Has your TICK been Fixed?

[Marauder2005]

Hello, my car is currently under the "microscope" from a L/M dealer.
I was wondering if anyone here has had the tick tick fixed and could
possibly PM we with what dealer you went to that fixed the problem
and what exactly the problem was. I have a tick that is herd through the
Drivers side wheel-well, I suspect the valve problem... Any help is
greatly appreciated. The more evidence the better...

Best, Mike :beer:

[Glenn]

I have never heard of any MM having engine trouble due to the TICK issue during the past 2 years we have been discussing it. We all have ticks to one degree or another. My solution has always been to beat the P**S out of my MM and at 42,000 miles the tick is hardly noticeable. Don't worry about the ticks. Drive your MM hard and enjoy it!

Glenn

[RAUDER]

My dealer replaced all (16) of the lifters (bushings as described on the invoice) on the drivers side in an effort to stop the tick. I actually think the noise is now a little louder. I'm taking it back next week.

Sam

[MERCMAN]

My dealer re-torqued the cam bolts,, still had the tick. He replaced the driver's side head and the noise disappeared. 7K later still as quiet as graveyard at midnight(KNOCK-ON-WOOD) :up:

[Todd]

Yep, Just had my tick fixed a couple months ago. Ford has a replacement drivers side head available for our cars. With new valve guides being the key item fixing the tick. That in conjunction with the head cooling mod from Dennis should keep the tick away I hope.

My dealer was one down here in Jacksonville Fl. If you are anywhere close to that pm me and I will give more info.

[TripleTransAm]

I had the tick 'fixed' back in October 2003. One year later, I noticed a clatter that would develop after long long drives (like, 12 hours in a row at highway speeds). This spring I've just noticed what *might* develop into the full blown tick once again (I guess I can live with it if it stays this quiet for now).

Also get the blue-smoke at startup now and again. I have a theory on that: I believe short startups and extended idling may expose the valve stems to excessively rich mixtures that rob the parts of necessary oil, if there is any designed seepage of oil past the valve seals. This richness seems in line with the pathetic fuel consumption this car shows at idling... on the road, the fuel consumption is acceptable for a car of this category size and power. Anyway, I think this kind of activity might be related to the premature wear on the valve guides.

Too much evidence of nickel-and-diming at Ford, if they can't design a bloody valve guide that lasts longer than a year or so. Valve-guides shouldn't let valves bounce around the way mine did back in October 2003... would it have resulted in eventual engine failure? Don't know, but after paying that much cash for this car and taking religious care of it, I was hoping to avoid it becoming just another blue-smoking Grand Marquis on the road. :(

Come lease-end next March, she's going back, unless anyone on here is interested in buying the world's quickest reported stock 2003-2004 100% factory stock Marauder.

[Glenn]

I honestly understand owner's concern about engine noises and smoking, etc. I am very pleased I do not have to deal with them, but quite honestly this engine is made to beat the crap out of it. I have faithfully done this for 42,000 miles and still get 20 mpg with 4:10s. Maybe I am just lucky and need to keep my month shut. But, after reading this website for 2 years I have yet to understand from anyone that the ticking or smoke on start-up is anything more then an annoyance???

Glenn

[TripleTransAm]

But, after reading this website for 2 years I have yet to understand from anyone that the ticking or smoke on start-up is anything more then an annoyance???


Annoyance? Absolutely... I've been driving my '78 T/A a lot this summer with its all-original never-opened up base Pontiac 400, and I can tell you my MM's original driver's side cylinder head could give that old iron block a run for its money when it came to valvetrain noise. The catch? 110 000 miles versus 15000 miles, 1978 technology (and unknown maintenance in its early life) versus 2003 technology (and religiously maintained). Embarrassing? You bet.

Blue smoke? Yep, also annoying as all heck. Embarrassing? I'll leave that up to each owner to decide. Again, my MM has (as recently as last Fall) managed to outsmoke my '78 400 on startup (actually, my '78 400 is quite good in the blue smoke category, this summer it only smoked once on startup and that was after my most recent oil change after having run some concentrated detergent through the crankcase for 10 minutes at fast idle, as recommended on the bottle).

Long term issues? My crystal ball is out for repair so I personally can't comment on that. However, I can say that I've had my fingers on both ends of an exhaust valve on a 'ticker' and personally felt the wobble as I rocked the valve side-to-side. I'm under the impression that today's 'high-tech' engines are supposed to run with tolerances measurable only by precise micrometers... the way these valves were rocking side to side in their guides, I swear I could get a better match if I had machined them myself with a handheld drill and some sandpaper.

