Ticking...Cam wear?

[SoulAssassin]

I have heard on other forums that people that have a ticking coming form their engine are opening the valve cover and seeing marred cam lobes. I hope that SVT is aware of this and doing something about it (stronger cams or better lubrication). I have yet to look at mine but I'm planning on it as soon as I get up enough guts because it sure is noisey.:eek:

[deactivated]

I think if there is a problem this serious SVT would be all over it. I think a great way to get some feedback from customers is to formally ask us HERE if we've had any problems. Or maybe even coordinate with some of the members here about going into the dealer and working with the dealers to identify any problems. THe independent analyses are great, but I think it would benefit SVT to work with some of us in a control group under controlled conditions to see if this is random or throughout. You can rest assured that if there is a problem SVT will make it right. It pays to drive the cream of the crop.

[skatepunk]

I agree... They fixed the intercooler with the 99-00 lightnings,, it took them a bit but it has been fixed... I'd rather they take the time to fix the problem and make us wait a bit before they give it to us rather then slap a band-aid on it and have serious problems down the road

Look at the whole fiasco with the 99 cobras... they cancelled the 00 production to deal with that...


I was at the 2000 experience as I am sure some of you where and had the chance to meet, j.coletti and t.scarpello and some engineers, it was only breifly but the impression I got from them is they really do care about what we think and are not just doing there jobs... that means alot to me as I am a life time SVT owner now :D:tmb:

[SoulAssassin]

I have even heard about a possible recall on the cams. This is just hearsay at this point. Does anyone else have the ticking? I am hoping to be a lifetime SVT owner myself.

[quicksilver]

:confused: When you say 'ticking' are you referring to the valve tapping....mine sounds like my sister-in law's Jetta diesel...I thought that was just normal for this car at idle.

[skatepunk]

I have the same thing... I was told it was normal so I am not thinking anything of it

Hey if they do fix it cool!

[SoulAssassin]

I also thought it was normal until I saw pics of the cam lobes. More and more people are seeing this cam problem and I'm still scared to look.

[Blurry]

I hope this is not so...I am just beginning to enjoy my car...it will be interesting to see what happens....:confused:

[skatepunk]

ahh if it is a problem I'm conifidant they'll fix it... but hopefully it is before there is some MAJOR damage to the engine

[SoulAssassin]

I would hope that the cam could just be replaced if it's too soft and getting proper lubrication as opposed to replacing the entire engine.

[skatepunk]

yea lets hope the engines stay put... although if they have to I'll try sweet talking the dealer into dropping a 03 cobra motor into it :D

[SoulAssassin]

Even an '04 focus engine would be nice.

[PitchBlackSVT]

Mine is ticking pretty loudly too. But the car is still running very strong. I opened her up quite a bit tonight and she handled herself well.

[quicksilver]

I had a new '93 Mustang GT and at 1,800 miles it began smoking, missing, lost power. Dealer found the #8 cylinder seriously worn...never could tell me what caused it.

Nevertheless, Ford promptly replaced the engine without any hesitation. I have no doubt they will deal with issues but multiple trips to the dealer with service problems is a pain.

[Osiris]

Sigh....

Ford doesn't seem to be having good luck with cams.

And lucky me! I have two cars with questionable cams....

Sorry guys, if you think FoMoCo is a responsive company when it comes to engine concerns you need only look at this website to see the ugly truth.


www.v8sho.com

:rant:

[skatepunk]

never said they where responsive... just with my experiance with SVT's they thend to fix the problem... just takes time thats all

[PitchBlackSVT]

I agree with what the post above said. It takes time to fix something right so that it won't happen again.

[SoulAssassin]

I can only hope that Ford handles this potential problem better than that of the SHO. Maybe the SVT badge will have a positive influence on the situation.

[skatepunk]

I'm suure they will... like I said before I meet both scarpello and colletti and have a good gut feeling that this stuff would drive them nuts and they will be pushing to fix it

[SoulAssassin]

I looked in the oil filler cap today and to my dismay there were copias amounts of wear to be seen. Ugh!! to the dealer I go after the holidays.:mad:

[quicksilver]

:confused: SoulAssassin....how many miles on your Focus?

[SoulAssassin]

6500 joyfilled miles.

[Jonny Bolt]

I have noticed neverending ticking. Sounds like a car with no oil. Tatatatatatatatatatatatatatick. When at idle, when at a light or stop sign. Tatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatick. Doesnt sound normal or acceptable to me.

I hope, wait, I EXPECT Ford/SVT to contact me DIRECTLY if there is a an issue or problem with the running gear of my car. I should not have to come to a message board (although I enjoy doing so) to find out about problems with my automobile.

I am going to have my oil changed for the first time hopefully at the end of the week. I would do it myself, but I get free changes anyway, and I will just have them use my oil. I am considering switching to Mobil 1 synthetic, but I only have 4,000 miles and I have heard it is best to wait. I will most likely use Brontosaurus Piss again until 6 or 7,000 miles, then go to synthetic. I will also tell the service creeps about my "ticking" little SVT 4 cylinder. I can't wait to hear the response.

I am really curious about this issue. I would like to know more.

[quicksilver]

Mine sounds like a Jetta diesel at idle.....I was going to ignore it but after reading so much about cam wear, I plan to talk to the dealer next week when it goes in for the first oil change. Also plan to tell them about he heat shield rattle. I looked in the oil fill opening and the two cam lobes I can see look smooth.

The service manager at my dealer is the regional SVTOA chapter advisor so I am curious to see if he acknowledges any info from Ford on the cam issue, intake manifold problems or otherwise.

I agee with Johnny.....Ford should contact SVT owners directly if there is a major problem. However, I suspect they will remain silent and wait for owners to show up at the dealer with complaints. That's the way it usually works.

[Jonny Bolt]

R u talkin about the catalytic converter heat shield rattle? If so, I clamped mine right in the middle about 7 days after buying my car. I had the "Honda buzz" and couldnt stand driving down at the beach on the strip and hearing that.

If your talking about the header heat shield, well I just removed mine. Useless. People say this will melt, and that will melt. I havent had my header Jet-Hot Coated yet, but I plan too, I still havent had any melting problems. I've never seen a car with header(s) have a heat shield over them. I promptly discarded it.

[Blurry]

After 1100 miles, mine doesn't sound that bad...I do hear a little bit but it sounds like fuel injectors...I called SVT and they said that the problem is not that big (or they seem to think so). So if people are waiting to get a fix for the cam, it does not seem to be a priority at SVT. Mine came with 5W20 and SVT said in Europe, that is what the Focus uses. I guess here in the U.S., 5W30 is okay as well as the 5W20..SVT said if possible (available) use the FL400S versus the FL2005 oil filter..??

Also, they told me to not use synthetic until 10,000 miles since that is how long it takes for the motor to (for the lack of a better word) "break-in".:huh:

[quicksilver]

Owner's manual (SVT supplement) says not to use syn oil until at least 6,000 miles. 6-10K seems like a long time for break-in.

[Ridgerunner]

Until this cam wear problem is solved, would anyone recommend using a heavier oil? :confused: Don

[glhracing]

I purchased my SVT in November. I have 2400 miles on it. And have notice the Ticking from the first time I drove the car.
I went to the service department 2 days later and they told me it was the Injectors. A friend has a ZX3 and says that his ticks also.
Is this a common thing with a ll Foci injectors..
Or is there really a Cam issue..
To me it really sounds like a cam low on oil pressure..
But I know nothing about these new engines...

Hope an official answer comes soon..

Brian

[MYQMAN]

New guy here:

I wouldn't get all bent out of shape about this cam thing.The original post(that I saw) was about a guy who put under drive pullies on his Taurus 3.8 and Ford would not warranty the cam wear because of them.Personally I think this started mass hytseria about cam wear, due to the fact it was posted on a focus site.Also the thread was labeled "warning".Wrong place to be to be screaming "fire"in a room full of SVT nuts. I've got 13000 mi on my SVTF and it runs better by the day.The engine has strong springs and an agressive cam profile with larger injecters.The car revs freely and gets better gas milage day by day.So if there is cam wear maybe its all for the better.:rolleyes:

[deactivated]

I agree with you about the hysteria part. It can really get some people to go looking for problems. We have 3 years folks. If it really is a defect it will rear it's ugly head in that time if the wear is as serious as people let on.

[SVTFocus02]

i have had problems with excess ticking noise from the engine for about a month now...it has gotten worse and worse...what have some of you done to fix this...what has the dealers done to deal with this problem...i recently put synthetic oil in my car...right before all the ticking came around...i hope tha isnt the problem...i doubt it...what do you guys think i should do in order to cure this problem...im taking it to the dealer next week...hopefully they will tell me good news...also, has anyone had problems with throw out bearing noise...mine just started recently...oh well

[Dreinhart]

my focus has been at the dealrship for a month and a half i dunno to much about your problemo but mine is that all 16 valves were out clearance(i hate ford and svt) my motor with 3000m on it is probably junk? if your click is on decelaration(rev it up and let off) and isolated in one cylinder mybe we have the same problem but i also got 15m per gal. had a flashing checkengine light and really rough idle when started cold within the first 10 mins at every stop the moter would rev to3000 and stay there for 15seconds
svtfocus #3136

[Dreinhart]

svt focus #3136
my focus has a real click in #1 cyl. the head ford tech at the non-svt dealership that i always had my 00 zx3 worked on at checked the valve clearances (which are the same in the zx3 as the svt)and found that the tappets are out of spec.this is the biggest crock because it means one of two things. that there is 90,000m worth of wear in my engine (it really only has 3000m on it) or that the special vehicle team that you all hold in such high regard let a junk motor actually end up in my car. really come on now i bought my car 11 06 02 it went to the shop because of engine light flashing 01 10 03 and i havent gotten it back yet i have claimed lemon law and i dont think i want another one
one more thing i was only getting 12-15 mpg

[Jonny Bolt]

you very well could have wear. but everyone has to understand that there is an audible ticking in these motors, as well others including the Ranger, and the ticking is the fuel injectors. i hear mine everyday, tititititititititititittititititititittititititt. Brought it to my SVT dealership, told them to get in there, and NOT JUST LOOK AT IT WITH THE HOOD UP AND LISTEN. They checked things out and said its just the injectors and they get questions about it all the time, and not just from people with the 2.0 Zetec.

If your still convinced its wear, then take it to a well known/well respected Master Mechanic/Technician or race motor builder (alot of them around here) and see what they say.

Also, for those with the stumble/erratic idle/high rpm cold start/surging/stalling problems (I experience some of these probs myself sometimes), the RLA-3 reflash is awaiting approval from the EPA or something, and will be out at the end of this month, or early March.

[glhracing]

I agree that the injectors make a ticking noise..
All injectors make noise.
BUT
The cam and/or lifters are also making a ticking sound.
It is very obvious and clear. And much louder than the injectors.

To me the two sources of the sounds can be
easyly seperated.

The question is..
Is the sound coming from the valve cover depremental
to the motor. Is there any abnormal wear going on
Or is something miss adjusted or designed??

I know why it happens in other motors, (the same sound)
But I know nothing about this motor, or the technology within.
In other motors that I know very well. The same noise is
bad news, and effects motor performance dramaticly.

I don't care if it is normal, It is just that there seems
to be no real answer as to what the sound is, and why.

That is all I want to know.
Just a real explanation.

[NHSVTF]

I've been tossing the idea that it may be a timing problem around for a couple of days now. What if the timing is off, thus causing a rattle/ticking sound in the top end of the engine. I'm thinking that RLA-3 would possibly be able to fix this type of problem...but then again, i'm no mechanic.

Any thoughts on this theory? :huh:

Matt.

02 Sonic Blue, with the mystery tic.

[quicksilver]

Can the valves be adjusted in this car? Mine runs fine but it sounds exactly like a new 1984 Ford Ranger I had with the 2.8L V6. It had a noisy valve train until a really good mechanic adjusted valves.....

My dealer service manager says it is normal for this engine.

[Dreinhart]

the valves in the 2.0 zetec e, zetec HP, and the duratec ST
are adustible through the use of sized mechanical bucket tappets
each part is sized to allow .11-.18mm intake and .27-.34mm exhaust valve clearance
my cars spec.s
.304mm intake
.381mm exhaust
that is cyl. 1 that is the worst one
tell you that it ran good while i had it i ran with my girl in her 02 saab 3.0t

[JM1]

As I am also having this problem on my 2003 w/ approx 2300 miles on it I think I'm going to schedule a quick meeting with the dealer's service team to see if they have any thoughts on it. I guess I'm close enough to the 3000 mark (first oil change and inspection is on their dime) that maybe I can wrap this whole service into one visit.

My motor performance doesn't seem to be diminished and the oil pressure gauge seems normal.

Could somebody verify something for me though? At idle with a motor at operating temperature is the oil pressure gauge slightly below the horizontal mark? (that's where mine was earlier tonight)

[Osiris]

No, we don't have 3 years, we have 36,000 miles.

I'm about a grand from the end of my warranty and all this time I've thought my engine was a bit noisy. Should I let them look at the cams now? The last thing I need is for them to say everything is normal then charge me an ungodly amount of money for taking the cam cover off.

in other news I got my SHO welded, 65,000 miles and the heads looked brand new. I only wish my SVTF was built as well as my SHO was.

[svt170]

I don't know about the '02's, but my '03 has a 3yr / 36,000 mile bumper to bumper, and a 5yr / 100,000 mile powertrain waranty. Engine is powertrain. Sounds like you '02 guys got shafted.

JM1- Your oil pressure guage is right on the money compared to mine. It will rise and lower in relation to rpm's. If it strays lower than 1/4 or higher than 3/4, you might want to have it checked out. Can't give much insight to the tititititick as I have only 4900 miles on my car. I hear a ****ounced tick, but it doesn't seem as bad as some of the posts I read here. Let us know if your dealer says something that we're not expecting (actual information instead of a quick answer.)

It's nice to see an old thread every once in a while. Maybe something new will happen with this issue..... Nahhh.

[svt170]

Is "****" a bad word? p.r.o.n.o.u.n.c.e.d. What the heck is a ****?
Somebody PM me and tell me what a **** is.

[deactivated]

i'm not sure what a **** is.....maybe some sort of racial slur?


i figured it out. it is the filter trying to catch a filter. instead of saying p orn people say pr on instead. actually I usually see it spelled pr 0n but whatever. in either case the word itself is not vulgar, perhaps the concept behind it, but I don't think you will go to hell for saying it.

[PAN360]

Originally posted by svt170
I don't know about the '02's, but my '03 has a 3yr / 36,000 mile bumper to bumper, and a 5yr / 100,000 mile powertrain waranty. Engine is powertrain. Sounds like you '02 guys got shafted.


Funny, I don't feel anything.
:huh:
(`02 SVTF: 36K B2B / 100K PT)

[KS64603]

is the flywheel considered to be powertrain warranty? i know the clutch is not covered under powertrain cause it's wearable but how bout the flywheel?

[PAN360]

From what I've read: Yes, definitely.

[svt170]

Originally posted by PAN360
Funny, I don't feel anything.
:huh:
(`02 SVTF: 36K B2B / 100K PT)

That's funny. Glad to hear the '02's have the extended powertrain.