Brandenwry

hi,
I have A 2006 F150 5.4l with 239000 km, a Afe CAI and Banks cat back exhaust. The last few months ive been trying to figure out what is causing my truck to make a clicking noise on start up and slow acceleration. The noise kind of sounds like when you throw a chain on the ground. The noise gets worse when I have a tune on. The dealership wrote it off as a spark knock issue but the problem still persists. Ive installed a team RXP oil catcher to insure that the oil going threw the PCV system is not knocking down the fuel octane. Ive also installed an oil pressure gauge, as well I am running 5W-30 oil to insure I have sufficient oil pressure for the VCT and the chain tensioners. I hope someone has an idea for me so I can lay this issue to rest.
Thanks in advance

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Look at the passenger side exhaust manifold.. very prone to cracking and leaking...mine ticks at start up when very cold out.. then goes away when engine reaches operating temp.

Brandenwry

Thanks for the reply, the exhaust manifolds were replaced at 190000 km by Ford.

Arizona Tumbleweed

Have you tried a higher octane gas? If it's spark knock that should make it go away. (But you shouldn't have to do that if it runs right.)

Brandenwry

Yes i have, tryed new fuel filter, ran seafoam threw the fuel system and changed the fuel pump module. After all that, still the same.

Arizona Tumbleweed

If it were me, just to eliminate the possibility, I'd take the fan belt off and start it up. If the noise is gone then it's the bearing in the water pump, idler pulley or tensioner pulley, etc.

Brandenwry

I like the idea, but wouldn’t the clicking noise be all the time if it was a bearing?( not just at start or slow acceleration). Ive replaced the idler pulleys plus the tensioner pulley due to noisy bearings. But tell if im wrong .

Daz73

Make sure you don't have a loose spark plug...I found that my plugs were actually loose when I went to change them.
Can you identify the approximate location where the noise is coming from? Front of motor, rear, left or right hand side?
You should be able to work out the area it comes from..then start looking for possible causes.

Arizona Tumbleweed

Ya, your probably right. Daz73 makes more sense. Loose plug.

Brandenwry

Sounds like drivers in my opinion, ill get a scaner in the morning to see if i have any misfires to pin point which plug (its hard to be at 2 places at once). But thank you, another spot to look at that i didnt think of.