I have a 97 f-150 4.2 5 speed with 97000 on the clock. It started macking a clicking noise under load, thought it might be a bad plug wire so I put in a good set of wires and new motorcraft plugs. It is still there it almost sounds like spark knock........HELP.... TNX...ED

 

Is it a mechanical click or an electrical sounding click?
Could it be related to leaking gasket problem ???

 

the more I hear it the more it sounds like it is comming from under the passangers side ?????

 

Take that set of drums sticks out from under the hood. Those gerbils are getting a little too frisky with them. j/j

Nah, if it's electrical, you'd better get it fixed quick. I'd hate for you to have a big spark coming out somewhere!

 

If it sounds mechanical, it could be the wrist pins in the engine wearing. If it's only when it's under load, then it probably isn't that serious at this point. If it is, then it can only be corrected by an engine rebuild, but the engine could last a long time before that happens!

 

I hate to say it but the description is vauge enough that it is hard to come up with anything specific.It could be almost anything.
Possible exhaust manifold crack/leak?
That can make a clicking/ticking sound.
Try and get a mechanic's stethoscope and see if you can hear it in the driveway at varying RPM's.
I'd guess a GOOD seasoned mechanic could take a ride with you and hazard a few educated guesses.

 

sounds like the catylic converter

 

Thanks for the input... It is on the passangers side and with the hood up if you rev the motor you can hear it while the rpm's are comming up. It sounds like iys down were the header couples with the cat converter. made an appointment with my local dealer.... will let you know what happens....tnx...ed

 

Please do let us know. I have a 99 with 98k on it and has been making a faint ticking noise for the last 2 months....well last week the ticking became louder and on occasion sounded like a spurt of compressed air.

Yesterday it got really loud. I thought I had a flat tire because the truck started to shake. It was just the noise of the engine and the engine was running rough.

I checked all fluids and they were their normal colors and levels. Checked the temperature and oil gauges...everything was normal besides this load noise. I haven't ever overheated the truck so I don't think it was a head gasket and I saw no leaking fluids.

The noise is coming from the passenger side also. I looked under their and it sounds as if it is coming from the exhaust manifold. I am hoping that it is only the gasket of crack in manifold...this would be much cheaoer to replace.

 

check out this thread. maybe yours can help mine and vice versa as my problem still exists even though I thought I had the problem solved a few times.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=242724

 

Thanks Tom for the link....actually today I discovered what my load noise was coming from the passengers exhaust manifold. One of the spark plugs were dangling from its wire, out of its socket.

I was sitting back wondering if it was never put in or what not and recalled that my dear old mechanic buddy that came over to help me with my tuneup a couple of months ago must not have tightened it all of the way when we replaced the plugs.

Unfortunately, it was threaded partially and the first the 3-4 threads were stripped when the spark plug was blown out of its socket.

The good news....I hope that the remaining threads will be able to hold it. Otherwise I will have to drill and helicoil it. Would I have to take off the head to tap it out or will the metal shavings blow out through the exhaust?

 

I would suspect that the shavings would get caught up in the cats for ahwile atleast, but I believe no harm would be done.

 

Thanks Homer...I am going to see if I can get a tap that size from Auto Zone...I guess they would have that?

 

no problem, they should have it, maybe not in stock but you can definetly order it

 

Yip..went to the ZONE!! They had the tap there with some other little tool included so they could charge $30...ouch. Well..gues s it was cheaper than taking it to the mechanic.

I got the threads all straightened out and so far the plug seems to be well seated enough. The truck runs better with more power now that all 6 cylinders are firing.