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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Diagnosing engine knocks...

  • Thread starter Thread starter caballo
  • Start date Start date Dec 22, 2005
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caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 22, 2005
#1
  • Dec 22, 2005
  • #1
You guys probably remember my engine problem that arose a short time ago. If not here's the cliff notes

spark plug ejects.
no start condition w/ various codes.
replace fuel pump
will not idle
fuel injector wide open.
trip to ford dealer-knock appears. 200.oo bill and no progress.
replace injectors, replace cop's, replace fuel pressure regulator.

NOW car idles and drives but there is a knock.

1) any tips/tricks (oil additives that might make it go away)

or

2) any advice on how to diagnose the knock ie. main vs rod bearing or maybe valvetrain...

Thanks again...:SNSign:
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 22, 2005
#2
  • Dec 22, 2005
  • #2
bump
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 22, 2005
#3
  • Dec 22, 2005
  • #3
Then again it might be "piston slap" any help is appreciated...
 

40th GT

New Member
Apr 7, 2004
916
0
0
Lawrenceville, GA
Dec 22, 2005
#4
  • Dec 22, 2005
  • #4
Piston slaps are supposed to be heard even at idle. One way to find out if a car is knocking or not, is to check the spark plug electrode color. White is a sign of knock.
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#5
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #5
40th GT said:
Piston slaps are supposed to be heard even at idle. One way to find out if a car is knocking or not, is to check the spark plug electrode color. White is a sign of knock.
Click to expand...

I meant like rod bearing or main bearing knock. It's almost quiet at idle, but you can definitely tell when driving. It's not louder(well, maybe a little) it just gets faster...
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#6
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #6
BUMP...again
 

tomustang

Psychotic Member
Founding Member
Jun 8, 2000
3,434
2
78
McLean Hospital
Dec 23, 2005
#7
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #7
is it like a clank-clank-clank?
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#8
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #8
tomustang said:
is it like a clank-clank-clank?
Click to expand...

more like a dah-dah-dah-dah-dah at idle and then DAHDAHDAHDAHDAH as you go up in rpms.

here's what originally happened
 

1fast03pony

Member
Jul 1, 2003
749
0
17
New york
Dec 23, 2005
#9
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #9
this all happened from an oil change??
jees
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#10
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #10
1fast03pony said:
this all happened from an oil change??
jees
Click to expand...

not sure... but the real trouble began when the spark plug shot out the head...
 

mogs01gt

Founding Member
Jul 22, 2002
3,113
30
119
Ohio
Dec 23, 2005
#11
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #11
What are you mods and what type of plugs were you using. Stock or after market. You have to make sure you use the correct thread length on them, most people put too long of a spark plug into the PI heads.

correct threads

Does the sound seem to go away after your car hits operating temp? If so, it is probably a road knock or a wrist pin problem.
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#12
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #12
mogs01gt said:
What are you mods and what type of plugs were you using. Stock or after market. You have to make sure you use the correct thread length on them, most people put too long of a spark plug into the PI heads.

correct threads

Does the sound seem to go away after your car hits operating temp? If so, it is probably a road knock or a wrist pin problem.
Click to expand...

stock replacement autolite platinums.

Sound doesn't change based on temp. sound only changes with rpm...
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 23, 2005
#13
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #13
otra bump
 

mogs01gt

Founding Member
Jul 22, 2002
3,113
30
119
Ohio
Dec 23, 2005
#14
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #14
caballo said:
stock replacement autolite platinums.

Sound doesn't change based on temp. sound only changes with rpm...
Click to expand...
hmm, do you see any drop in oil pressure?
 

triggz

Founding Member
May 15, 2002
1,218
0
37
Gadsden, AL
Dec 23, 2005
#15
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #15
Send your oil off for analysis at Blackstone Labs. They'll likely be able to diagnose your problem.

They can detect trace amounts of pistons, bearings, and block shavings from unwanted friction.

Youve got a good candidate motor for this kind of test. It's only $20 too.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
 

sgarlic

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2001
3,085
1
56
Dec 23, 2005
#16
  • Dec 23, 2005
  • #16
For a knock sound that's happening while you drive, it's hard unless you have access to a lift, or have friends who will get up under the car to listen while you jack the rear end up and spin the wheels.

I know this sounds harsh, but if it were me, and I were hearing a continuous knock while driving, I'd be buying a cheap beater car to drive around while I pulled the motor from the stang to diagnose.
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 27, 2005
#17
  • Dec 27, 2005
  • #17
sgarlic said:
For a knock sound that's happening while you drive, it's hard unless you have access to a lift, or have friends who will get up under the car to listen while you jack the rear end up and spin the wheels.
Click to expand...


So I unplugged each spark plug (one at a time) while the engine was running and the sound didn't change. Then I put a piece of pcv(no hose available) up to my ear and went up and down both valve covers and didn't notice a change in volume.

So I'm thinkin' maybe it's a valvetrain or timing chain thing...

Any thoughts?!
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 27, 2005
#18
  • Dec 27, 2005
  • #18
bumpalicious
 
W

willit

New Member
Jun 2, 2005
9
0
0
Wesley Chapel, FL
Dec 27, 2005
#19
  • Dec 27, 2005
  • #19
Was your spark plug whole? (missing pieces) Entertain the possibility of ingestion of pieces. Did you do a compression test? Would rule out valve/piston/ring issues. Does the noise change with clutch in/out? Does the sound occur only under a load? Dissect your oil filter to look for any "floaters" metal, etc. How many miles on motor?
 

caballo

I'm the bastard love child of a threesome gone awr
Jun 4, 2004
0
0
16
Colorado Springs, CO
Dec 27, 2005
#20
  • Dec 27, 2005
  • #20
willit said:
Was your spark plug whole? (missing pieces) Entertain the possibility of ingestion of pieces. Did you do a compression test? Would rule out valve/piston/ring issues. Does the noise change with clutch in/out? Does the sound occur only under a load? Dissect your oil filter to look for any "floaters" metal, etc. How many miles on motor?
Click to expand...


plug was whole.

Compression test good.

Auto; no clutch.

Sound is constant. increases in frequency with rpms... (slightly louder)

81k miles on motor.
 
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