Rattle on cold engine start

[BritMarauder]

Gents / ladies -

Any ideas - my 03 Marauder has started with a metallic rattle on a cold engine start. It lasts for approx 0.5 of a second then everything is OK. Oil has always been Mobil One and changed every 3-5k.

Not knowing this engine very well, the only thing I can think of is that there is a hydraulic chain tensioner in there somewhere, maybe the timing chain and it has to fill with oil before it works. Maybe there is a blockage or a one way valve is leaking over a period of time.

When it is hot it does not do it, or after a while sat it is usually OK. Just after an overnight park and especially when it is cold in the morning (not often in Florida!).

Any help / opinions would be appreciated.

Also - what are the best rear tires to buy / where from? Time for a new pair! I have the factory fit on the front.

Thanks!

Si.

[FormulaMarauder]

Are you using the right weight oil? If it's too thin, you will get some valvetrain noise at startup. In regards to the tires, www.tirerack.com has ours and they are super fast.

[BritMarauder]

I'm using the weight specified on the oil cap...

Thanks for the tire info.

Si.

[imorb1994]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53702&highlight=starter
Does it sound like this^^^ mine does the same thing his did. Lots of cold mornings in Colorado.

[Marauderjack]

What oil filter are you using??:confused:

[rayjay]

Is it the air ride compressor?

[justbob]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=53702&highlight=starter
Does it sound like this^^^ mine does the same thing his did. Lots of cold mornings in Colorado.
This was my noise and yes it was only on cold mornings, as it continues it will start to do it even on warm days but usually only in the mornings. Good luck, let us know.

[BritMarauder]

Thanks for the replies gents - mine maybe that sound - it sounds more high pitched than yours but that may be just Youtube. The starter would be a relief. It never did that at all until approx 77,000. It's now on 80,000.

While I'm on about the lump, the engine management has always annoyed me slightly because it revs up when you start it, which might sound good but it's the worst time for the engine to rev (cold, no oil flow etc). I thought that Ford might have done that to get a turn-over going in replacement engines..!

Oil filter - a standard replacement, maybe Fram, I will check. Why, had any bad experiences MarauderJack?

[Marauderjack]

Thanks for the replies gents - mine maybe that sound - it sounds more high pitched than yours but that may be just Youtube. The starter would be a relief. It never did that at all until approx 77,000. It's now on 80,000.

While I'm on about the lump, the engine management has always annoyed me slightly because it revs up when you start it, which might sound good but it's the worst time for the engine to rev (cold, no oil flow etc). I thought that Ford might have done that to get a turn-over going in replacement engines..!

Oil filter - a standard replacement, maybe Fram, I will check. Why, had any bad experiences MarauderJack?


Most of us won't use Frams.....could be part of your problem??

If it is a Fram just replace it with a MotorCraft FL-820S and see if that fixes it....guarantee it won't hurt anything!!:D

If the filter allows any oil drain back you will hear the momentary tensioner rattle....really doesn't hurt anything but SOUNDS REAL BAD!!!:argue:

Good Luck!!:beer:

Marauderjack :burnout:

[Glockafella]

air compressor would be my guess

[ixlr8]

Mine has started doing this on cold startup, pretty random though. Sounds almost like the air compressor goes haywire for 1/2 sec. then operates normally? When I get my camera back I may try to catch this sound. It doesn't sound like what's in the youtube vid to me.

[ixlr8]

Thanks for the replies gents - mine maybe that sound - it sounds more high pitched than yours but that may be just Youtube. The starter would be a relief. It never did that at all until approx 77,000. It's now on 80,000.

While I'm on about the lump, the engine management has always annoyed me slightly because it revs up when you start it, which might sound good but it's the worst time for the engine to rev (cold, no oil flow etc). I thought that Ford might have done that to get a turn-over going in replacement engines..!

Oil filter - a standard replacement, maybe Fram, I will check. Why, had any bad experiences MarauderJack?

