Sport Trac Tick Rear of Engine?

[Black_Sport]

I have a 2002 ST SOHC v6 with 97k miles on it. I have noticed a tick in the last month or so that seems to be coming from behind my radio. Can't hear it unless I am idling and turn everything off (Radio, air). The other day I was rotating my tires and changing my oil and when i started it after everything and was checking. I noticed the sound seemed like it was coming from the back of the engine bay but favoring the left side (when looking at the engine).

I have read multiple forums so don't blast me for not searching. I need a little more direction. I can't tell if it is a tensioner problem or some random other ticking or really where to go or how to tell what it is.

Where should I begin? If its one of the springs should I change out all of them? Can I do it, I have moderate experience working on cars and feel confident if I knew what to do. Should I even worry about it?

 

[Pheonixx77]

well you could buy one of these
http://www.google.com/products?oe=u...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQrQQwAA

and narrow it down... yes the ones listed for 3$ work pretty well you just have to listen alot and not take it on a guess.

 

[astr0moose]

Black Sport, I think I have the same ticking. Tick tick tick, about two per second. 02 Exploder...is it going to actually live up to it's name now?

Let me know if you find anything out on your end. I got under mine, and could only seem to track it down to above the oilpan, or between the oilpan and an exhaust pipe coming off one side of the engine, which is so vague it's worthless. But at least we seem to have the same concern. Nothing appeared lose, or hitting a fan or belt (which is what I was hoping for). 116k, just started a little while ago. Before that, she was a nice quiet girl.

It concerns me, but am not ready to tear her apart yet looking for what it is. Oil level is ok. Someone in another thread mentioned seafoam. Gonna have to look that up.

Any other gurus out there, feel free to pipe up. I must say, after doing my rear axle seals--entirely from off of this site, I know there are some professors out there of all things Exploders...

 

[Clusterpup]

Maybe you have a loose spark plug cable. Maybe your cables are bad and you have electricity arcing out of one somewhere.

 

[arellialloy]

I would try to stay clear of seafoam, its meant really for large carbon deposits and water removal. A large majority of people don't do it correctly. NEVER put it in the crankcase...only oil should be in there. IF you chose to do it anyways put in 1/3 of bottle. after running the car for about 30 minutes you will need to change your oil. Too many people post to those rice burner civic forums to put it in crankcase and then wonder why their car runs like crap or won't start at all. To continue, put 1/3 of the bottle in the gas tank, and SLOWLY SLOWLY SLOWLY siphon 1/3 of bottle into your intake manifold (try going in through your brake booster line). One thing to be warned about is upsetting your neighbors. Seafoam will create HUGE amounts of white smoke to come out of the exhaust until it burns itself out. You really take a chance with this stuff, especially with higher mileage vehicles. As parts wear down those deposit build ups keep your seals and other parts from leaking. When you seafoam and take away the deposit you might find you have got yourself a new world of problems. In the end its really a crap shoot to take the risk.

 

[emanuel]

Hi mine ticks too. My mechanic said it had something to do with the air conditioner. Which does not work in my truck. I lost interest in fixing it, just doesn't get that hot here. Been ticking about 2 years now.