Lifter problems

[BenF]

Engine Problems at 6500 miles

So I took my 05 Mustang GT to the dealer last Thursday because there was knocking coming from around the motor. It would stop when you turned the car off but then start back again after driving for a little while. It's not just a minor ticking noise either, it's a LOUD knocking noise. They ordered lifters and replaced the right side lifters. They called me today and said to come get it and it showed no signs of problems. On my way back to work, it started again. I peeled out and left lots of rubber on the road when I turned around and went back to the dealer. They call up Ford because they don't know what Ford wanted them to do next. Ford says to change the oil because maybe it's just a bad oil filter not letting oil get into the motor correctly. Changed the oil and guess what...no help! So next step is to pull the motor out and replace the right side head because they are positive it is from the right side after listening with the stethescope. So I'm going to be stuck with a car that has had the motor removed and a head replaced...and it's going to take at least a week!?!?!? I just wish I could roll the car off a cliff and be done with it. I can't believe I paid that much money for something that has this kind of problem with only 6500 miles on it. I would bet that this isn't going to fix the problem either. Next step is to get a Ford engineer to come in and look at it. What would make the sound come and go randomly, the noise stop when you turn the car off and start it back, and the knock only starts after driving the car for a while???

I am completely disappointed with Ford and Mustangs right now. It's just hard for me to pay that much for a car that has engine problems with only 6500 miles on it. It makes me wonder what's to come in the future as far as problems go. What would be you guys reaction to this problem? Has anyone else had this problem, or know what may be the problem, so I can suggest it before they rip the motor out?

 

[bigcat]

no biggie. there is a TSB about it. the first year for the new platform and 3V heads are bound to have some small problems.

 

[BenF]

I just updated the original post with up to date problems....any new suggestions or comments

 

[JTGrant]

that sucks, I haven't had any problems. I have an 06. For what I understand is that the eary 05 Mustang's had problems with the heads. I not quite sure what the exact problem was but I know that some mustang had defective heads. Hope this all works out for you, that is bull that it happened to a car that is that new. But it is an 05, that first year of this production. Problems are bound to show up, however that is not excuse for such a huge problem like this is. This is the type of problem that needs to be addressed before that damn things goes into production. Then when you take it in to the dealership that wants to nickel and dime everything(Actually Ford, not the dealership). No one should have to deal with a situation like this and if so, Ford needs to take care of their customers or they will find that many of their customer may decide to buy something else.
Sounds like someone took a smoke break when your heads were passing through inspection!!!!!!

 

[BenF]

Someone could have taken a smoking break, but I'll tell you what I think the real problem is. I think that there was such a demand for these things to get out the door in 2005 that Ford tried to take shortcuts to ensure that they got more cars delivered. They were seeing dollar signs for sure. If more and more of these come back with problems like this though, their dollar signs are going to be hurting.

What really sucks for me is that this is my first big purchase after graduating college. I got a pretty good job immediately after graduation so I splurged and bought what I had always dreamed of owning, especially when the new style came out. I now wish that it had just stayed in my dreams.

 

[mogs01gt]

Almost sounds like the engine wasnt properly broke in but that sucks.

 

[StonePony]

look at the positive side - you are getiing a cylinder head with 0 miles on your motor with 6500 miles.
Doo-doo happens and that is why you have a warranty.

 

[BenF]

Almost sounds like the engine wasnt properly broke in but that sucks.

I have not been abusing the Mustang in the least. I had plans to keep the car until it's a classic, so I took the best care of it possible. I don't think that was the cause.

 

[dmaxstang]

I have not been abusing the Mustang in the least. I had plans to keep the car until it's a classic, so I took the best care of it possible. I don't think that was the cause.

We understand, none of us ever have abused our cars, especially by doing something like leaving a big strip of rubber soon after getting it back from FORD. Cars that are unexplainably broken have never been abused. You can tell us the truth we've all got lead feet. Just make sure to tell us what FORD does so that when we don't abuse our cars that we can get them fixed too. Thanks

 

[firestang70]

Ben any vehicle can have a proble. ALL vehicles will have some defect somewhere. People are not perfect, people build cars, cars are not perfect. Be thankul it happened now and not 37000 miles. Sorry to hear about your problem. It could be worse. Who knows call Livernois and have some magic worked on the heads before the install hmmmm. Just trying to put a positive spin on it. Good luck!

 

[BenF]

We understand, none of us ever have abused our cars, especially by doing something like leaving a big strip of rubber soon after getting it back from FORD. Cars that are unexplainably broken have never been abused. You can tell us the truth we've all got lead feet. Just make sure to tell us what FORD does so that when we don't abuse our cars that we can get them fixed too. Thanks

I agree that we all have lead feet sometimes, but in all seriousness I have never spun the tires before then. You can believe what you want and it doesn't bother me, but I only burned rubber on the way back to the dealer because I had been so happy to have my Mustang back and then had a huge let down. I was probably more pissed off than I have ever been...my car is my baby. I figured it was the perfect time to leave some rubber on the road before I had to give it up again. I will let you know what Ford does when I get it back though, you might need the info some day.

 

[JTGrant]

any updates on your situation?

 

[BenF]

They are still working on replacing the head. I am going to call them when I get off work today and get an update.

 

[BenF]

So the Ford dealer just called me and said that they got it all back together. They took it out driving and on the fourth drive it started making the knocking noise again. They are going to have the regional engineer come in and look at it now.

I've been sitting here wondering what the heck it could be wrong with the car. Again, it only does it after driving for a while and when you turn the car off and back on it stops the noise. Do any of you think that it could possibly be the alternator, ac, vacuum, or any other belt driven accessory? I had the thought that it could be this from the beginning. The only other thing I can think of is a rod bearing or a shaft bearing. The dealer is going to feel real stupid when the engineer comes in and it ends up being something simple to fix. I'm going to be pissed too because they would have taken the motor out and messed with it for no reason at all. Any ideas yet???

 

[BenF]

The dealer called today and said that the regional engineer will not be able to come in until next week some time, but in the mean time he wanted them to get the car to knock again and run some test. The technician said they took it out driving for about an hour and the car never knocked today...it figures that when they want it to knock, it doesn't!

I was just sitting here thinking though. It's not very hot outside today compared to the past couple of weeks, so he may not have turned the A/C on. The first day the car knocked was the first day of the Spring that I turned the A/C on. It was also on every time that we drove it since then and it knocked. I am going to call and ask him first thing in the morning. Do you guys think that it could be something to do with the A/C at all or is this just wishful thinking?

 

[BenF]

The only other thing that is different now than before is the gas. The day the car started knocking I had filled up at a little country BP store. The last time I tried to go pick the car up and it was still knocking, it was almost empty with only 20 miles to empty. They had to put gas in it yesterday to go driving in it because they have driven it since the last time I have. Could bad gas make it knock that bad? The first time they tried to repair the problem they also got a misfire code on #4 and gas can do that, right?