I was wanting to buy this generation of F150 for a weekend work truck, but lately everytime I see an F150 or Expedition of this generation they have a loud ticking sound coming from them sounding like crap. I'm a Ford guy so just deciding if it would be good to go with honestly...if need be I'll go older but I like this body style too...and was thinkin of the 4.6 or 5.4 if I were to get one, no V6...well thank y'all!

 

Some have a noise due to broken exhaust manifold bolt- leaking gasket... some have piston slap on startup when cold... Dont know of any other problems.

 

That's almost what it sounds like is manifold related but then I thought, "could they all have that?" So I guess it is a common thing? That helps to know, Ford has always made great trucks, would hope this wasn't a bad generation. Thanks

 

"Some have a noise due to broken exhaust manifold bolt- leaking gasket." Mine does also,, 2002 4.6 scab

 

IMHO the Triton series engines are very well built and reliable. And yes lots have exhaust manifold leaks.

 

As I've just noticed the full text detail TSB's on this site are no longer available without buying someones service so I can't link you there, however there's a TSB for ticking/diesel sound caused by the lite-off catalytic convertor. Ford's wonderful cure is to wrap an expensive insulating blanket around the offending convertor to reduce the noise. I just live with the noise from my truck as it disappears as soon as the rpm climbs when driving.

 

I have two 5.4L with 134k and 164k on them respectively. Been very reliable for me with routine maintenance and so forth, so I would recommend them. Keep a spare coil pack or two around, just in case.

 

I have an 02 f150 with the 5.4, I am now at 268,000 miles and runningstrong, I really don’t baby my truck at all, but I don’t ring the guts out ofit either. All I have done to it is regular mant. And rebuilt the alternator 2times. At start up it has the normal tick, also when the manifold is cold ithas a tick from the exhaust stud broken/ rusted off. When I change my oil every4,500-5,000 miles I use valvoline full synthetic, and 1 bottle of lucus oiladditive, and that will take care of the tick until about 3,000 miles.

 

2000 F150 XL 4.6L 2WD. 288,000 miles. Starts right up, ticks at idle at idle, gets me to work. Best $1200 I've ever spent.

 

2001xlt 4.6 never gave me problems, has decent power and has always been reliable

 

Now Ill probably jinx it. I own a 98 F150 with a 4.6 it has 122,000 on the clock and still running strong no ticking noise that I can hear. The alternator went bad and the throttle body holes for EGR got plugged up once I fixed both and still runs strong. I replaced the brushes in the alt thought I had it fixed but the armature wear from the original brushes took the new brushes out in about 800 miles.

 

hey guys, just thought id ring in on my 2 cents, i have owned nothing but ford trucks all my life.am a third generation ford loyalist.my veins run ford blue! i made a vow that i would hitch-hike carrying a ford hub-cap before i would drive any manufactures product that asked for a government hand out! needless to say some foreign piece of crap! wow that felt good! being that said i must say, i own a 1997 f250 light duty 4x4 w/4.6l v8. and am very disappointed. where do i start? (1) the flare nut that holds the egr valve tube to the drivers side exhaust manifold deteriorates and causes an exhaust leak,burns the paint off the floor board rust a hole in the floor(2) passenger side exhaust manifold bolts break causes leak ;replace manifold(3)horn stuck because of a some sort of electronic membrane , have to buy a steering wheel air bag assembly just for that(4)bolts rust off of exhaust pipe that are connected to drivers side exhaust manifold;had to replace drivers side manifold along w/egr valve tube that was replaced only two years ago(see 1 ) because the dealer said they couldnt drill out the broken bolts in the exhaust pipe flange. what a rip off! oh! by the way. each time they replaced the manifolds, the bolts had to be drilled out because they would break while trying to take them out.this is a factory defect!(5)now im suffering through a leaking head gasket because i've got exhaust fumes in my coolant tank, the truck over heats momentary ,spews out a little antifreeze then is fine.all this around 125,000 miles. boy do i miss my '79 f150 w/ a 300 six cylinder .this technology stuff is a drag!

 

My 2005, 5.4, had a very loud injector tick from day one. Everyone told me it was normal and it never presented a problem, just annoying.

My 2003, 5.4, purrs like a kitten. Much better engine IMO.

 

I have two 302s, a 351W, a 6.0L diesel, and the 4.6.


I'll take the 302s or the 351 over the triton any day of the week. My 89 F-250 with the 351 and 200,000 miles is still ticking just fine. The 99 expy with 4.6 has been nothing but problems in the 4 months I have owned it.

Two Mustangs with 302s, no problems in 15 years.

I am not a fan of the triton. Sure they are great engines except for:

cylinder head oil leaks, coil packs going bad, spitting spark plugs out, breaking spark plugs, and intake manifold leaks.

The last Windsor I did anything but preventative maintenance to was when I put headers, heads, and intake on a '92 Mustang in 1995. I am still driving it. Only thing done is oil, plugs, filters. That was 150,000 miles ago.

Our Expy seems to have poor build quality. I think Ford kind of let quality slide a little in the late '90s early 2000s. Both front and rear heat went out. The rear wiper locked up. The EGR valve crapped out. It spews oil out of the passenger side head gasket. And the passenger side rear door has the child lock self engaging. However, The interior is layed out VERY VERY well though, and the wife loves it.

My Fox Mustangs and 89 F-250 have been the most reliable cars I have owned, right up there with the Toyota's I have owned.

 

i have a 97 f150 4.6l. i have had all the typical problems these trucks have as 97 is the worst year for this generation of truck. i have the head gasket leak and i put the bars stuff in and it has work fine ever since. replaced the oil pressure sensor, and i live with the ticking noise as it goes away and has never been a problem. 180,000 and it still runs strong. i have never spit a plug, i think that was more of a problem with the 5.4 but i could be wrong.