Bad ticking. - 2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

ModularMach1 · 07-01-2011, 02:21 PM

My 03 mach has had the head tick for quite some time, but it has never been really been loud. Well i got the oil changed today at the dealership, and when i got home it was doing this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8cJeVHB5k

I drove it probably 10ish miles, kinda getting on it, and when i got home it was this loud. How concerned should i be? I haven't drove it again, so idk if its still really loud. Its louder at the back of the head. The car has 103k miles on it.

blackgtcp · 07-01-2011, 03:09 PM

Blame it on the dealer and get a new head out of it!
My buddy is in the process of chasing down a tick coming from the pass side. We ended up pulling the whole motor out and will be taking the manifolds and heads off this weekend

03SHKR · 07-01-2011, 03:25 PM

Did you check the dipstick to make sure they put in the right amount of oil?

ModularMach1 · 07-01-2011, 04:35 PM

Yes it was full of oil. I went back down there, and got one of the mechanics to listen to it. Of course it wasn't near as loud when i got down there as before. The jist of was he said is "it sounds valve train related, those motors are expensive to work on, go F yourself." The guys in the quicklane drained the oil and put some 5w 30 in it for me and it seemed to quiet it down some.

Mach828 · 07-01-2011, 04:55 PM

Quick fix

1. Don't let other people change your oil for you.
2. Don't run 5-20.

Rice_slayer · 07-01-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mach828

Quick fix

1. Don't let other people change your oil for you.
2. Don't run 5-20.

This, I AM an actual technician, and if you don't trust others, do your own work

. You don't want to know how many people try to blame their CEL coming on from an oil change, we get AT LEAST 3-4 a month where people do that. I have and always will maintain my own vehicles, and I do the majority of everything on them, except rebuilding the transmission as I don't know quite that much yet.

gerry066 · 07-01-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mach828

Quick fix

1. Don't let other people change your oil for you.
2. Don't run 5-20.

don't run 5-20 ...isn't that what are car calls for on the cap ....or am i mistaken ??

Monster Mach · 07-01-2011, 07:54 PM

I run 5-30 no ticks at all.. not even lifter rattle!

04Mach1FTW · 07-02-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerry066

don't run 5-20 ...isn't that what are car calls for on the cap ....or am i mistaken ??

dont believe everything you read

yup, but a lot of people swear by 5-30, including myself

03BumbleBee · 07-02-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04Mach1FTW

dont believe everything you read

yup, but a lot of people swear by 5-30, including myself

I am with you 100%.

DOK · 09-14-2011, 10:06 AM

I am having a head tick issue, should I upgrade my oil, I use 5W-20 Royal purple. Would 5W-30 be better, or should I just go 10W-30?

dark-knight · 09-14-2011, 11:13 AM

i have the tick and its just like that..im changing my lash adjusters today, and see if that fixes it. cause my car was sitting for about 4 months with my driver side head off.

ModularMach1 · 09-14-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark-knight

i have the tick and its just like that..im changing my lash adjusters today, and see if that fixes it. cause my car was sitting for about 4 months with my driver side head off.

Post up the results. I'm going to be putting cams in mine before too long, and was gonna change those out as well. I'm getting the valve guides replaced and doing the cooling mod at the same time so hopefully it will never return.

dark-knight · 09-14-2011, 10:59 PM

still ticking

j rick kirby · 09-15-2011, 08:10 AM

I always heard that the ticking is caused by a gauled(sp) valve guide on the ds back cylinder caused by a restrictive coolant passage. Mine had the tick also and Ford replaced the head and there has been no ticking for 85,000 miles.

dark-knight · 09-15-2011, 12:43 PM

well, i only change 6 of them..

cause thats all i bought off a friends dad, so i gave it a quick shot. i just need to replace 3 other ones and if that doesnt work then im gonna drown it in gas and light thge **** car up

it only takes me 25 mins to get the driver side valvecover off anyway so no big deal there. i dont even have to touch the hydro booster or jack the motor up..

X-1Mach1 · 09-17-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark-knight

well, i only change 6 of them..

cause thats all i bought off a friends dad, so i gave it a quick shot. i just need to replace 3 other ones and if that doesnt work then im gonna drown it in gas and light thge **** car up

it only takes me 25 mins to get the driver side valvecover off anyway so no big deal there. i dont even have to touch the hydro booster or jack the motor up..