So it's a gamble after all. Will it all hold together until something happens in the hands of the car's next owner? Will something happen after the warranty's over and Ford isn't technically responsible for it anymore? (because, after all, it's really all a car company is obliged to do, right? Once anything happens after the warranty period, it's your nickel...)

Just one more thing to remember, though... there are a lot more items sitting downstream from an engine nowadays than in 1965. Catalytic converters with teeny tiny passages to clog and coke up, oxygen sensors that will slowly 'go to sleep' as they get coated with all sorts of deposits. Ever driven behind a mid 80s diesel Volkswagen and seen the deposits on the bumper and rear fascia?

One thing is for sure, we should avoid getting worked up over whatever choice anyone makes with regards to this sort of engine condition. It's up to each owner to make an informed decision and it's none of our business as to what that choice ultimately will be, nor our place to criticize it. Ford is a business like any other, and in business all that is required is to live up to a contract, and that contract has a definite timeframe and does not require any additional disclosure of any nature.

[looking97233]

Okay folks, I just went through this. the problem- the left and right head were made by two different vendors. On the left side heads made before 11/02, there is a manuf. defect on some of the valve guides. The fix- under waranty is to replace the head, out of waranty- you can replace the head but if you have an aftermarket waranty they won't pay for it. Mine had the head removed and had the faulty valve guides replaced.

Will this problem cause the engine to fail? Most likely not. See below.
What will this problem do? Well with the faulty valve guides there will be oil seepage into the affected cylinders. This will deffentely cause decreased performance from the engine. Mine also had pronouced detenation once the motor warmed up. This was so bad I was afarid of having piston dammage from it. It is now gone and my MM runs better and seems to be quicker than it ever has. So, if you don't mind your $30k+ performance oriented car smoking, sounding like it just came from the junk yard and, performing more poorly than it should, then just don't worry about it. I got mine fixed.

Rod.

[Marauder2005]

Okay folks, I just went through this. the problem- the left and right head were made by two different vendors. On the left side heads made before 11/02, there is a manuf. defect on some of the valve guides. The fix- under waranty is to replace the head, out of waranty- you can replace the head but if you have an aftermarket waranty they won't pay for it. Mine had the head removed and had the faulty valve guides replaced.

Will this problem cause the engine to fail? Most likely not. See below.
What will this problem do? Well with the faulty valve guides there will be oil seepage into the affected cylinders. This will deffentely cause decreased performance from the engine. Mine also had pronouced detenation once the motor warmed up. This was so bad I was afarid of having piston dammage from it. It is now gone and my MM runs better and seems to be quicker than it ever has. So, if you don't mind your $30k+ performance oriented car smoking, sounding like it just came from the junk yard and, performing more poorly than it should, then just don't worry about it. I got mine fixed.

Rod.
Wow this info is great BTW Nice to hear from you again TripleTransAm. Anyway, Im glad to hear that some of you got this fixed. If I hear its "normal"
from my dealer one more time im gonna burst. Thanks for this information,
my dealer is gonna get an ear full from me.
Best, Mike

[TripleTransAm]

FWIW, the SCT site has the following info:


SCT Cautions:
...

Some 2003 Cobras have a problem known as the "Head Tick". If your cobra was built before December 2003, we suggest having this problem resolved before you heavily modify your cobra. You can check the build date by looking at the lower part of the drivers side valve cover. The tick is caused because of a problem with the cylinder head design on the drivers side. The faulty design caused the head to overheat and warp the valve seats. There is a new head that has the problem fixed, and as far as we are aware Ford will replace the head under warranty if your vehicle exhibits the problem.


I have the new head (or a new head, not the same part number as the old one, and it's ticking again this year (not as loudly... yet). I also have the occasional blue smoke at startup.

I can't imagine what level of pride in one's product can bring a dealer to proclaim that this is "normal".

[Marauder2005]

Well my tick has been solved....Sort of. My cars warrenty runs out

this month and I brought the evidence on this page to my dealer.

I sat down with the service manager, where he begain to tell me they

preformed all the test on the cylinders etc etc. He told me the service

rep for Ford would not "ok" the head replacment. So, he told my he would

give me a 6yr 75,000 mile warrenty for FREE. My car has 16,300 on it now,

So all and all, I am satisfied. Thank you all for the "evidence" and stories.

Best, Mike

[MarauderBoy]

Smoking and ticking fixed with rebuild - Ford did not chose to participate...

[ncmm]

I had a tick that sounded like valves in my '03 SVT Focus. Found out it was the fuel injectors, you could here it better when inside the car. It sounded the worst when the weather was cold.