Try disabling your air ride susp. with the switch in the trunk and see if it still happens. I'm going to try that too.

[carfixer]

It is probably the chain tensioners bleeding down. You hear a slight rattle until the timing chain tensioner pump up with oil pressure.

[Joe Walsh]

Thanks for the replies gents

While I'm on about the lump, the engine management has always annoyed me slightly because it revs up when you start it, which might sound good but it's the worst time for the engine to rev (cold, no oil flow etc). I thought that Ford might have done that to get a turn-over going in replacement engines..!

I couldn't agree more....I think that it is stupid as %&*# that FORD programmed the engine to rev so high on initial light-off.
The absolute WORST time to rev an engine!
I grew tired of the dreaded engine clatter upon start up, especially because my Marauder is not a daily driver, and it would sound god awful when I fired it up.
I installed a Canton Accusump oil reservoir.
It holds an extra 1 quart of engine oil in a reserve cylinder under full pressure.
As I crank my engine and it is starting to light off, I flick a switch which opens a selenoid and dumps a quart of oil at full pressure into the engine.
It sounds like it has been warmed up for 15 minutes!!!
No clatter or rattles!
Ahhhhhhh!

[ixlr8]

So far I haven't heard the noise after disabling the air suspension. Time will tell?

I will need to turn it back on soon though because obviously some of the air has leaked out. Looks cool though! I would go ahead and lower it if I wasn't about to sell it.

[Zack]

Marauders built with Plastic Chain tensioners will bleed down and cause the rattle.
I recently had my engine apart, replaced the plastic tensioners with Metal units and have not had the rattle since.

[Marauderjack]

Marauders built with Plastic Chain tensioners will bleed down and cause the rattle.
I recently had my engine apart, replaced the plastic tensioners with Metal units and have not had the rattle since.

When did they quit putting plastic tensioners in??:confused:

[ixlr8]

With the air suspension off, I heard the rattle again this morning for the first time in a while. I really doubt this is tensioner/engine related though. I can feel the rattle in the floorboard when it does it. Once again, half a second, and then everything is fine. Even noticed this morning that it did it about a second after starting.

*Another Note* Could this possibly be a/c clutch related? Has anyone had their clutch chatter after engaging? I usually have the a/c turned off when I turn the car off so it's that way when I crank it back up. This morning I noticed it was still in "auto" mode and of course down here in AL it was 83 and 85% humidity at 6:30am so the compressor is going to kick in that second after engine start. Just a thought.

[RF Overlord]

Oil filter - a standard replacement, maybe Fram, :eek:

FRAM = :censor:
FRAM = :banned:
FRAM = :nono:
FRAM = :down:

Motorcraft FL820S FTW!

Also acceptable: WIX, NAPA Gold, CarQuest Blue, AMSOIL EaO.

[johnjamis]

Well, I am starting to get this rattle/squeal sound for a second after first startup of the day. I checked the belt system and a the tensioner and all pulleys are OK. It is not the air pump because I had it off at the time. Has anyone confirmed that this may be caused by my FRAM oil filter. It sounds more like a tensioner or a clutch pulley. My 2003 has 91,000 miles on it. Thanks for any help.

[RF Overlord]

Has anyone confirmed that this may be caused by my FRAM oil filter.The only way to confirm that is to replace it, but do a little research on almost ANY car board and you'll find that FRAM oil filters are VERY often the cause of start-up rattle, especially on OHC motors.

Why pay more for an inferior filter when you can get the factory-recommended Motorcraft FL820S at Wally's for $3.76???

[johnjamis]

Thanks for the info guys; I don't think it's the starter. It happens after the engine is started. I will swap oil filters and report back with the results. Cost was not a issue when I bought the FRAM filter. I was thinking quality? I will try your Motorcraft recommendation.

[NATEHAWK]

Mine was the high flow catalytic converter driver side

[babbage]

Thanks for the info guys; I don't think it's the starter. It happens after the engine is started. I will swap oil filters and report back with the results. Cost was not a issue when I bought the FRAM filter. I was thinking quality? I will try your Motorcraft recommendation.

