my 05 fx4scab 5.4L has a ticking noise sounds like "valve tapping" coming from the engine.my wifes 04 fx4scab has it too but it can barly can be heard,has anybody else has noticed this.i hate to think about putting in new adjusters in a 3v head that gots to be a nightmare anyway my point is if this is a problem i defently want to get the dealer to do it while under warrenty.thanx guys..

 

Bad lifters? Or "hydraulic lash adjusters?" Well, it may not be the actual adjuster, it may be an oil feed problem, but should definitely be covered under warranty.

 

Sure it's not the injectors??

 

I am with KevinM on this ! These fuel injectors get pretty noisy. My sevice advisor swares the tapping/ticking sound I hear are injectors. I would take it in , especially if still under warranty. You never know.It could be serious and if so , very expensive to fix.My Motto: GitRDun Under Warranty!!!!!

 

Special Service Messages
18342 2004-2005 F-150 5.4l 3v - Ticking Noise From Upper Engine
Some 2004-2005 F-150 Vehicles Equipped With A 5.4l 3-valve Engine May Exhibit A Ticking Noise From The Upper Engine. If The Noise Is Light, Comes From The Top Front Passenger Side Of The Engine, Occurs At Idle, Goes Away Above 1000 Rpm, And Is More Pronounced As Oil Temperature Increases (above 160f/71c), Replace The Cam Phaser With Kit 3r2z-6a257-aa (interchangeable Side To Side). If The Ticking Noise Does Not Match These Symptoms, Check Instead For Collapsed Lash Adjusters And/or Cam Shafts That May Be Galled.
Effective Date: 12/16/2004

 

Are your fuel injectors really that noisy?

 

I went through ticking noise concern a couple years ago with new Explorer. Service Mgr, Advisor & Mechanic fired up several new ones on lot to show me I had normal injector noise. My new F150 5.4 has similar noise. Told it was injectors. Well , after reading what 1brannon1 wrote I am going to dealership with questions. However , I honestly believe mine is injector noise [not to loud].But I will have checked out anyway.All of this info. is great!

 

A cam phaser problem actually makes the engine sound more like a diesel then a ticking noise

 

tick, tap, knock. it's been described as all of the above. cam phaser TSB refers to it as a "tick". some folks describe it as a "knock", exiled described it as a "tap"

 

I've got the diesel sound...I guess I need to take it to be looked at.

 

thanx yall for yall's replies. i'm taking mine in monday if i can get a chance.i dont have a tick or knock but a tap. now it is much louder than the other day ideling or at 5000rpms. i know its not the injectors cause i scoped it to inside the valve covers. i can see how someone could describe this sound as a diesel like sound but anyone that has a bad adjuster knows to well this sound..now my wife's is indeed injectors. i scoped hers ticks to her injectors.. thanx again.

 

5.4 Engine Knock/tick

Yes, My 2004 F150 With The 3 Valve 5.4 Engine Also Knocks, Taps And Ticks. More So When Warmed Up And Also Sounds Like A Diesel. Took It In To Ford Yesturday, They Called Me Back: Confirmed That The Cam Phasers From The Factory Were Defective And They Are Tearing Down My Engine As I'm Speaking. They Will Replace With New Parts. This Is A Common Problem And The Dealership Knew Right Away What To Look For. There Should Be No Knock Or Tapping From These Engines. Only Noise You Should Hear Is Fuel Injection Ticking When The Hood Is Open. I'll Post Another Thread To Give You All Some Feedback On Whether Or Not This Fixed The Problem.

 

It has been found that the ticking noise/dieseling sound is from:

The valvetrain noise described as a dieseling has been found to be caused by the (NOLA) Normally Open Lash Adjusters in the 5.4L-3V. In the previous 5.4L-2V Engines had (NCLA) Normally Closed Lash Adjusters. The noise is only found at the lower RPM Range. Noise heard at the upper RPM ranges is from Crank Noise.

 

Monty:

Have them take a look at the locating dowel pin on the end of the CAM to see if the dowel hole is elongated. I had the knock/tick that was getting louder and then the engine stopped idleing completely. The dealership's computers issolated the problem to the CAM Phase sensor/mech. but when removing found the locating pin to be loose. They had to put a new cam in it.
After the fix I still have the dieseling sound, but that is caused by the lash adjusters. See previous post.

The CAM Adjusting unit is a oil driven unit and requires proper oiling for operation. This is a simular type of system used on 1980's escorts.

 

200454fx4:

Thanks For The Input. I Called The Dealership Today And Spoke To My Service Advisor. He Said They Also Had To Replace Some Sort Of Spacer. What He Is Talking About (spacer), Beats Me! I Was Told That The Dealership Has A Mechanic Who Breaks The Engine Down And Then They Have An Engine Tech Who Does Nothing But Fix Engines. They Have The Parts And Today The Engine Tech Is Repairing It And Should Be Up And Running By Tomorrow. Seems Like A Lot Of Work To Be Complete In 3 Days. Thanks Again For Your Feedback.