I have an 05 F-150 XLT with 5.4 and 4X4. I have noticed a ticking sound coming from under my truck almost between the motor and transmission. It does not speed up when I accelerate its just a constant tick. Sometimes it takes it awhile to do it when the weather is cold. The ford dealership says that is normal that the 5.4 motors are just noise. I have listended to others and do not hear it. Any clues on what it may be. I am going to sell the truck but want to make sure there is nothing wrong with it before I sell it. Thanks for the help!

 

Any chance it could be serpentine belt ?

 

Wouldn't that speed up with acceleration? I cant think of anything engine related that wouldn't change with engine speed. Something electrical?

 

I had that once on an old f250. Couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Then one day I turned the fan on high and the noise went faster. A pen fell down the defrost tube. Haope your is that easy to find. Good luck

 

I had that once on an old f250. Couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Then one day I turned the fan on high and the noise went faster. A pen fell down the defrost tube. Hope your is that easy to find. Good luck

 

I will venture a guess...
Could be something related to the 4x4 system (solenoid vacuum lines or IWE's). Next time you hear the noise, put it in 4high and back to determine if the noise changes.

 

Here is my story ,

I own 2005 5.4L Super Crew and when the tuck was at normal operating temp. I would get a ticking noise (at idle only heard loudest from the passenger wheel well ) that made people think I had a baby deisel under the hood. Once I would get the engine over 1200 rpm the noise would be gone . After several trips to the dealer they finnaly heard the noise ( Thank God Cause They Thought I was Crazy).After being in the dealer for two weeks they narrowed it down to the Lashers on the heads (look like baby roller rockers) They changed all of them on both sides because it would be to hard to determin the exact one , and why bother opening the heads just to change one or two bad parts. Running Just fine now THANK GOD FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY !! COST NOTHING BUT MY NERVES!!!

 

Have you always used Motorcraft 5W-20 oil, and Motorcraft oil filters?? Did you switch it up lately?? This matters. Mine was ticking when I bought it...and here they had 10W-30 cheap oil, and a cheap Pennzoil oil filter on it. I changed to Motorcraft oil and filter...and my ticking has almost completey dissappeared.

Also, these engines are known for exhuast manifold leaks, and the studs breaking off. Check this maybe as well.

 

Aahhh, here it comes.

This is about the point where we see lots of "experts" claiming how 10w30 is actually better for their MOD motors, and that they know better than the manufacturers. Because Ford really has no interest in the longevity of their products, only meeting the federal CAFE requirements....right?

 

I just had a new magnaflow exhaust put on and the checked the manifolds. There was nothing wrong with them. I have always used the Penzoil oil. I have tried listening to the motor over 1200 rpm and the tick is still their.

 

I went to flatratetech.com and watched a video on the cvt system this might help you with your noise at least it will give you & idea on how your valve train operates it gave me a better understanding on it. can't remember the exact name of title it was the only one that mentioned the cvt though.

 

i have the same problem with my 2004 f-150 4x4 super cab, it has the ticking noise and the dealer ship said that it was the timing belt or chain, anybody have any idea's if this is true or part of the problem
thanks for the help

 

My 2005 4x4 SCREW ticks too. I purchased an electronic microphone and compared the sounds to those mentioned in a earlier post to those included in the Ford video on engine sounds. Mine is not injectors, not valve lash, non CVT phasors, and is also located very low in the driver's side. It sounds like it is near the transmission. I cannot say now if in my case it changes with engine speed. I will need to go back and check that part out. I was puzzles when I tracked it down to there, but so glad it was not an upper engine noise I did not investigate further. If it makes you feel any better, at least someone else has a very similar thing going on and it does not seem to effect performance in any way. I would be happier if it didn't tick though. Russ