[Smokie]

I don't have this problem, I just wanted to offer a suggestion when dealing with a large corporation that one of it's representatives is telling you that " it is normal " for a $35,000 car to smoke and tick: Get that statement in WRITING with a signature of the person that CERTIFIES this is normal.

Ask with a smile, don't back down. Tell the Rep. or Service Manager that you will walk away and leave him alone, right after he puts his name to a statement, draw up the statement yourself and have it ready for him to sign.

Lets see what person representing Ford is willing to put his name to the "it is normal" for Ford to sell smoking, ticking valve guides. If it is normal, no one should have a problem signing that statement, if they won't sign....ask them what they are afraid of.

[AzMarauder]

I honestly understand owner's concern about engine noises and smoking, etc. I am very pleased I do not have to deal with them, but quite honestly this engine is made to beat the crap out of it. I have faithfully done this for 42,000 miles and still get 20 mpg with 4:10s. Maybe I am just lucky and need to keep my month shut. But, after reading this website for 2 years I have yet to understand from anyone that the ticking or smoke on start-up is anything more then an annoyance???

Glenn
Well... I must admit you have one of the most unusual methods of dealing with a mechanical concern.

I guess the thought had just never crossed my mind... that if I had a noise or something didn't seem right... to just beat the crap out of it. :rolleyes:

I'll have to keep that option in mind.

[AzMarauder]

Okay folks, I just went through this. the problem- the left and right head were made by two different vendors. On the left side heads made before 11/02, there is a manuf. defect on some of the valve guides. The fix- under waranty is to replace the head, out of waranty- you can replace the head but if you have an aftermarket waranty they won't pay for it. Mine had the head removed and had the faulty valve guides replaced.

Will this problem cause the engine to fail? Most likely not. See below.
What will this problem do? Well with the faulty valve guides there will be oil seepage into the affected cylinders. This will deffentely cause decreased performance from the engine. Mine also had pronouced detenation once the motor warmed up. This was so bad I was afarid of having piston dammage from it. It is now gone and my MM runs better and seems to be quicker than it ever has. So, if you don't mind your $30k+ performance oriented car smoking, sounding like it just came from the junk yard and, performing more poorly than it should, then just don't worry about it. I got mine fixed.

Rod.
Rod,
With a build date of 10/04/2002... is there anyway for me to determine visually if the left head is one of the defective ones (I don't notice any tick) ?

Were ALL early build heads from that vendor defective or just some of those heads?

[jgc61sr2002]

I don't have this problem, I just wanted to offer a suggestion when dealing with a large corporation that one of it's representatives is telling you that " it is normal " for a $35,000 car to smoke and tick: Get that statement in WRITING with a signature of the person that CERTIFIES this is normal.

Ask with a smile, don't back down. Tell the Rep. or Service Manager that you will walk away and leave him alone, right after he puts his name to a statement, draw up the statement yourself and have it ready for him to sign.

Lets see what person representing Ford is willing to put his name to the "it is normal" for Ford to sell smoking, ticking valve guides. If it is normal, no one should have a problem signing that statement, if they won't sign....ask them what they are afraid of.


Javier - That is an excellent idea. :up:

[looking97233]

Rod,
With a build date of 10/04/2002... is there anyway for me to determine visually if the left head is one of the defective ones (I don't notice any tick) ?

Were ALL early build heads from that vendor defective or just some of those heads?

I don't know the answer to that, Dennis posted the TSB from Ford here somewhere. I believe that if you don't have the 'tick' that you are spared the issue. Unless your car is still low miles and has been babied?

Sorry, I can't be of more help. Maybe others that have more info could chime in.
Rod.

[Marauder2005]

I don't have this problem, I just wanted to offer a suggestion when dealing with a large corporation that one of it's representatives is telling you that " it is normal " for a $35,000 car to smoke and tick: Get that statement in WRITING with a signature of the person that CERTIFIES this is normal.

Ask with a smile, don't back down. Tell the Rep. or Service Manager that you will walk away and leave him alone, right after he puts his name to a statement, draw up the statement yourself and have it ready for him to sign.

Lets see what person representing Ford is willing to put his name to the "it is normal" for Ford to sell smoking, ticking valve guides. If it is normal, no one should have a problem signing that statement, if they won't sign....ask them what they are afraid of.
Smokie, great idea. I plan on taking your advice....

[RAUDER]

This is the replacement head part number for the left side. Do a yahoo search and you will find reference to this on several mustang sites.


Sam