Ford V10 Ticking sound?

[Happy_Jim]

For the last several trips when the engine is running along I hear a sound from the engine compartment that sounds like light sheet metal rattling. I first though it was pre ignition and put in hi test gasoline but to no avail.

Has anyone else experienced this and found the issue. The engine is a Ford V10
Many thanks

[campinginthewoo]

Likes to tow wrote:
Take a 4 foot section of old water hose and use it to scope out variou areas of the engine. Put one end to your ear and take the other end and run slowly all over and around the engine. Believe me when you get to the area of noise you can noticeably tell the difference. I found the problem with a new car like this once. The dealer was unable to find the noise after repeated trips to his service facility. While changing the oil one day I picked up a clean piece of water hose laying on the ground and used this method. Within 5 minutes I found the leaky exhaust tic and took it back to the dealer and instructed him to repair.

I hope you got to "charge" the dealer as you found the problem for him :B

[Likes_to_tow]

Take a 4 foot section of old water hose and use it to scope out variou areas of the engine. Put one end to your ear and take the other end and run slowly all over and around the engine. Believe me when you get to the area of noise you can noticeably tell the difference. I found the problem with a new car like this once. The dealer was unable to find the noise after repeated trips to his service facility. While changing the oil one day I picked up a clean piece of water hose laying on the ground and used this method. Within 5 minutes I found the leaky exhaust tic and took it back to the dealer and instructed him to repair.

[spadoctor]

there are no spark plug heat shields as the plugs are recessed....as stated the v10 breaks rear exhaust studs. When they are replaced they are larger diameter and a different metal. Check the exhaust system heat shields. They often rust away where welded to the cat or the pipe, If the plugs were loose on a 99 they would have blown out already.

[rkentzel]

Take a hard look at the heat shields under there

[powderman426]

John&Joey wrote:

Happy Jim wrote:
...I hear a sound from the engine compartment that sounds like light sheet metal rattling...

Don't assume the worst, maybe it really is sheet metal rattling, as in a heat shield. At that age it is not odd for a heat shield to rust away from a fastener and rattle.

And if that is the problem, fix the problem as plug wires are easily damaged from heat. They make high temperature socks that can be put over the wires and way easier than trying to replace heat shields.

[John_Joey]

Happy Jim wrote:
...I hear a sound from the engine compartment that sounds like light sheet metal rattling...

Don't assume the worst, maybe it really is sheet metal rattling, as in a heat shield. At that age it is not odd for a heat shield to rust away from a fastener and rattle.

[jspringator]

It may still be pre-ignition. You may wan to run a heavy dose of seafoam to decarbon the cylinders. That worked for me. Broken exhaust studs have been a problem in these engines.

[Harvard]

Your profile indicates a 99 V10, could be the dreaded spark plug working its way out.

[jy]

Look at your exhaust studs.Exhaust leaks sound like a ticking sound when accelerating but usually go away or get quieter when you let off the gas.Early V10,s like to break exhaust studs.Mine had 5 broken when I installed headers.

[RJsfishin]

Probably can't help, but idling,....running fast, pulling hard,...???
W/ very little info, expect very little info.