3rd time: a motorcraft fl-820s oil filter is one of the only decent oil filters that has a good anti-drain back valve. When you use Fram crap the oil drains out of the heads and then when you start up you are hearing your cams grinding metal on metal for 1/2 second because they are starved for oil (dry). This is "bad" for your engine.

Get an FL820S on there!

[Pat]

My wife's GM has a cold start rattle, always used motorcraft oil and filters. Me thinks it's the chain tensioners. Lasts only a moment, never happens once car is run, even for just a few minutes. Been doing this for most of it's life.

The Marauder is a year older and 11,000 miles more and it never, ever rattled.

[babbage]

My wife's GM has a cold start rattle, always used motorcraft oil and filters. Me thinks it's the chain tensioners. Lasts only a moment, never happens once car is run, even for just a few minutes. Been doing this for most of it's life.

The Marauder is a year older and 11,000 miles more and it never, ever rattled.

I'll bet it is. You should replace the tensioners, arms and guides asap, or the motor could go. Once the chains eat into the arms and tensioner there is too much slack, chain hops while engine is running and it'll grenade. There is a good BOK article I wrote on crownvic.net for replacing those parts.

2000-2003 2v engines have this problem, I'm guessing your wifes GM is in that range?

[a_d_a_m]

There is a good BOK article I wrote on crownvic.net for replacing those parts. Probably the best article on CVN. Saved me considerably $!

[babbage]

Probably the best article on CVN. Saved me considerably $!


Sweet thanks! :D

[03blackmerc]

its a Ford DOHC ive had three different kinds of Ford DOHC engines. all make a lil noise on start up. even a few of my friends DOHC tarus's do it. i call it normal now lol.

[johnjamis]

I replaced my Fram filter with the Motorcraft FL820S as suggested earlier. The rattle with the Fram filter installed lasted about a second or a little more. Now, with the Motorcraft filter the rattle lasts just a fraction of a second. Much less than before and I think tolerable.

I wish the rattle would disappear altogether, but it is better now. Thanks for the suggestion.

Are there others out there that think cam chain maintenance or replacement is indicated?

[RF Overlord]

The Blackbird with 55,xxx has never rattled except for first start after an oil change. Phoebe with 127,xxx just about always rattles after sitting. Has for the last 40,000 miles (purchased with 87,xxx).

[Marauderjack]

Mine has 208,113.5 miles and only rattles on startup after oil/filter change!!!:beer:

When do you suppose my tensioners are gonna go?????:cool:

If/when they do or the motor goes "POP".....I'll build another and go at it again!!!!:beer::bows:

BEST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED!!!!!:bows::bows:

[johnjamis]

I'll bet it is. You should replace the tensioners, arms and guides asap, or the motor could go. Once the chains eat into the arms and tensioner there is too much slack, chain hops while engine is running and it'll grenade. There is a good BOK article I wrote on crownvic.net for replacing those parts.

2000-2003 2v engines have this problem, I'm guessing your wifes GM is in that range?

Hi, I tried to find your tensioner replacement article at crownvic.net, but was unsuccessful. Could you post a link or search terms to help me find the write up? Thanks

[a_d_a_m]

Hi, I tried to find your tensioner replacement article at crownvic.net, but was unsuccessful. Could you post a link or search terms to help me find the write up? Thanks http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1420276#Post1420276

IIRC you may have to be a member to view it.

[buddylee1979]

Hey guys this noise is a normal part of all Ford OHC engines it deals with the hyraulic tensioners bleeding down don't worry about it unless it gets to be more than a second or two, mut if it lasts longer u may have an oil pressure issue.

[Marauderjack]

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1420276#Post1420276

IIRC you may have to be a member to view it.

Very nice writeup!!:beer:

I noticed it implied inferior parts for the 2002 and 2003 model years.....did they improve the tensioners after 2003???:confused: