[PsyDoc]

Today, I met with the Ford Service Engineer for this region. He took the service manager, my service advisor, and the senior master mechanic that worked on the car and they had a 15-20 minute meeting. Then, the came out and they took the car to the back. From the waiting room, I could see them huddled around the car proding the engine with a mechanic's stethoscope for another 15-20 minutes. Then, they went back and forth with another Five Hundred that they used as a comparison. After they were finished, the engineer completed some paperwork, filed it (or a copy) with the dealership, and then called me in to talk.

His conclusion is that there is no nonconformity (i.e., no problem) with the engine. Of course, he heard the noise, but he stated that the sound is only present at idle and disappears when the rpm's increase; I did not ask for a specific rpm level as I would be more concerned if the noise remained. He said that at idle a lot more noise is transmitted with the double overhead cam engines, especially the ones that have the plastic valve covers. He said the metal covers do a much better job of keeping the engine quiet. He also mentioned the transmission of noise present at idle due to timing chain adjusters, the gears they ride upon, etc.

So, I guess that's the end of that. So far, that noise has been the only thing I have noticed with the car. If the ticking/tapping at idle is the only engine issue/nuisance I experience with the car, then perhaps I should be thankful that I am not experiencing more significant issues.

 

[Cudos]

So they are telling you its normal? how loud is your ticking? mine can be heard from 25 feet away. I have had the TSB performed twice and then the lifters were replaced to no avail. I'm gonna be pissed if they tell me its normal :x, if thats normal noise then why aren't they all doing it. Thats just there way of saying we don't have a clue. I'm still waiting on engineering here as well, mines loud enough that I'll be getting a new engine if I have too. :x

 

[PsyDoc]

The noise is loud enough that, at idle, you can hear it with the windows down at a drive-thru or something that allows an echo. With no ambient noise, like parked in my driveway, I can hear it faintly at 15-20 feet. With the air conditioning on, the sound is faintly detectable. I know this is not all that comforting, but "our" engines are not the only ones that do this. Perhaps we are part of the few that pay attention to such things. Perhaps our timing chains are on the outter range of "acceptable" tolerances or some other issue; within spec, no damage occurring (otherwise we'd have seen failures by now), but a noise that is more noticeable in our engines than in others. Definitely a nuisance to us, but so far everything works. A number of people in the Mazda 6 forum have gotten their engine replaced once or twice (one guy is on his 3rd). There was one guy who had his engine replaced due to ticking and the brand new engine did the exact same thing. Engine replacement is something I would not look forward to and I can see the possible damage that could be done to the engine bay, firewall, hood, etc. That would suck; you get a new engine that does not make the ticking noise, but they mess up the installation causing tranny problems or they the fenders and or hood get scratched up and the repaint does not match or has orange peel really bad.

 

[Cudos]

Yes your points are well taken regarding the engine replacement, the last thing I want is some guy who could care less ripping apart my new car. I also realize I could end up with the same thing. But dam it is annoying having to explain ALL the time to people who ask "whats that noise" is that normal, either answer I give sounds retarded, yes that really erratic loud ticking is normal, now you hear it, now you don't! or we don't know if its normal but they can't fix it. Huh you paid how much for that lol, I liken it having a big goiter on my face and hoping nobody notices it while I'm talking to them then explaining that "A" its normal in our family to have big goiters or "B" don't know what the hell it is or how to get rid of it.

Oh well if I'm stuck with the ticking I just hope it doesn't cause engine damage after the P/train warranty expires.

Cheers

 

[swoop1156]

You know, I was in the drive-thru today, windows up, radio off, and I heard a "chugg-chugg-chugg-chugg" noise. I pressed the gas and it kinda went away, but I definately noticed it. Then, later on the garage, I closed the door and started the car and tried to kill mysel...I mean, I listened for the noise. It was there as well.

TSB? Never heard of it. Gotta search on the site.. Good luck.

 

[Plucky2035]

PysDoc. I'm so glad you posted these post, because I thought something was wrong with my engine too. I completely agree with you about hearing it at the drive-thru.  That's where I first heard the ticking sound. As you described how your engine sounds, that's exactly how mine sounds.  So, I'm starting to think maybe there's nothing wrong and that's the way they sound. Especialy if people are having there engines replaced and the new one makes the same exact noise. It sounds a little more loud inside the car then standing outside of it. My last car, a year old, had a bad engine and need just about all of it replaced, so every little sound I hear in my Fusion I think the engine is going bad. I don't ever want to go through that again. My last car was covered under warranty, just about $4,000 worth replaced, 20 days in the shop, and still broke down the night I got it back and had to be towed to the dealership. Stupid Dodge.  I think i'm making to much into this slight ticking sound. I have a question for you. Do you have the V-6 and if so, do you think the engine runs kind of loud?

 

[PsyDoc]

Yep...

I have the 3.0L Duratec V-6. Another person who has one had the same noise (noticed it at about 800 miles) and could not locate it with a mechanic's stethoscope. Took it to a mechanic he holds in high regard and the mechanic leaned down and indicated it was timing chain noise; all cars have the noise, just some are louder than others. Around 8k later, he says he does not hear it anymore.

 

[Cudos]

Well in about 5 days we'll see if my ticking noise is gone. Ford engineering has decided to replace my engine assy. This should be interesting considering I have heard others that have had their engine replaced only to have the same noise. Now I am at a bit of a disadvantage in not being able to compare my noise with others complaining of the ticking. If my ticking had been a little more subtle I would have lived with it. But being able to hear it from 20 feet away was a little too loud for me.

I am looking long term with this in that if I ever try to sell my car privately I may have some problems explaining that this is a normal noise.