Tapping noise from under hood.

[NOMARQUIS]

I have a 2003 MM 300a, 23k on it. I have gotten it out for the spring and now I notice a tapping noise from the passenger side rear of the engine bay when the car is warm. I don't hear the noise inside of the car unless some one opens the pass side door. The noise is there only at idle and only when the engine is warm. It sounds like it could be comming from the fuel rail or somewhere by the rt side exhaust? To me it sounds like a lifter tick, however our cars don't have lifters. (I think) I've taken the car to my local Ford dealer and got the usual "that's normal" response.

Last year I had my driver's head replaced under ESP for a smoke issue. I think it has ticked like this since I got the car, but It seems louder now than it's ever been. Cold starts are quiet and the car runs and performs fine. Any clue what this is? Fuel injectors? Would a top engine clean help this?

Thanks,

[Glenn]

Are you absolutely positive with no exception that your DS head was actually replaced. Did you see the old head? I have never heard of the head tick on the PS side. If your DS head was replaced you should have NO ticking. But, like you said it could be the FIs - how loud is it? FIs are not normally loud and they click/tick.

Glenn Ford

[NOMARQUIS]

Ya, I saw my head. It was nasty. 3 of the 4 cyls had poor valve guides and the plugs were fouled out. Also, my car used to smoke so bad that I'd know if it wasn't replaced. This tick noise is heard on the passenger side. I see there are some guys who tightened the cam shaft? It this hard to do. I'm sure my ESP won't cover anything since my dealer says the noise is "normal." I had to fight them for months before they realized my smoke issue wasn't "normal."

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56067&highlight=no+more+smoke