I just bought this truck yesterday. During the test drive and everything it seemed all fine. After all the paperwork and the truck was actually mine. I noticed once it is all warmed up it seems to have a slight knock/tick? and a slight miss to it. I shot a couple videos, one up underneath where it sounds like most of the noise is coming from. Could it be an exhaust leak? Or is it something internal? Like the Cam Phasers, or a rod or something!

It did however come with a 1 year unlimited mile warranty through warrantys.com, with only a $100 deductible


Here is the link to the ad online where I purchased it from.
Used 2004 Ford F-150 for Sale in Cincinnati OH 45245 EA Motorsports



Here is a video around the exhaust area.



Here is up underneath the truck.

 

Today I took apart the Throttle body to clean it, also used MAF cleaner on the MAF sensor. Still has a slight rough idle/tick at idle. I can bump the throttle and im not sure if the sound goes away or the engine noise covers it up. I did unplug the passenger side VCT and didn't get a change, just made it throw a code though. didn't do driver side yet.

I went and bought a motorcraft filter and motorcraft 5w20 and will change the oil soon. Truck runs good driving, its just a little rough at the stop lights, but has not stalled out.

I also noticed I always seem to have water drip from the muffler, looks like it has a few weep holes in it and water drips out of it. Not sure if its just in my head but the noise sounds louder from under the wheel well or underneath as opposed to the engine compartment.

I do have a stethoscope. Im not sure what I am suppose to be hearing though through it?

 

My truck does this too...

Biggest POS I've ever bought. I posted here months ago about an extreme loss of power. I seldom ever drive the truck, and it only has 75000 miles on it.

Dealership wouldn't touch it, and they said it was running fine. Well a couple weeks ago, I started hearing that "knocking" or ticking". Like you mentioned, once it warms up a little, I can hear it. It's loud enough that I can hear it while driving.

I just wish the dealerships around here would actually troubleshoot, rather than insist everythings ok. I was stranded along side the road once before because of a dealer that didn't believe anything weas wrong with my 6.0 diesel.

 

I would try a stethoscope and listen in the valve covers. I have an 04 and replaced my cam phasers last year because of it sounding like a diesel and last month had a rocker arm or cam follower as ford calls it seize up and ruined my cam. Mine was really loud and tapping like that but its hard to tell from the video exactly where its coming from. My truck now has new cams, phasers, lifters, rocker arms and timing set figured I get it all done while I was in there and had it torn apart

 

I'd second that recommendation of getting a stethoscope and checking the valve cover. Does the noise go away after the RPM get over 1200? If so, it's probably phasers. If it is always there, through all RPM then could be exhaust of internal. I also had a tick, like an bad lifter. I narrowed it to #2 cylinder with a stethoscope. Pulled the valve cover and had a seized roller on the follower, which gouged the cam. Long story short, new cam, new follower, and a couple days of work and it's perfect again. But the job is a PITA.

 

Original Poster: Please post the info needed. Knowing what engine would be nice.

4.6L do not have this issue, but still can have a ex manifold leaks.