Mechagouki

Hey there,

I recently bought my first F150, a 2002 XL (2WD regular cab). I was loving the truck for the first few weeks, then the rear brake line blew and cost me $350 - oh well, truck is pretty rusty underneath so not a surprise.

This past Saturday I did a 200km run in the truck and it ran fine, then Saturday evening I took my son to a movie and when we got back in the truck it made a loud howling almost grinding noise - kind of scary, but it abated after less than a minute. I dropped my son at his mom's house and left the truck running, noticed an intermittent knocking - about every 8-10 seconds for about 5-6 seconds - drove home feeling anxious!

Yesterday I started the truck and the knocking was there, fairly quiet, seemed maybe to be coming from the belt tensioner, after a few minutes it quietened and I drove to local auto parts store and bought some belt dressing and a new air filter and a can of STP for the gas tank.

Put some belt dressing on and spray-lubed the tensioner and idler, put the new air filter in and the truck was just purring, super smooth and the knock was gone. Drove about 5kms and heard the knock again, stopped and turned off the ignition, waited 10 minutes and started the truck again - crazy howling noise is back and knock is louder, howling abates after a couple of minutes and I drive home, knocking is now close to constant and can feel vibration through valve cover.

I've done some reading and it seems like worse case scenario I've spun a rod bearing, best case maybe timing chain guides or lash adjusters?

I have no engine mechanic experience, and my monthly income after tax is $1700, so I can't pay to have this looked at or repaired, should I cut my losses and sell the truck as-is?

Youtube video here:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kV-AyCJm5BU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Mechagouki

Not that anyone seems to care at all, but it seems like it was the AC clutch going out, seized up this past Sunday and ate the belt, currently trying to bypass it.

Martian

We definitely care, it's just that this thread never got bumped by you or anyone else, so it wasn't noticed.

Moving to the 2002 section.

65comet

There are many good videos on replacing the A/C clutch on YouTube if you need help in that area. After fixing that, please repost your results and if you still have any knocking noise. We do care, we just have to see the post in our area.

Mechagouki

I didn't bump because I wasn't sure if that was permitted or not, but thanks for clarifying. Did the AC bypass today with some trial and error and the help of another member (Anthony Kadzban). Truck runs smooth and quiet now, and I'm excited about owning it again! I will do the A/C clutch when I have a little more time and money, looks like a fairly straightforward job if you leave the back plate in place and just replace the bearing/pulley/front plate.

Now to start in on the rust - I suspect many hours of wire brushing await...

w0lvez

Is that Electrical spark??

white89gt

^^^ Something is definitely suspect there. Good eye w0lvez.

LakelandFordParts

I am happy to read that the truck is running smooth again. When you're ready, it looks like the clutch part number is 6S4Z19D786AA and luckily it is not too expensive.