Strange ticking noise??? Took a youtube video to show it

[Ford Explorer9]

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer XLT V8 with 79,000 miles. The motor is currently making two strange noises. The first one is that it makes a ticking noise at idle even when warm. Here is a video I took, I would turn down your volume on your computer first because the video is quite loud. Also you can start hearing the noise I am talking about clearly at about 20 seconds in when I move the camera close to the motor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8-j3DNzT7Q

The second noise is made when cold at an idle and also when accelerating hot or cold. It varies with throttle and kind of sounds like a whirring noise. I have to wait for my truck to cool down before I can take a video of that, but I will have it soon.

Although I have only had it a short time I feel like it is significantly slower with acceleration, like the motor has no torque.

 

[waskly]

vct's?

 

[Ford Explorer9]

So I let it cool down for two hours and although it isn't completely cold the noise is much more audible. What I have noticed is that I don't have two sounds, just one. Anyways here is the video with it much more audible, and umm... sorry for the close up of my face, didn't know I was in the shot and didn't feel like remaking the video haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVyb6SWVHz4

Anyways the noise gets quieter as the engine warms up, and I think you might be onto something with the VCT Waskly. The noise seems to be coming from where I zoom into at 25 seconds. When I accelerate the noise definitely becomes louder, and almost like a whirring noise. It kind of sounds like a turbocharger, kinda.... haha

 

[waskly]

i didnt click the video links, vct noise is common on that year ex 3v

 

[Ford Explorer9]

i didnt click the video links, vct noise is common on that year ex 3v

Is it an issue that needs to be handled or just something that is annoying?

It just seems to keep getting louder and louder so I am a little worried. Or maybe I am just finally noticing it. When I have my window down and I accelerate the noise gets much louder.

 

[striker5427]

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer XLT V8 with 79,000 miles. The motor is currently making two strange noises. The first one is that it makes a ticking noise at idle even when warm. Here is a video I took, I would turn down your volume on your computer first because the video is quite loud. Also you can start hearing the noise I am talking about clearly at about 20 seconds in when I move the camera close to the motor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8-j3DNzT7Q

The second noise is made when cold at an idle and also when accelerating hot or cold. It varies with throttle and kind of sounds like a whirring noise. I have to wait for my truck to cool down before I can take a video of that, but I will have it soon.

Although I have only had it a short time I feel like it is significantly slower with acceleration, like the motor has no torque.

Manifold exhaust leak. I just had the same issue with my V8 but on the passenger side: 2 broken studs and warped manifold. The repairs were done under warranty.

 

[JDC81]

Same here, just had the passenger side exhaust manifold replaced along with all the studs. Three were broken in the block. My explorer has 49000mi on it. it was making a ticking noise that was geting worse. It was loudest on startup and got quieter as the enine warmed up.

 

[Ford Explorer9]

Does anyone know how much it costs to fix?

Also what are the negatives for not fixing it?

 

[JDC81]

Hard to say. If the studs are broken, they have to remove a few things so they can get in there and extract them. You'll be paying a good deal in labor. My guess would be around 5-600 just going by everything they did to mine to get the broken studs out.

 

[striker5427]

Does anyone know how much it costs to fix?

Also what are the negatives for not fixing it?

Depending how long it takes them to remove the studs. Mine was a pain. They had to raise the engine to get to them and drill them out. The negative part of not repairing is a lost of power of the engine and it will up your mpg. You could get a quote but manifold repairs seems to be very unpredictable. Even thought mine was warranty work, they could not give me a time frame. In the end, they had to keep my truck for a few days. And if you research manifold repairs for the 4.6l you will see that its not a 2 minute job.

 

[Ford Explorer9]

Got it figured out, my neighbor brought out a stethoscope and listened to each "port" and apparently the driver side port that is furthest away from the driver is leaking. It looks like the stud is still there and not broken but I have no idea haha. Hopefully this doesn't cost an arm and a leg

Thanks everyone for the help! It gave me peace of mind that everyone said it was an exhaust leak and not an engine tick the last couple of days. That would of drove me insane if I thought I had an engine tick haha

 

[Town]

That would be cylinder 5 for the V8. If the nuts are in place on the studs, perhaps the gasket has failed. It appears there are two studs per port, an upper and a lower. The manifold is allowed a 29 thou warpage variation and the gasket and all studs and nuts need to be replaced when serviced.

Good luck

 

[Ford Explorer9]

That would be cylinder 5 for the V8. If the nuts are in place on the studs, perhaps the gasket has failed. It appears there are two studs per port, an upper and a lower. The manifold is allowed a 29 thou warpage variation and the gasket and all studs and nuts need to be replaced when serviced.

Good luck

Yeah I'm hoping for only minor damage haha. I got quoted $350 if no studs broke and between $425-500 if some did. Price sounded about right to me, the other place I called wouldn't even give me a quote

 

[jaydee427]

Depending how long it takes them to remove the studs. Mine was a pain. They had to raise the engine to get to them and drill them out. The negative part of not repairing is a lost of power of the engine and it will up your mpg. You could get a quote but manifold repairs seems to be very unpredictable. Even thought mine was warranty work, they could not give me a time frame. In the end, they had to keep my truck for a few days. And if you research manifold repairs for the 4.6l you will see that its not a 2 minute job.

Funny thing is that my 06 Expy Limited w/ 95k miles starting making that ticking noise right after (2 days) I purchased it from a guy on eBay. I always thought it was the lash adjusters (lifters) but now I am experiencing loss engine power and my average mpg is down to 7.6 mpg. After reading your response, I'm gonna take my Expy to the mechanics over there by Citifield (formally Shea stadium) and see if them guys can diagnose / repair it.....unless someone out there know where's a reasonable mechanic in the NYC area.

 

[Ford Explorer9]

Funny thing is that my 06 Expy Limited w/ 95k miles starting making that ticking noise right after (2 days) I purchased it from a guy on eBay. I always thought it was the lash adjusters (lifters) but now I am experiencing loss engine power and my average mpg is down to 7.6 mpg. After reading your response, I'm gonna take my Expy to the mechanics over there by Citifield (formally Shea stadium) and see if them guys can diagnose / repair it.....unless someone out there know where's a reasonable mechanic in the NYC area.

Mine started making the noise a few days after purchase too! I bought it from a dealership and it didn't make the noise when I first brought it home. However in a few hundred miles I experienced a loss of power and lower gas mileage. I was getting 23 mpg on the freeway and it dropped down to 20

 

[granadojl]

Hot Damn.. Looks like I'm going to check my exhaust stud/manifold right now.. yeah it's midnight. Thanks everyone for the tips..

 

[Ford Explorer9]

Both bolts are broken on cylinder 5. They are going to drill through my strut tower to get them out. Estimated cost is about $550

 

[Ford Explorer9]

Grand total of $930 to get the manifolds fixed. It was $560 to have the driver side done with two broken studs and $370 for the passenger side with one broken stud. Does that sound like the right prices?

They found that the passenger side had a minor leak after finishing the driver side. They also replaced everything with factory studs, kind of worried about that.

 

[granadojl]

I would have opted for ARP studs considering it's a pain in the ace to get this done.

 

[Beargap]

Manifold exhaust leak. I just had the same issue with my V8 but on the passenger side: 2 broken studs and warped manifold. The repairs were done under warranty.

Ditto on our 2008 Mountaineer V8, exhaust leak at manifold repaired under the 5 year engine/drivetrain warranty. Seems to be more common than I thought.

=Vic=