I have noticed a ticking noise with my 2001 Expedition XLT. It is most noticable in the front passenger side fender area just standing beside the truck. The truck runs & drives fine and oil levels are also good as well as no engine lights. When I got under the truck it almost seems like it is coming from the area of the starter. Any ideas or things to check? Any help would be appreciated.
Ticking noise in my 2001 Expedition XLT
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alaskanexpy
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check the plugs, before they blow they sound like a exhaust leak.
Just make sure they are not backing out and are properly torqued. (Spark plugs)
If one was backing out the ticking sound should be most prominent from under the hood. From where your describing the sound is coming from I am assuming it is likely number 3 or 4 exhaust stud rusted and broke.
As far as what the tick sounds like is subjective, I cannot tell what your hearing, but yes an exhaust leak near the heads makes a similar ticking sound. You should be able to see the exhaust manifold from the wheel well area just under the inner fender liner. If not plastic inner fender liner is fairly easy to remove.
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I had my mechanic look at it today and he used a stethoscpoe to check it. He doesn't think it is exhaust but hes is not 100% sure. When I have the hood open you can hear it but it is not as nearly as well as sticking your head in the wheel well ( or beside it) and I can't barely hear it at all inside the truck. I am leaning toward the exhaust but is there anyway of positively identifying this without tearing apart the truck? He also told me that if I wouldn't have pointed it out he probably wouldn't have noticed it at all since th 5.4 engines he has worked on all seemed to make some noise. That also leads me to believe it is the exhaust ( and not an engine) issue. Any more help would be great!
Well today I drove my truck and when I got home,ran in the house,and came back out to leave again and started the truck there was a loud boom and a puff of what apperaed to be white smoke or dust coming from the same area of the ticking noise. Now the truck is loud and runs horrible. I called the mechanic and told him and he said " I bet you just blew a spark plug" and told me to bring it in. He will have it tomorrow........so just how big of a job is this to repair? He said that he has done them before and didn't seem to concerned about the repair. Any more input....Thanks!
98EXPY 5-0
Full Access Members
depends if it took the threads with it. Do a search for blown spark plug. Lots of threads on various ford forums about it.
I would check the plug occasionally to make sure it is not loosening up again. Chances are the upper threads were damaged when it got ejected.. There are only 4 threads in these heads to begin with. That is why they have plug ejection issues. Not torqued enough and they loosen up.... to tight and it damages the threads.
Little surprised your mechanic did not check the plugs the first time you brought it in as it is a known issue with the 2v mod motors.
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