 seconds) as opposed to hot (1 bang every 1-3 minutes). I don't think this is piston slap and I was wondering if someone could describe in great detail what it sounds like. I tried downloading the wave at someones home page but could not get the file to unzip. For now I think it is the catalytic converter but it is VERY loud and I would like to be sure about the piston slap sound when I take it to the dealer.

 

Listened to the noise - thats it! You have to have the volume up pretty loud but a very distinctive sound.
Has anyone else heard this noise while idleing to a stop? Mine actually sounds worse then as opposed to on startup.
Triton, have you tried 10/30 Mobile 1? It seems to have cleared mine up to the point that is unnoticeable. Don't know if it is the 10/30 or the synthetic,

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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, SC, ORP, 5.4, Mods: [i]305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt nerf bars, fog light mod and Big Bird mirror toy.[i/]
kkirt1@hotmail.com

 

I have a zip file on my webpage of the sound in wav format. Just go to my page and click on F-150 Tech Garage. Play the sound, its very noticable.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Actually I dont have the piston slap in my 4.6, I only posted the sound so others could recognize what it was and if they have it. Ive heard that Ford has a fix for it and is due out at the end of the summer.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Ford's fix is detailed in the text of a "letter to the tech" in the August Truck Trend. Check out the subject "Piston Slap in August Truck Trend" for the text of the letter and the response from Ford.

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99 F-150 4x2 S/C, 5.4L, Lariat, Black / Gold, 3.55 l/s, Tonneau...more to come!!

 

Hi Triton46,

I heard the .wav file on your page. My truck makes a similar noise, but only on startup when cold. Once warm, there is no noise. I talked to a service rep about it, and he said that the 5.4 and 4.6 engines can have a tappet noise associated with the valves in the head. Could that be the noise? Is the piston slap noise heard all the time, or only at startup? Or, can it vary depending on engine and severity?

Also, I wondered what type of exhaust system was on the truck in the recording. It sounds nice. Deep throaty sound.

Thanks,

DirkR

1997 F-150 5.4 4x4 S/C ORP + Flowmaster

 

seacrow,

I believe what your hearing is probably your exhaust. I also have that noise and when parked in the garage and cooling down it is loud. When you park and turn off your engine if you still have the noise it is your probably your exhaust.

99 F150 5.4 3.73 LS Step Side Extended Cab, Dark Red, ORP, Towing pkg, Sliding rear window (Leak fixed on delivery), Factory Cab Steps and bed liner.


[This message has been edited by riggs (edited 06-25-1999).]

[This message has been edited by riggs (edited 06-25-1999).]

[This message has been edited by riggs (edited 06-25-1999).]

 

riggs,

I think you are right. I crawled under the truck last night with it running. It is coming form the catalytic converters. What bothers me is how loud it can get. but it is getting more infrequent every time I drive. The guys at cars.com say that it probably has to do with break-in or the exhaust is too tight. My dealer sucks so I am waiting til about 2,000 miles and if it still makes the noise I will take it to them. And yes, it does the same thing when I shut it off hot but not quite as loud.

thanks,
seacrow

 

Triton46,
I downloaded the wav. and I can't get the file to unzip. I tried it twice. I can't even find the unzip screen in my computer anymore.....any suggestions? I would still like to here it.

 

dirkk
I dont have the sound on my truck, but from what Ive heard, most 5.4 owners only hear it at start up.

seacrow
Download Winzip from www.winzip.com .

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

seacrow,
Try using the Find option in your start menue and search for zip.

 

The "piston slap" sound has not appeared on my 5.4, but I only have 27 hundred miles on it.

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99 F150 Lariat SC, 5.4, 3.55 LS, Superchipped, Full Window tint, Deep Wedgewood Blue/Gold, Factory Steps/Towing Package, Rear Slider

 

I also have about 2700 mi on my and have not heard the piston slap yet. I read somewhere on this board that trucks manufactured after Mar. '99 have the fix. Anyone else remember reading this? True?
Jeff

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1999 F150 Lariat
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield, VentVisors, Class III hitch, Ford molded mud guards, soft tonneau

 

Was this "Piston slap" problem fixed on the 99 5.4. I dont hear it on mine cold or hot?


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White 1999 F150 4X4 XLT Regular Cab, 5.4L Short bed, 373 Rear, Towing & Off Road Pkg, 6 Disk CD, Keyless Entry

Mods Include : Superchip, Flowmaster exhaust, Chrome bed rails, Full window tint. Triton boats tag on front - BASS sticker in rear glass

 

I have downloaded and unzipped the piston slap sound. For those of you who cannot unzip files, e-mail me and I will send it to you as an e-mail attachment. I have shortened this file by half and it is still over 500kb in size. Expect download time to be about 3 minutes.
rickmail@iname.com


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'99 F150 XLT,SC,4.6 auto, no mods...and I am happy with it that way.