In the last week or so, in my 01 F150 SuperCrew, I hear a ticking sound when I start the truck in the morning. It seems to go away (or at least it's not as audible) once the truck is warmed up. Any ideas?

 

There is a TSB out about the timing chain tensioner being loose when cold starting the 5.4L. It eventually tightens once the engine warms up. Mine does this when cold and quiets down after a couple of minutes. It usually is loudest around 2000rpm's.

 

I have a 2000 f150 5.4

Check the pass. side exhaust manifold rear studs.
Mine broke or the manifold warped ( chicken or the egg witch came first )
Dealer said common problem on that year.

 

i have a 4.6, and when the engine oil gets low it does the same thing to me. I have it topped off and it goes away, not sure if this will work for your case, but its a cheap solution to start with. For mine the oil doesnt have to completely low or past the bottom line for it to do this. Just an idea. good luck

 

whats TSB stand for? just wondering cause mine ticks too.

 

Tech. service bulletin

 

so its not something that you can take in and theyll fix on recall.

 

Mine's a 5.4. Would the timing chain tensioner be something that would just "start ticking" one day? I've had the truck for over a year and it just started this last week.

My first thought when I heard it was... "I wonder if it's getting ready to blow a plug?" But then it stops after a couple minutes.

 

Have you checked the pass. side exhaust manifold rear studs yet.
I still think that is it , if the noise goes away after a few minutes.

 

I have an 01 F250 with a 5.4L. Mine has about 140k, and i recently had a lsight tick like you have. I ended up ahving to replace the fornt three lifters and rocker arms on passenger side. When its cold start the engine, pop the hood, and just try to get an ear ay where the noise is coming from.
Mine also broke the exhaust suds, but that made more of a "whoosh" sound. Good luck..

 

Can you just replace the studs or do you have to machine the heads???

 

Nope. A TSB is just something that Ford issues to help the techs with problems that are either common or hard to find. Also if they come up with any new ideas on how to repair something they issue a TSB.
They have just come out recently with a new TSB about the exhaust studs. They have changed them up to stainless steel now.
I've replaced lots of these studs for ticking problems that usually go away once the engine warms up.
ealopez you don't have to machine anything. Just replace the studs and gaskets between the head and manifold. Usually the broken studs come out quite easily. Most of the time they leave some of the stud sticking out of the head and you can get Vice Grips or whatever on that.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but usually a ticking noise is caused by lack of lubrication to the lifters. Once the oil pump gets some oil into the top of the engine it usually goes away. Check your oil level and make sure that it is not overfilled. You might want to switch to a different weight, depending on which type you use. I have not heard of ticking being caused by an exhaust manifold, unless it is coming lose and rattling. That is just my 2 cents though.

 

Mine developed a "ticking" for a few days just before blowing a plug. Ticking didn't go away after warm-up though. Check your manifolds.

 

It's happening on mine too...although it seems to be coming more from the direction of one of the catalytic converters.