Well that impressive. So whats your secret. I want to pull mine but don't want to spend all the time getting it off.

TuFFstang · 09-17-2011, 02:19 PM

....ticking heads want to know. I have a set of Ford GT cam covers just begging to go on. But waiting on cams to, if I can install these now it would great! be

dark-knight · 09-17-2011, 05:15 PM

heres the steps i do to take the cover off:

-Jack the driver side up to get under it and remove the driverside wheel.
-take the clutch cable out, shaker, throttle cable, etc. (little things)
-disconnect the harness from the distribution box to the #8 injector and move it out of the way. this makes it easier to get the valve cover off.
- next i use loosen bolts for the k-member on the driver side just enough to where the bolts wont drop out.

and that lowered the valve cover enough for me to slip the cover off.

the way i pulled it off is from the driver side fender, pull up as much as possible, then move the cover up toward the shaker and that will get the cover out from under the hydrobooster.

X-1Mach1 · 09-20-2011, 02:59 PM

Excellent! Thanks Man

JCarag · 11-19-2011, 11:32 PM

Hey guys, I'm pretty much brand new to mod motors and was wondering if this is the "tick" that have been discussed so many in so many threads, but I am yet to hear it in person. Here's a short vid. basically it happens when I let off the gas, I think, and at certain RPMs, I think around 2k. I haven't really had any time to look around the engine yet, other than checking levels, of course. Thanks for any help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdfVyZicb0M

Supra · 11-20-2011, 12:12 AM

Weird. 5w30 made my engine noisier in my previous 2004 GT. Switched back to 5w20.

Haven't tried 5w30 in the mach, but i'd expect a similar outcome

07-01-2011, 02:21 PM	#1
ModularMach1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 323	Bad ticking. My 03 mach has had the head tick for quite some time, but it has never been really been loud. Well i got the oil changed today at the dealership, and when i got home it was doing this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8cJeVHB5k I drove it probably 10ish miles, kinda getting on it, and when i got home it was this loud. How concerned should i be? I haven't drove it again, so idk if its still really loud. Its louder at the back of the head. The car has 103k miles on it.

07-01-2011, 03:09 PM	#2
blackgtcp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 340	Re: Bad ticking. Blame it on the dealer and get a new head out of it! My buddy is in the process of chasing down a tick coming from the pass side. We ended up pulling the whole motor out and will be taking the manifolds and heads off this weekend

07-01-2011, 03:25 PM	#3
03SHKR used to be BrianWannaMach Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,468	Re: Bad ticking. Did you check the dipstick to make sure they put in the right amount of oil? __________________ Brian 03 DSG Mach 1, 5-Spd, w/IUP VIN 387483, Mustang Dyno: 321 rwhp/326 rwtq; 371 rwhp/466 rwtq on 100 shot - old numbers, new numbers pending - See pics of my first 86 SVO - I have two - See pics of my 67 Mustang Fastback w/ 427 Small Block - See pics of my 2003 Mach 1 Web Page, needs update for new motor, etc. - See pics of my wife’s 06 Mustang

07-01-2011, 04:35 PM	#4
ModularMach1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 323	Re: Bad ticking. Yes it was full of oil. I went back down there, and got one of the mechanics to listen to it. Of course it wasn't near as loud when i got down there as before. The jist of was he said is "it sounds valve train related, those motors are expensive to work on, go F yourself." The guys in the quicklane drained the oil and put some 5w 30 in it for me and it seemed to quiet it down some.

07-01-2011, 04:55 PM	#5
Mach828 Dark Knight Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 5,759	Re: Bad ticking. Quick fix 1. Don't let other people change your oil for you. 2. Don't run 5-20. __________________ Vortech V2 S-trim, E85, A2A Treadstone, Comp cams, built engine, full exhaust, built rear, built 4r70, more mods. Tuned by me with SCT Advantage

07-01-2011, 07:54 PM	#8
Monster Mach Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Endicott New York now maryland ft wash for work Posts: 1,123	I run 5-30 no ticks at all.. not even lifter rattle! __________________ 04 mach 1 Oxford white For h.i.d's dont buy ddm or hid guy.. buy vvme.com they are the best and by far the cheapest

09-14-2011, 10:06 AM	#11
DOK Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: LaPorte, IN Posts: 356	Re: Bad ticking. I am having a head tick issue, should I upgrade my oil, I use 5W-20 Royal purple. Would 5W-30 be better, or should I just go 10W-30? __________________ MGW Short Shifter MM LCA's MM firewall adjuster MM Clutch quadrant Mac O/R Prochamber Bassani Cat-back FRPP Girdle JLT RAI FRPP Alum. Driveshaft 1/2" intake spacer 18" Mach Wheels Mach 460 delete SCT X3 Brenspeed tune 4.10's soon hopefully along with the 31-spline conversion when funds available.

