LOUD enigine tapping noise!

[SergntMac]

Not to confuse this topic any more than it is now, the tensioners on our engines are crap. I've owned three Marauders now, and replaced one on each. I even upgraded to an 8-rib system using an older Cobra front timing cover and Cobra tensioner, and that tensioner broke in half, stranding Zack and Chris at the track. 275 bucks for the flat-bed home, too!

The OEM part is prolly another of Ford's cost cutting measures by farming out the "Job 1" to an independent source, who's lazy or inept, but who knows. I never heard any of them "tick", but if it's suspect, replace it. At least then you can rule out the tensioner as a source of any noise, prolly going to go bad someday anyway.

Back on track...Talking about engine noise can stimulate debate over symptoms, some folk suddenly hear something as a bad noise, when it's been that way since day one, and not drawing attention until the owner concentrates of it. Fuel rails do emit some minor noise when they pulse, and this noise can be magnafied as it telegraps into the cabin. However, if it's loud enough to be closer to a clickty-clack, and it's a new and different noise, something is wrong. Get it checked out.

[Dennis Reinhart]

started her up this morning to go catch the train and have a horrible tapping noise coming form the enigine....gets louder and faster when i accelerate...sounds like a collapsed lifter to me but not sure....to the dealer i go...depressed...only good news is i have a few months left on the warranty...i guess i have to extend it now....sucks!

It could be a carbon knock

[SergntMac]

It could be a carbon knock

Indeed, this is very possible, which (in the past) has invited the advice..."Drive it like you stole it" in order to prevent it.

[grimmace]

i don't think this is carbon knock and it definitely is a new sound...it really sounds like something broke off internally and is getting smacked around...the dealer still didn't have an answer for me but he did say they were doing oil pressure tests and contemplating taking out the head...my question is should i just plant the seed for a new enigine now?...the last thing i want is a patched up motor about to have an expired warranty...maybe i can get ford to extend it for free

[grampaws]

Cracked piston??..New motor generally will be more
reliable..push for a New motor..Pulling the heads
is not a good sign..If the breakage is inside the cylinder
oil pressure test won't reveal much..compression test or
cylinder balance test or leakdown test would be more
inline..There are scopes that can look inside the plug holes
to see the damage without removing the heads.
called a borescope..
http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDi...&kw=VISVO36-6H

[SergntMac]

it really sounds like something broke off internally and is getting smacked around...the dealer still didn't have an answer for me but he did say they were doing oil pressure tests and contemplating taking out the head...my question is should i just plant the seed for a new enigine now?...the last thing i want is a patched up motor about to have an expired warranty...maybe i can get ford to extend it for free

First, if it's that loud, you could have snapped a connecting rod. They are the weakest link in the bottom end, and the engine will run until it seizes. That really doesn't fit with your description of symptoms to this point, but it's still possible. Sorry I can't hear it from here.

Secondly, the chance of having a sick engine "patched up" is remote today. As my dealership parts and service guys have explained it to me, Ford has gone over to a "modular" service parts system.

Take the heads for example, if a valve/spring/cam ect. has failed, the entire head is replaced with a "loaded" assembly, and your old head goes back for reman. My parts guy says I cannot buy individual parts such as piston, con rod, ect., not from Ford anyway. Wrenches do not rebuild anything anymore, they just remove and replace assemblies.

If it's serious enough, you may get a whole crate engine to replace it. Saves Ford the cost of wrenching on failed parts. The replacement may be a remanned engine too, but this is fine with most folks, as long as it come with a warranty.

Some of y'all may disagree with what I'm posting here, but it's how things are working in my area. No one does much rebuilding of stuff anymore, it's all R&R. Sadly, the talent needed to rebuild is dying away.

[grampaws]

Agreed! These are very valid points..
New verses Reman..New is my preferred option.

[grimmace]

well turns out i had a bent rod so they are replacing the whole cylinder head assembly...i should have the car back in a day or two...how in the world does that happen...faulty from the start?...should i call ford and try to get the warranty extended...do you think the car will be ok once a cylinder head has been replaced?

[Bradley G]

Ford will probably replace with a longblock remanufactured.
The time frame may be a little longer than two days.

well turns out i had a bent rod so they are replacing the whole cylinder head assembly...i should have the car back in a day or two...how in the world does that happen...faulty from the start?...should i call ford and try to get the warranty extended...do you think the car will be ok once a cylinder head has been replaced?

[grimmace]

they actually said they had a new one that was meant for a navigator but its going in my car

[Fast4Door]

well turns out i had a bent rod so they are replacing the whole cylinder head assembly...i should have the car back in a day or two...how in the world does that happen...faulty from the start?...should i call ford and try to get the warranty extended...do you think the car will be ok once a cylinder head has been replaced?

I'm a bit confused. What rod is bent? I usually think connecting rod, but I don't see how replacing a cylinder head fixes that.

Can you elaborate, please?

Thanks.

