MarkoDaGeek

Hello Everyone,

I've been trying to troubleshoot this loud metallic ting sound coming from my 2005 XL 4.6L. I'm pretty sure (and hoping) it's exhaust related (catalytic converter??) and nothing serious, it just started in the last couple weeks. It's very hard to tell where it's coming from.

Thing is, the sound starts immediately before anything has a chance to warm up, usually these tinging sounds are from a hot exhaust cooling off, this starts with a cold engine. It's random, doesn't increase with RPMs or anything, it's loud, I started it this morning and I had to do something in the back yard quick and I heard it all the way back there. Sometimes it's once a minute, sometimes 3 times in a minute...

Anyway, I took a terrible video with my phone and threw it on YouTube if anyone wants to take a look, you can hear it at 0:37 and 1:06, it's louder in reality than in the video. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFgKsq_arTM

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

MarkoDaGeek

*Bump*

Any ideas?

riccikea

I have exact same sound. It happens when the engine is running (especially when cold) and when the engine is off and cooling. I was told it was a heat shield, but I cannot confirm. I took it to two mechanics and they said it was normal as it was just the pipes cooling. I have heard two other f150s of the same era making similar noises. One was a 5.4 and another was a 4.6. The owners were oblivious to the noise. Mine has been making it since I bought it used 2 years ago with 52k on it. It now has just under 60k. It is kind of annoying, but right now I just live with it as it is intermittent. I often wonder if it has something to do with the exhaust manifold. I would love to find out what it is.

bourgeois1269

Does it happen all day, as long as the truck is running ?

riccikea

Yes, it makes the noise randomly when running ( more often when below operating temperature) but also does it when when it is off and cooling down.

bourgeois1269

Well if it's off and cooling down then I wouldn't think it has to do with the motor but I listened to the video and it sounds like a hammer hitting a chisel. Like a hollow metal sound, which makes me think it has something to do with the exhaust but on the other hand I'm still curious to where it's coming from. Have you tried laying under the truck to listen closer to the sound and trying to pin point it ?

MarkoDaGeek

Hello,

What riccikea has described and exactly what I'm experiencing also, the sound is far more prevalent with a cold engine. It also makes the sound when the truck is shut down and is cooling, which tells me it is exhaust related.

It's hard to tell where the sound is coming from because it's so loud, I have gone under the truck and it sounds like it's coming from the lower engine area, maybe towards the passenger side? It's really hard to tell...

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

It sounds like metal expansion and contraction during the heating and cooling process.. Although in most cases it sounds more like a tick than a ping.
It could be a loose clamp on the exhaust somewhere, or maybe a small crack in a pipe..
You could inspect the exhaust and try tightening every connection to see if the tone of the noise at least changes..

riccikea

When the truck is running it sounds like it might be coming from the intake or exhaust manifold on the passenger side. When I get under the truck to try to pinpoint the noise's location when it is not running it is hard to tell, but it almost sounds like it is closer to where the engine and transmission meet. So far it has been very hard to isolate to investigate further.

HeathMc

My 05 5.4 does the same. Haven't really had time to worry about it but my family is out of town this weekend so maybe I'll look for it this weekend. Let me know if you guys find it and I'll do the same.