1999 Ford F-150: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Dec 27, 2012 · Engine · 176,668 miles · MO

While driving at 70 MPH the vehicle started to lightly tick then I pulled over to the side of the road and the motor began to loudly knock I took it to my mechanic and he told me this was a common problem that ford has had with these motors with thousand accounts were this has happened and ford has neglected to take care of there loyal customers I am a 20 yr old college student and I can barely afford the home I live in right now I bought this truck in the good faith that ford had honored the picture they had set for this truck that it was a reliable running vehicle but as I have found out unfortunately like many others have also it isn't this is caused by either a timing belt gasket failing or multiple spots in the intake manifold failing causing the motor to have coolant leaked into the cylinders and causing the motor from a rod knock to the motor becoming completely hydro locked I am 150 miles from my school on christmas break stuck here because my truck was not what it was supposed to be thank you and I hope that something can be done about this because after reading page after page and website after website of people that are also left stranded just like my self and cannot afford this because of a cheap short cut flaw ford neglects to own up to we can all handle this like grown ups and finally get the product we all should have in the first place instead of a recurring flawed motor thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 11, 2010 · Engine · 125,000 miles · MN

I noticed a ticking noise which sounded like an exhaust manifold leak for the past few days and just today I was taking off from a stop sign when the spark plug blew out of the head creating a loud knocking/ticking noise. I have not had it fixed yet, but from what I understand this can create engine fires which can be a major safety hazard.

Filed Mar 5, 2010 · Engine · 117,850 miles · CA

I own a used 1999 ford f-150 5.4l engine. It has approximately 117,500 miles. While driving on the freeway in california yesterday, I heard a loud knocking type noise. I pulled over to the shoulder and with the engine running opened the hood. Just as I did, the spark plug ejected from the cylinder head and came within 3" of my skull almost killing me. Took it right over to the power ford dealer in tustin, ca. They want to charge me a diagnosis fee to tell me what I already know. I told them they better assure me that the remaining 7 plugs won't do the same thing or I may have been killed and a law suit would have been a definite. This is very dangerous and out of warranty so to speak, but it a unique problem all it's own. This has to lead to a recall. It is far to dangerous and in light of what has come up with toyota recently we cannot allow these things , these serious danger to continue to be allowed to save ford a few $. I am also going to write to congress.

Filed Oct 18, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · 50,000 miles · FL

Dt: the contact owns a 1999 ford f-150. The contact complained about electrical problems since the cruise control stopped working in august 2004. Within a month of the cruise control malfunctioning the ABS sensor illuminated on the dashboard, and the heater stopped working. Approximately one month ago the power door locks stopped working. When it was hot outside, the contact turned off the lights in the vehicle he had to remove the fuse. The contact stated there was a ticking noise coming from inside the fuse box. The consumer contacted the dealership, and they told him to bring the vehicle in for a diagnostic test at his expense. The manufacturer explained to the dealership that the consumer felt that the electrical problems listed above were caused by the cruise control switch. *ak the consumer has since stated the power mirrors no longer work.

Filed Jun 8, 2005 · Engine · 119,000 miles · GA

I have a 1999 f-150 ford pick-up truck 4-2l v-6, I was having a low cooleant problem. Took it to mcdonough radiator shop, they replaced water pump and gasket. It was still loosing cooleant. I called the dealership and ask if there was a recall for this vehicle and was told no there was not. I took it back to the same radiator shop after a closer inspection they removed the intake manifold and found water in the back two cylinders.they replaced the intake manifold gaskets, I picked the vehicle up I had not drove more than 3 miles before it started to make a knocking noise. I called the repair shop and took it back immeadiately, now they tell me that I have 2 bent push rods. They are suppose to replace them today. I found out later that I was not the only one having this problem, after some research on the internet I found a web site that has an long list of people with the same complaint. When I called ford motor company customer "no service" I was told that there had been no recalls on this vehicle for that problem and that they could not help me in any way because of the warrenty had expired. According to jasper engine rebuilders the problem stems from a poorly designed gasket for the intake manifold and that is what caused this problem, got this information from one of their tech bullitens.

Filed Jun 14, 2004 · Electrical · 118,000 miles · TX

1999 ford f-150 blown spark plug. I replaced the spark plugs on my f-150 approximately three months ago. I replaced the original plugs with autolite double platinum plugs. Yesterday (june 13, 2004) while accelerating from a stop light, I heard a loud bang from under the hood. Luckily I was only about a mile away from home. Once there, I raised the hood and found that the number two spark plug had been blown out of the cylinder head. It destroyed the coil pack as well. It appears that when the plug blew, it shot up into the coil pack thereby destroying the coil. Since the ignition wire is part of the coil pack, it further appears that the compression of the rubber insulator acted like a spring and pushed the plug back into the oriface with enough force to break the white insulator at the bottom of the plug and and slam the tip into the electrode. I was able to remove the plug without incident. I did not find any remnants of aluminum in the spark plug threads. Since the plugs were changed only a few months ago, I still had the old plugs. The damaged plug was replaced with one of the old plugs. The threads felt as though they were still intact, and I was able to get the replacement plug back in without any modifications. It was tightened down, just snug, not tight. The coil pack on that cylinder had to be replaced. The cost from autozone was approximately $45.00. I will continue to watch and listen for any tell-tale signs of the plugs backing out as described on the f-150 web page. I do recall a "ticking" noise about 2-3 days prior to the incident.

