Clanging while sitting at stop light
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Clanging while sitting at stop light
In the last few weeks, I've noticed a tinny type of clanging from underneath when I'm sitting at a stop light. I don't hear it when in neutral, or when in park. But it is very apparent when sitting idling, with transmission in Drive.
I haven't had a chance to get it to the dealer yet, but any ideas what it might be? Its not like I can have it in gear and climb underneath to look... And I definitely don't trust my wife to sit on the brake while I climb underneath to check.
I haven't had a chance to get it to the dealer yet, but any ideas what it might be? Its not like I can have it in gear and climb underneath to look... And I definitely don't trust my wife to sit on the brake while I climb underneath to check.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Would it only do that while idling, and in gear? Anything I can do to remedy it, if that is it?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
The inspection plate (very thin aluminum) can only make noise at certain rpms, engine loads and etc. It can act weird. My dad had a weird noise on his 03' that I chased down to the inspection plate. I made a new thicker inspection plate for him out of thicker aluminum sheetmetal and bolted it up. The sound is gone now. Funny thing is the OE plate is still on my 04' and makes no noise. Some guys just crease the plate alittle to stiffen it up and stop the vibration. It only takes two bolts to remove the plate. Take the inspection plate off and go for a drive, it won't hurt anything.
If its not the plate look at the heat shields on the exhaust pipe, they can come loose. If ones lose cut it off, its pretty much useless anyway.
If its not the plate look at the heat shields on the exhaust pipe, they can come loose. If ones lose cut it off, its pretty much useless anyway.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
The inspection plate (very thin aluminum) can only make noise at certain rpms, engine loads and etc. It can act weird. My dad had a weird noise on his 03' that I chased down to the inspection plate. I made a new thicker inspection plate for him out of thicker aluminum sheetmetal and bolted it up. The sound is gone now. Funny thing is the OE plate is still on my 04' and makes no noise. Some guys just crease the plate alittle to stiffen it up and stop the vibration. It only takes two bolts to remove the plate. Take the inspection plate off and go for a drive, it won't hurt anything.
If its not the plate look at the heat shields on the exhaust pipe, they can come loose. If ones lose cut it off, its pretty much useless anyway.
If its not the plate look at the heat shields on the exhaust pipe, they can come loose. If ones lose cut it off, its pretty much useless anyway.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
I've already yanked off my exhaust heat shields... So I'm assuming its the inspection plate. Hopefully have time this weekend to look at it.
Will post back with what I find.
Will post back with what I find.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Llano and Huntsville, TX
im in the same process as you with tracking down the noise, after listening and listening im really sure it is the inspection plate. Which is going to get replaced this weekend or next with a thicker piece of metal but a thing to check is to see if you have a loose spark plug. A guy on here was having the same issue with noises out of his 5.4 and that was the problem with his truck. i would say majority of the time a exhaust shield or trans inspection plate is the problem but just giving you another area to look if the most common repairs dont fix your truck's noise.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-modulars.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-modulars.html
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
The inspection plate rattle is hard to hear. Even on a lift directly under the plate with the motor running at different rpm ranges it was hard to hear the rattle from the plate. It only really wanted to make noise in drive with the motor under a load. Like I said before you only need to remove two bolts to take the plate off. If the plate wasn't the next thing to being made out of aluminum foil I doubt it would ever make noise, the material is way too thin.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
I was actually just coming back to post that I found the issue with this over the weekend. Ended up being one of the exhaust hangers that I missed the 10 other times I was crawling underneath the truck. This time it just looked different. Maybe it was that over half of it was rusted away. Pulled it off, and no more rattle/clanging... It was hard to see, since it wasn't really all there. It was just sitting on top of the exhaust. bottom was all rusted away.
It must've been just right that when the rpms lowered while sitting at a light, or stopped with it in gear that it could bounce all around making that horrible racket.
It must've been just right that when the rpms lowered while sitting at a light, or stopped with it in gear that it could bounce all around making that horrible racket.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Pool Runner
2009 - 2014 F150
2
Feb 10, 2026 06:35 AM
adr1
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
3
Oct 15, 2022 05:50 AM
FireBlue
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
50
Jul 2, 2010 02:35 AM
rb76543
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jun 20, 2010 04:59 AM