09-14-2011, 11:13 AM	#12
dark-knight Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 224	Re: Bad ticking. i have the tick and its just like that..im changing my lash adjusters today, and see if that fixes it. cause my car was sitting for about 4 months with my driver side head off. __________________ built 290 stroker \| 150shot \| driver mod

09-14-2011, 10:59 PM	#14
dark-knight Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 224	Re: Bad ticking. still ticking __________________ built 290 stroker \| 150shot \| driver mod

09-15-2011, 08:10 AM	#15
j rick kirby Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 1,802	Re: Bad ticking. I always heard that the ticking is caused by a gauled(sp) valve guide on the ds back cylinder caused by a restrictive coolant passage. Mine had the tick also and Ford replaced the head and there has been no ticking for 85,000 miles. __________________ 2003 Azure mach1 5 speed with IUP Maximum Motorsports R&T Box with Torque Arm and lots of other bits and pieces here and there 2012 Candy Red Metalic Premium GT with Brembo/Trak Pak and 373s HPDE Instructor

09-15-2011, 12:43 PM	#16
dark-knight Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 224	Re: Bad ticking. well, i only change 6 of them.. cause thats all i bought off a friends dad, so i gave it a quick shot. i just need to replace 3 other ones and if that doesnt work then im gonna drown it in gas and light thge **** car up it only takes me 25 mins to get the driver side valvecover off anyway so no big deal there. i dont even have to touch the hydro booster or jack the motor up.. __________________ built 290 stroker \| 150shot \| driver mod

09-17-2011, 02:19 PM	#18
TuFFstang Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 311	Re: Bad ticking. ....ticking heads want to know. I have a set of Ford GT cam covers just begging to go on. But waiting on cams to, if I can install these now it would great! be __________________ 2004 Ford Mustang Mach 1 assembled at Dearborn Assembly Plant on 03/26/2004 This vehicle is serial #5929 of build of 7182 and is one of 1039 manufactured in Dark Shadow Grey

09-17-2011, 05:15 PM	#19
dark-knight Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 224	Re: Bad ticking. heres the steps i do to take the cover off: -Jack the driver side up to get under it and remove the driverside wheel. -take the clutch cable out, shaker, throttle cable, etc. (little things) -disconnect the harness from the distribution box to the #8 injector and move it out of the way. this makes it easier to get the valve cover off. - next i use loosen bolts for the k-member on the driver side just enough to where the bolts wont drop out. and that lowered the valve cover enough for me to slip the cover off. the way i pulled it off is from the driver side fender, pull up as much as possible, then move the cover up toward the shaker and that will get the cover out from under the hydrobooster. __________________ built 290 stroker \| 150shot \| driver mod

09-20-2011, 02:59 PM	#20
X-1Mach1 Always Sideways Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Port Richey, Florida Posts: 169	Re: Bad ticking. Excellent! Thanks Man

11-19-2011, 11:32 PM	#21
JCarag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 29	Re: Bad ticking. Hey guys, I'm pretty much brand new to mod motors and was wondering if this is the "tick" that have been discussed so many in so many threads, but I am yet to hear it in person. Here's a short vid. basically it happens when I let off the gas, I think, and at certain RPMs, I think around 2k. I haven't really had any time to look around the engine yet, other than checking levels, of course. Thanks for any help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdfVyZicb0M __________________ '04 DSG Mach 1- 5 speed, Borla catback, K&N CAI Previous Fords 1984 Mercury Capri, 1979 Mustang Coupe, 1982 Mustang GT, 1982 Mercury Capri Black Magic, 1994 Mustang GT, 1990 Mustang GT, 1972 Mustang Grande, 1969 Mustang coupe

11-20-2011, 12:12 AM	#22
Supra Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 259	Re: Bad ticking. Weird. 5w30 made my engine noisier in my previous 2004 GT. Switched back to 5w20. Haven't tried 5w30 in the mach, but i'd expect a similar outcome __________________ -2013 DIB Mustang GT - Track pack - Recaro's -2004 Mach 1 - Sold

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