Filed May 4, 2004 · Engine · 40,250 miles · CA

My 1999 f-150 5.4 ltr 4wd started making loud ticking noise @ 39,000 miles.took truck to burch ford from whom I purchased vehicle & they diagnosed ticking noise as a bad cat. Cvrtr!!! They also advised me of leaking head gasket from (r)rear head and a repair cost of $3,200 w/ (12 mo./12,ooo mi.warranty !!! )on repair.when I picked up vehicle & started engine,the same loud ticking noise (only worse) was still there!!! Burch ford & ford motor corp refused to even acknowledge problem or warranty their repair.while trying to get assistance, I drove vehicle bare min and aprox. 300 miles after the "repair",the engine blew # 3 spark plug out of (r) head like like a rocket & massive loss of power which nearly left me in direct path of a loaded semi truck !!!(thought I was going be crushed to death).I had truck towed back to burch ford & they faxed me a estimate of $3,200. More to replace head (now total is $ 6,400. From the two repairs!!!) and in bold print @ bottom of est. Say's ....no warranty!!! Vehicle needs new engine & neither the dealership or ford motor corp are willing to ohnor their original repair,or assist in this catastrophic problem that research shows has occuring by the hundreds on 4.6 ,5.4 & now many v-10 engines from 1996 to 2004........ (8 yrs.)!!! My truck is my pride & joy & with aprox. 39,000 miles on it,my $ 40,000.00 ride may be a total loss due to current book value & contraversial $$$$$cost of repair!!! This is my 6th ford vehicle(all of which were paid off in full 1-2yrs.early!!!)in the last 9 yrs.I've been a more than loyal ford customer,...but with blatent dissregard for their bread & butter,(loyal ford customers) ford seems to be for 8 yrs. Now; grossly and w/o any remorse, far less than a loyal automobile manufacturer !!!...respectfully,...j.l.

Filed Apr 30, 2004 · Engine · 39,000 miles · CA

The consumer took vehicle for service because of a ticking noise heard on vehicle. The dealership indicated that the ticking noise was coming from the catalytic converter, and the head gasket had blown. Which resulted in an oil leak into the exhaust manifold. The dealership replaced the catalytic converter and the head gasket; however, the ticking noise still exist after the repair was performed. Within 300 miles after the parts were replaced, the spark plug came out of the right side of the engine head which resulted in engine failure. The dealership refused to honor repair warranty and perform any further service on the vehicle.

Filed Nov 25, 2003 · Engine · 57,000 miles · OH

Ford f-150 xlt 57,000 miles - spark plugs stripped, and destroy spark plug. Noticed hissing sound from under hood when engine was just turned off. Ticking sound when first starting engine. Took vehicle to local ford dealership for servicing. No warranty support. Claims to never hear of problem, even though f150-online forum has over 100 such incidents reported.

Filed May 16, 2001 · Engine · MN

Engine has severe knock at start up ,and uses oil , dealership has repeated told me that this is not a issue. Other ford truck owners have informed me that their engines where replaced under warranty , while I have been put off and now vechicle is off warranty.

Filed Dec 4, 2000 · Transmission · NC

I purchased this 1999 ford f150 truck in june of 1999, within in a few months the truck was registering more miles than I had put on this truck. I returned to dealer and made complaint. I was told they could not find anything wrong. Then I returned to dealer with same complaint on several orther times. Finally I called the dmv office in whiteville nc , they got in touch with the quality ford co. And then quality ford replaced the odometer in truck. At this time I was also complaining about truck making a knocking sound. They told me they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. They have always told me this on every compliant I made about the truck. Now today 12-4-00 the truck is still jumping mileage , I had the truck in the shop in november and it was there for two weeks, I finally picked the truck up on 11-28-00 and I was told that they had driven the truck to fayettville nc and that the truck did jump mileage with the driver and that they were going to replace the odometer again, and that they had ordered the odometer and that it would be in on friday 12-1-00. I contacted them on monday 12-4-00 and they told me to bring the truck to them on thursday 12-7-00 and that they would put the odometer in on this day and replace the back window which pours water when it rains, but that they were not going to do anything about the motor knocking because it was just a charecteristic of the motor and it would not hurt the motor. This is not what I payed for . I paid for a new truck and I think I got a lemon. I amm tired of changing the odometer in this truck. I never know the real mileage on this vehicle because they just put whatever they think should be on truck back on the odometer. This is not right to me. Isn,t it against the law to mess with mileage on a vehicle. Please help me I just dont know what to do with this vehicle except to hire me an attorney and get my money back out of this vehicle and get my vehicle back that I traded in on this truck along with.

Filed Dec 17, 1999 · Engine, Transmission · FL

This vehicle has a terrible transmission problem - the 2nd to 3rd shift, and the 3rd to 2nd shift are rough and slowly tear the transmission apart. Mine has been repaired 4 times and is still suffering from poor shifts and undependability. The engine had a very severe knock when first started - the engine was replaced at 14,500 miles with a remanufactured unit. This vehicle has had 2 transmission rebuilds, one transmission replacement and a remanufactured engine and the vehicle only has 14,900 miles on the odometer!