• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SVT Tech Forum

Strang ticking noise upon cold startup. Need help.

  • Thread starter Thread starter BensBACobra
  • Start date Start date Sep 8, 2006

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 8, 2006
#1
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #1
Strange ticking noise upon cold startup. Need help.

every morning this week when i go to crank it up i have noticed a strange ticking noise. i couldnt locate where it was comming from and didnt really pay too much attention to it. it goes away after the car warms up anyway. this morning when i cranked it the noise was a bit louder, i decided to get out of the car and locate the noise. i believe its comming from inside the engine. this makes sense in that it goes away after the car warms up. i dont know whats making the noise. the car seems ok. it runs and idles the same as it always has. when i sit at idle before the car warms up and rev the engine, the ticking is in line with the rpm's. I am certainly not mechanically savvy so ANY and ALL input would be valueable to me!
 

SVT98Snake

New Member
Apr 15, 2005
258
0
0
OK, USA
Sep 8, 2006
#2
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #2
with those symptoms, it sounds like valvetrain clatter.

It could also be your timing chains
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 8, 2006
#3
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #3
thought about maybe a lifter sticking. i have read through some other posts and they all point to bad oil circulation in these cars. i use (and have always used) 10w 30, could this be a problem being that ford says to use 5w 30?
 

COBRA90GT

Mustang Master
Sep 22, 2001
6,654
0
87
HOCKEYTOWN ® , MI
Sep 8, 2006
#4
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #4
First - check oil level (when cold!). Are you low? If so, add oil!


It very well just be associated with the 10w taking a little time to get pumped to the top.

You can try switching to 5w-30 and see if that cuts down on "tick time." 5w will pour/flow better than 10w at initial start-up but they both behave the same once they reach operating temperature.
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 8, 2006
#5
  • Sep 8, 2006
  • #5
COBRA90GT said:
First - check oil level (when cold!). Are you low? If so, add oil!


It very well just be associated with the 10w taking a little time to get pumped to the top.

You can try switching to 5w-30 and see if that cuts down on "tick time." 5w will pour/flow better than 10w at initial start-up but they both behave the same once they reach operating temperature.
Click to expand...


yeah i just changed my oil and then noticed it so that is definitely at the top of the list as of now. also when i start my car after it has sat for only a few hours, the sound is not there. i do want to fix the problem (if there is one) not just cover it up. should i take it to a shop? and if its a lifter or timing chain etc... shouldnt i be able to tell in the way the car runs/other symptoms? the car runs fine as of now.
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 11, 2006
#6
  • Sep 11, 2006
  • #6
ok so i put in the 5w 30 and no differene, still makes the noise on cold starts (and quite evident i might add). i refuse to beleive this is "normal" it may be common but doesnt mean it cant be fixed. should i just take it into the shop? any more ideas/suggestions?
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 11, 2006
#7
  • Sep 11, 2006
  • #7
Ok, i took to the Ford dealership and they basically told me there is nothing they can do unless i want to pay them hundreds of dollars to take the valve train apart to see whats making the noise. i know i shouldve expected that answer from them but it still sux... is there anyone out there whose had this problem and was able to fix it? or have it fixed?
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 19, 2006
#8
  • Sep 19, 2006
  • #8
ok so i used the marvel mystery oil and suprise! no difference...
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 22, 2006
#9
  • Sep 22, 2006
  • #9
has anyone ever had to fix the valve lash adjusters? i did some research and am thinking that might be it. PLEASE HELP
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Sep 28, 2006
#10
  • Sep 28, 2006
  • #10
took it to a Mustang shop this time, they seem to think that bad motor mount is making the noise, does this make sense?
 
U

Uncle Meat

Banned
Jun 13, 2002
0
1
0
Prattville, Alabama
Sep 28, 2006
#11
  • Sep 28, 2006
  • #11
BensBACobra said:
took it to a Mustang shop this time, they seem to think that bad motor mount is making the noise, does this make sense?
Click to expand...
No. At least not the way you described it to begin with. If it were a motor mount the noise would not go away once the engine warmed up.

U.M.
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Oct 1, 2006
#12
  • Oct 1, 2006
  • #12
Uncle Meat said:
No. At least not the way you described it to begin with. If it were a motor mount the noise would not go away once the engine warmed up.

U.M.
Click to expand...


yeah i misunderstood the guy, seems my mounts may also need replacing on top of this problem.

its hard to get anyone to care about this issue, its like as soon as a shop knows its comming from underneath the valve covers then thats "no man's land" and they brush me off and tell me not to worry about it. am i just crazy here?
 
N

Nate14120

New Member
Oct 26, 2003
28
0
0
Oct 1, 2006
#13
  • Oct 1, 2006
  • #13
Does it still click when you push the clutch pedal in? If so, its probably your throwout bearing. If not, I would have your pullies checked. My tension pulley ticked a couple years ago.

Your best bet is to take it to a good local shop, have them find it with their special hearing tools and then you can go from there.
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Oct 2, 2006
#14
  • Oct 2, 2006
  • #14
Nate14120 said:
Does it still click when you push the clutch pedal in? If so, its probably your throwout bearing. If not, I would have your pullies checked. My tension pulley ticked a couple years ago.

Your best bet is to take it to a good local shop, have them find it with their special hearing tools and then you can go from there.
Click to expand...


well i took it to the ford dealership first and they didnt want to touch it. its at a mustang shop now.

the tension pulley makes sense. how did you fix it? was it similar symptoms to mine? my noise goes away after the veh reaches opp temp.
 
S

snakebitx1

New Member
Oct 8, 2006
20
2
0
Orlando
Oct 11, 2006
#15
  • Oct 11, 2006
  • #15
Just recently i started having the same problem. When i sart my car up it clicks until like 1-2 minutes after i drive. It's not loud, but you can tell it's there and once it's warmed up it goes away. I've had so many people try and tell me what it is and nobody's been able to figure it out??
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Oct 13, 2006
#16
  • Oct 13, 2006
  • #16
snakebitx1 said:
Just recently i started having the same problem. When i sart my car up it clicks until like 1-2 minutes after i drive. It's not loud, but you can tell it's there and once it's warmed up it goes away. I've had so many people try and tell me what it is and nobody's been able to figure it out??
Click to expand...


yeah i still havent gotten any answers either
 

BensBACobra

New Member
Dec 6, 2004
73
0
0
Mobile, Alabama
Nov 6, 2006
#17
  • Nov 6, 2006
  • #17
Just in case you guys were curious, it was the tensioner pulley making all that noise, nothing in the valve train. Finally found a good shop. The bearings were going out...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Strange steering/brake issue
  • Haxmaster
  • Jun 2, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
83
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 3, 2026
squeak93
7
Engine Random hanging idle
  • 706 Saleen
  • Feb 11, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
9
Views
640
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 19, 2026
86HO5.0
8
A
Rough idle - cylinder 1 and 6 misfire HELP
  • austindavies935
  • Jul 24, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
12
Views
709
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jul 24, 2025
gkomo
Hard to start when engine is cold
  • 86_Capri
  • Mar 11, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
32
Views
967
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 21, 2026
CAMTWO1070
P
2000 GT Random Power Loss
  • Pinellas50
  • Mar 9, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
287
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Pinellas50
P
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SVT Tech Forum
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?