[grimmace]

that was what the service advisor said to me...they are replacing the whole cylinder head and it is a loaded assembly....i did some research and these engines (at least on cobra's) apparently have a "silent recall" due to the condition....here is what i found...i actually called the number and this guy pat hoye actually answered....he wanted nothing to do with me...directed me to ford customer service

2003 Mustang Cobras Have Defective Engine Cylinder Heads
29 July 03

According to a Ford Motor Company memo, 2003 Ford Mustang Cobras may have defective engine cylinder heads. The memo noted that the Cobras may exhibit an unusual engine noise that is present at all temperature ranges during engine idle. The memo also states that the noise may be due to bad cylinder head valve guides in the left hand cylinder head. The noise may be heard at the rear of the left hand cylinder head, thought the left side exhaust or at the left front wheel of the vehicle.

If your 2003 Cobra Mustang exhibits this condition, Ford may replace the cylinder head and cam assembly. The replacement cylinder head part number is: 3R2Z-6049-GA. Owners are advised to have their vehicles inspected before the warranty period expires.

This is considered a "silent recall" where upon Ford may NOT notify owners of this condition. For more information, it is suggested that owners contact Pat Hoye (313) 248-8336 at Ford World Headquarters.

News obtained via BlueOvalNews.com

[ctrlraven]

According to a Ford Motor Company memo, 2003 Ford Mustang Cobras may have defective engine cylinder heads. The memo noted that the Cobras may exhibit an unusual engine noise that is present at all temperature ranges during engine idle. The memo also states that the noise may be due to bad cylinder head valve guides in the left hand cylinder head. The noise may be heard at the rear of the left hand cylinder head, thought the left side exhaust or at the left front wheel of the vehicle.

Interesting, I have a loud noise coming from the back of the driver's head, just recently started. My uncle who has been an air plane and vehicle mechanic for about 30 yrs was talking to me last night telling me about a friend of his who repairs 2v,3v,4v ford mod motors only and he has been seeing a lot of the motors come in with around 60K on the clock and needing new valve guides and they should be replaced with brass or brozne, I can't remember I was half asleep. So as an early birthday present to myself I want to go buy a set of heads and have them worked on so if I have a problem with my oem heads I can just switch them out in a day and be back on my way. I was looking on www.KarKraft.com and they have 96-98 heads and 99-01 heads, would either work for the MM?

[SergntMac]

I want to go buy a set of heads and have them worked on so if I have a problem with my oem heads I can just switch them out in a day and be back on my way. I was looking on www.KarKraft.com and they have 96-98 heads and 99-01 heads, would either work for the MM?

The combustion chamber on the older heads was different that today's head. The '03-'04 4V heads are all the same and very close in design to the FR500 head, as well as the GT Supercar 5.4V 4V head. Very close, a little touch up here and there, you have a kick azz head.

It's not going to be a simple swap out, it's not just replacing a blank head for head. There are no cam bearings, the cams wear on the journals directly. After some mileage, each cam is unique to it's girdle and journal, and you should not disrupt this relationship. The journals will be too large for a replacement cam, and you won't get a good tune on the car. You can line bore a fresh journal, but you'll need to update the specs for the cam.

You would be better off building a complete new head, with fresh cams, valves ect. And once you go that far, may as well just install them and enjoy your investment. Installing cam bearings is an option to you at build time, but it can be pricey.

[Dennis Reinhart]

that was what the service advisor said to me...they are replacing the whole cylinder head and it is a loaded assembly....i did some research and these engines (at least on cobra's) apparently have a "silent recall" due to the condition....here is what i found...i actually called the number and this guy pat hoye actually answered....he wanted nothing to do with me...directed me to ford customer service

2003 Mustang Cobras Have Defective Engine Cylinder Heads
29 July 03



According to a Ford Motor Company memo, 2003 Ford Mustang Cobras may have defective engine cylinder heads. The memo noted that the Cobras may exhibit an unusual engine noise that is present at all temperature ranges during engine idle. The memo also states that the noise may be due to bad cylinder head valve guides in the left hand cylinder head. The noise may be heard at the rear of the left hand cylinder head, thought the left side exhaust or at the left front wheel of the vehicle.

If your 2003 Cobra Mustang exhibits this condition, Ford may replace the cylinder head and cam assembly. The replacement cylinder head part number is: 3R2Z-6049-GA. Owners are advised to have their vehicles inspected before the warranty period expires.

This is considered a "silent recall" where upon Ford may NOT notify owners of this condition. For more information, it is suggested that owners contact Pat Hoye (313) 248-8336 at Ford World Headquarters.

News obtained via BlueOvalNews.com

I think you are confused, the TSB for the drivers head is because Ford had two different vendors making the right and left cylinder heads, and they sup[osidly have issues with the drivers head. That is why they only change the drivers side head and it was for ticking and or smoking, not rod knock, I can see no way the dealer can change out a single rod and have the car back to you in two days and I would never settle for this repair, all the rods should be changed and or checked, so you may mean the dealer is changing the head, I have no idea, but from your description it does not make sence.