Update on engine tapping/ticking noise on 04

[junehhan]

Hey guys, I just got back from a visit to the dealership to have them check out the tapping noise that my Marauder makes at idle. After spending a lot of time with the Ford Hotline, the dealership told me that this is a known issue that is starting to show up on some 04 Marauder's now. They were told by the hotline not to do anything and just wait, because there is no fix for it at this point in time. They told the dealership that when a fix arrives, they'll notify them so they can notify me. Last but not least, they told my dealer that the problem and a fix are currently under investigation right now. My dealer told me that Ford mentioned it could be a month or so before they find a solution...............

[looking97233]

yep, that's exactly what they told me about my 03' a year and a half ago. Don't hold your breath.

[jrc50]

Sounds like Mercury was using leftover 03 Cobra engines. There is a TSB on the ticking, go to Stangnet.com
Problem there was with poor cooling around one of the valve guides causing, if I remember right, premature valve stem/guide wear. Ford fix is complete new head on just that side.
The earlier 4Valve 4.6 aluminum block engines/heads :eek: in the Cobras (like my 98) did not have the problem.

[jgc61sr2002]

Hey guys, I just got back from a visit to the dealership to have them check out the tapping noise that my Marauder makes at idle. After spending a lot of time with the Ford Hotline, the dealership told me that this is a known issue that is starting to show up on some 04 Marauder's now. They were told by the hotline not to do anything and just wait, because there is no fix for it at this point in time. They told the dealership that when a fix arrives, they'll notify them so they can notify me. Last but not least, they told my dealer that the problem and a fix are currently under investigation right now. My dealer told me that Ford mentioned it could be a month or so before they find a solution...............

Sounds like :bs: to me. :(

[jrc50]

TSB 3521 is the 03 Cobra "Ticking" service notice. Reportedly there are at least some 04's that have the problem as well.
Somebody with a factory connection ought to verify Ford has some concerns about the MM. It is through the noise the various Cobra sites made that Ford formally addressed the problem. :argue:

[Constable]

My "Bad Valve Guide" thread has all of the information you need. Check out TripleTransAm's "My Ticking Marauder" for helpful info, too. I just got my MM back from the dealer... new head, valvetrain, etc... runs awesome.

[junehhan]

Well, it sounds a little wierd to me, but i'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and give them till mid June to come up with a fix for the issue before I press this issue any farther. My dealer said they were aware of the ticking issue that was affecting some of the 03's, but was under the impression that it was resolved before the 04's hit production. I'm not sure that I can pin-point it on a bad set of heads either, because i'm not blowing any blue smoke, and the engine definately isn't consuming any either. I'll just keep cool and give them to mid-June since that's when I plan on doing a few mods. I'll make sure to call the dealership every several days just to make sure they don't forget about me.

Since I have the MAV2 computer program that all early 04's appear to have come with, I guess we can rule out that Ford used leftover engines, although I guess it's a possibility they may have "accidently" ***cough*** used some of the old heads lying around. After all, all 04's with the MAV2 program would have needed dual knock sensors.

[TripleTransAm]

Is there any way to check the part number on the heads without removing them? This should confirm if there was any change to the '04 heads versus what was dumped on the '03s.

[jabo731]

One My Way To Dealership To Pick Up Car. They Said They Have To Order New Drivers Side Head Thats Suppose To Be And Updated Production Version Of The Original Head. 12,ooo Miles On My Engine.

[junehhan]

Out of curiosity, what year is your Marauder, and what is it's build date?

[jrc50]

Attn Forum Moderator
Since there appears to be some sort of serious valve guide/head design issue that some posters are getting "unpublished" (no TSB official number), it might be a good service to put some sort of master board posting up for to centralize information on what is going on.
In particular, it would be good to know at what production number MM did they change head design (as with the Cobra) or have they not yet changed design and will all 2004's need a new head? :confused:

[junehhan]

Well, I was at the dealership this morning to have a piece of moulding that split apart replaced, and they talked with the Ford hotline again. The service guy told me that he was told, that while a fix is being investigated, that they will probably not release a "fix" anytime soon. Since they accidently ordered the wrong part, i'll have to go back in a week in which they said they'll call up the hotline again and bug the crap out of them till they get a more specific answer. I asked him if he could at least retorque the valve covers, or check to make sure the cam bolts were properly torqued down, but he said he was told not to touch my engine till the hotline comes out with a fix. I'm pretty sure that was becase Ford didn't want to pay them since the valve covers don't look easy to remove.

[MERCMAN]

Well, I was at the dealership this morning to have a piece of moulding that split apart replaced, and they talked with the Ford hotline again. The service guy told me that he was told, that while a fix is being investigated, that they will probably not release a "fix" anytime soon. Since they accidently ordered the wrong part, i'll have to go back in a week in which they said they'll call up the hotline again and bug the crap out of them till they get a more specific answer. I asked him if he could at least retorque the valve covers, or check to make sure the cam bolts were properly torqued down, but he said he was told not to touch my engine till the hotline comes out with a fix. I'm pretty sure that was becase Ford didn't want to pay them since the valve covers don't look easy to remove.

that may well be the understatement of the year, you have to loosen the motor-mounts to remove the passenger side. I have talked with others about the 30 ft/lb on the valve covers, and the general concensus is NO FREAKIN' WAY. Back those puppies off when you hear that tapping, the gaskets on the MM are rubber not cork, so you don't need to crank them down to "knuckle-buster". Just my '02

[MERCMAN]

that may well be the understatement of the year, you have to loosen the motor-mounts to remove the passenger side. I have talked with others about the 30 ft/lb on the valve covers, and the general concensus is NO FREAKIN' WAY. Back those puppies off when you hear that tapping, the gaskets on the MM are rubber not cork, so you don't need to crank them down to "knuckle-buster". Just my '02


My mistake,, it was NOT ft/lbs it was inch/lbs. Thats what you get from not being mechanically inclined DUH!!!

[TripleTransAm]

Aw man, now you say so... I just went out and torqued my valve covers so tight my radio is crooked.
j/k... I'll loosen up the driver's side one of these days when I have a moment.

[MERCMAN]

Aw man, now you say so... I just went out and torqued my valve covers so tight my radio is crooked.
j/k... I'll loosen up the driver's side one of these days when I have a moment.

Oh great!! you scared the ****z out of me!! note to self---don't talk about anything more mechanical that opening the fridge door :bigcry:

[junehhan]

I am not mechanically apt either, but i'll try slightly loosening up the valve cover depending on what answer I get when I go back to the dealership next week. They ordered the wrong moulding, so hopefully they get the right one. Funny thing, is that I fell asleep while waiting in the lounge which is on the second floor. When I came back down, I heard a customer talking about how she thought she heard snoring noises coming from up the stairs.

On a side note, Mercman, what kind of Xenon kit did you use for your conversion?