I know that we have been over this ticking noise before and I've tried to read all the posts but I still need to ask.

I have a '07 with the 5.4 and the Ticking noise when the engine is idling is driving me crazy sometimes. How many of you experience the lite ticking noise like a lifter noise while the truck is sitting idling??? It's not very loud but you can here it, it's like a lifter is out of adjustment. I left the truck idling today and ran into the post office to check the mail and when I returned I could hear the engine ticking from about 50 feet away. It's not like a diesel noise but still aggrevating. Is this a normal sound??????

Thanks alot for discussing this AGAIN, Greg

 

Very normal lol all of you work trucks with the 5.4l 3v do it, some louder then others my truck does it not so loud but its there and the wife reminds me every time we start it up

 

I guess it is something that you learn to live with. Mine doesn't make a sound at start up, it's more after it warms up that it becomes more noticable.

 

I have heard this too. I have an '06 5.4L. All the vehicles I have owned that had modular engines made that sound. 1999 GT coupe, 1999 Cobra vert, 2004 Explorer 4.6L and my truck have all had a light tick sound. I always thought it was the fuel injectors cycling? Or are you guys talking about a different sound?

 

I'm not exactly sure where the noise is coming from. Our Explorer doesn't make the noise or if it does it's very quiet. I may have to run it by the Dealership and let them explain it the way they see it.

 

Might be the fuel injectors... I know they tick on these newer motors.

 

I guess its normal. Sounds like all three of you have the same sound, maybe a little quieter or maybe you don't notice as much as I do sometimes. I just remember the old school days when a solid lifter motor would get out of adjustment and it would make the same noise and you could just tighten the valves down and quieten them down, but not with this motor.

Thanks for the replies!!

 

yes I was just making a new thread about that noise. I have no idea what it is but it is driving me nuts. If any of you go to get it checked out let me know what they say.

 

if you do some searches in this forum about it you will see alot of posts.. just dig deep and you will find them

 

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 2004 Screw 5.4 with 56k miles. Had a ticking/tapping noise from engine ever since it was new. Finally thought I would bring it to the dealership's attention. THANK GOD I HAVE FORD ESP WARRANTY. They had to replace both cylinder heads due to scarring in the cylinders. This was an approx. $5k repair. I paid a $50 deductible. I don't tow anything and treat that truck like its a rare vintage car.

 

My 04, 5.4l has a noticable ticking noise when starting but quickly goes away. I took it took my mechanic and was told that most if not all Ford trucks do this and it is normal. He told me to make sure I use the Motorcraft oil filters because of the reservoir inside the filter.

 

I AGREE, MODULAR MOTORS ARE PRONE TO THIS NOISE. HAD AN 03 COBRA, AND MY TRUCK NOW AND THEY BOTH DID IT. JUST ALLOT MORE MOVING PARTS. 4 VALVLE OR 3 VALVE. FORD SHOULDVE MADE THE TOLERANCES ALLOT SMALLER AND THIS NOISE COULDVE BEEN AVOIDED, BUT IF THEY DID THAT THE DERN THINGS PROBABLY WOULDVE ALL BLOWN UP BY NOW. LOVE MY TRUCK BUT SOME PARTS OF THE DESIGN TEAM NEEDED TO BE FIRED ALONG TIME AGO.

 

Mine does the same thing at idle, if I rev it up it goes away, comes back down to idle and does it again. The truck is an 06 with the 5.4 and I run Mobil1 full synthetic and only have 10k on the truck and it is babied. Everyone including the dealer has told me it's normal, the minor ticking I'm hearing.

 

Going back a few years to 1976, when I bought my first new Truck it was a E-250 with the 351 Modified.
I had a very similar problem and my occupation at the time was a long distance Trucker, where you actually become part of your rig, and pick up all unfamiliar sounds.
Getting back to the subject my 351 M had the same sound and I took it to the dealer which wasn't playing with a full deck at the time. Anyway I ended up taking my Truck right down to Ford of Canada, and went in there with an attitude. The person who took my complaint, asked me to slow down that he was there to take my complaint, and have it checked out. Well we walked out to the Van and he was very impressed at how well it was kept up, and took my complaint in a serious manner.
Turns out Ford was apparently experiencing, or experimenting with a Teflon Linner in the Valve Guides, and they wern't working as well as expected.
I received a call from the Dealer about 2 weeks later were I bought my Van and, they wanted me to bring it and leave it. They done the Heads, Guides, Rockers, Lifters, etc., hence the problem was solved.
Now come to the "Not Playing With A Full Deck", an earlier comment, in this post.
The so called Ford Technician told me they replace all of the above mentioned, with exception to "ONE" rocker, now don't that just give you a good feeling of a job well done.
Don't know for sure but maybe the Valve Guides could be the problem, just a guess, but if it comes apart then have them checked.

 

I took my truck into the Dealership the other day to let the service manager look and listen. He said that since it was pecking a little louder than normal and it pecks through idle into giving it gas then the lifters are bad. This truck is 2 years old and 14K miles. I took it in a couple days later and dropped it off and went back today and picked it up. I will have to admit this thing is much quieter. I am not sure whether it was just a bad batch of lifters or what but they fixed it right up. I would suggest that if you have a question of whether yours makes more noise than you think it should then I would run it by the dealership and ask.