So many odd noises from my Cobra !

[MadMax]

Man I'll tell you what. I have had many Ford products over the years, starting with a 69 Mach 1. But....none of them made as many strange sounds, awful sounds, as my 03 Cobra does !!! I know there are quite a few folks on this board that have reported all kinds of strange noises. Here's my list :

- Most common is the engine Ticking from left side head area,
sometimes it's loud sometimes it's not there at all !

- Front steering rack makes a horrible clicking sound when
turning tires at a standstill.

- Rear axle makes a terrible metallic, "Clunk" (that can be felt
through the driver's seat) whenever attempting a steep
driveway. Almost sounds like it skips a tooth on the ring gear, it
is so loud.

- Shifter/Tranny makes all kinds of grinding, whirring, clunking
sounds.

- Rearend has the whiplash, "clunk" that just about all have
reported through the driveshaft, when engaging first gear from
a stop.

My Cobra has 12,000 miles on it now, mostly commuter driving in stop and go traffic. I noticed that the harder/faster you drive the car, it seems to be more fluid and not as, "Clunky/noisey". It seems to run fine even with all the strange sounds so I'm not too concerned, but man....$35,000 is $35,000 ! I can honestly say I have never paid that kind of green for a car that constantly makes me say, "What the $#@% was that? " with all the new noises that keep popping up.

Anyone out there hear my message:huh: ?

[norcal_cobra]

I agree, but when I step on the 'loud' pedal and hear that blower whine it makes it all worth it.

My 'tick' went away when I switched to Amsoil synthetic. though I suspect the root cause is still there, a bad head. I'll deal with that later.

The creaking when turning the wheel is getting fixed tomorrow. There is a fix. The rack sleeve needs repacement and re-torquing.

Will be addressing the tranny noise by switching to Redline fluid. I hear it and similar products like Royal Purple do wonders.

I haven't had any of the other probs that you describe. But have had one not listed.

Passenger side seat creaking due to contact with the door. Well, I had that fixed, there is a shim kit available under warranty, this is a prob with all 01 and up Mustangs.

THere is also the popping from the IRS at slow speeds, typically when coming up or down a driveway. The fix is a re-torquing of the IRS bolts.

-norcal_cobra

[CuLaTeR]

You are not alone in your car troubles. My car will be back in the shop Thursday for the rear end clunk while going up a steep driveway and I have a TOB whistle problem along with the A/C clunk upon turnon. Friday I wanted to chip and pulley my car but it looks like I will be waiting.

[norcal_cobra]

Ok, just got back from the dealer. The front end creak is fixed, the rack was resleeved and retorqued. Rear end pop was fixed by retorquing the IRS bolts.

-norcal_cobra

[MadMax]

I know that my steering rack is doing the same thing you described and probably needs re-torquing. Also I'll bet my IRS is suffering the same problem with the bolts. It only happens on a steep grade when the suspension is at an awkward angle...Pop..Pop ! Horrible sounding metal clunk ! I also realize that people on this website have done a fantastic job getting the word out about the ,"Engine Ticking" TSB. And I think you are on the correct track with oil related issue. I cannot see letting the dealer tear a head off of one side of my motor ! I really do love my 03 Cobra even with all its quirks. The car is a force to be reckoned with on the street and that is what makes me stay true to keeping it. But.....just like a girlfriend that finally cheats on you with one of your buds....if she becomes too much trouble....she'll be gone !!

[rhorton]

what is the fix for the passenger seat problem?

[Jacocella]

My car makes a "clunk" noise when shifting gears. I depress the clutch pedal all the way to the floor then as I shift to a new gear, I get a clunk sound. The sound does not cause a vibration, but it can be easily heard. Seems to be happening between any gear, but more from 1 to 2. Doesn't happen on every shift but happens everytime I drive the car. This issue has occurred from day 1.

I think I read here that it may be a throw out bearing issue or cable issue. Has anyone actually gotten this problem fixed? What was done to fix it? Any info is appreciated.

[lethalchem]

Originally posted by rhorton
what is the fix for the passenger seat problem?

The dealer will put a shim kit on it and fix it under warrenty.

I have a weird noise that no one has mentioned yet: I get this insanely loud screeeeeching noise every time I rev it to 3k and dump the clutch at a stoplight. It seems to go on for about 100 feet and then stop:wtf: .




:D

[norcal_cobra]

Originally posted by rhorton
what is the fix for the passenger seat problem?

Below is a link to the TSB for the passenger seat squeak/rub on the door problem. It applies to all 99+ Mustangs. The shim kit is basically a few washers and bolts and has been proven to be ineffective in about 50% of cars installed on. Seems that if the seat is too out of whack it won't line up correctly. I had the kit installed and it has basically worked, no more noise, and the seat is not about 2 centimeters from the door, I wish it would've made more of a gap though.

http://www.mach1registry.com/database/uploads/03-1-5.pdf

-norcal_cobra

[rhorton]

thank you Norcal.

[arboC]

I developed a slight "click" noise when I took off in first gear coming from the right rear wheel/rim area. The sound could be heard and felt in the floor board if your "seat-o-the-pants" meter was in callibration.

It tured out to be a bad outer C.V. joint. Team Ford of Marietta, Georgia spent several days chasing the problem and finally found it. They fixed the problem........ several weeks later, the other side starts making the same noise in reverse! This makes sense if the problem is with a directional tolerance on the same part on opposite sides....clockwise on the right, is counterclockwise on the left.

They order the part TWO WEEKS AGO.... said the part is still on order and the delay must be from high demand. Other similar problems???????????

I also just developed the steering creaking noise.

Only 5000 miles.

[JimBobWay]

MadMax

I had a lot of tranny noise too. It got so bad the the clutch peddel was bouncing and making noise too. The tranny case was busted! So after two new trannys it was all better. The second one came in with a bad flywheel.

After all of that, they had to replace the clucth/brake peddel assembly becasue it was busted too. It rattled pretty bad when going slow around corners. All that happened with only 1000 miles on it.

Good luck, get 'er fixed!

[ChicagoMike]

This is terrible. I have 1,450 miles on my Cobra.

It's in the shop for axle/hub defects. Clunks and pops. The pops started Saturday and I never complained about the clunks. The pops sound like plastic bubbles popping. They have had the car for 4 days and they are on the line with Ford's hotline, I don't know what's becoming of it because I have not heard from them yet. I assume they will have my car all next week since they gave me a 2003 Taurus for my Canada trip that I am leaving for on Saturday morning. I've had a bunch of other problems and leaks, but I don't feel like typing it all out. I'm depressed. I've never raced, never redlined it, just been driving it back and forth to work on sunny days only... bah. Build date: March 03.

Mike

[lethalchem]

Originally posted by ChicagoMike
I'm depressed. I've never raced, never redlined it, just been driving it back and forth to work on sunny days only... bah. Build date: March 03.

Mike

That's the problem, you're not driving it like it was meant to be!

:spank:

[ChicagoMike]

Ok ... so let me get this straight .... driving the Cobra slow resulted in a prematurely worn out axle and hubs, PLUS:

Cracked Hydrobooster
Cracked windshield washer tank
Leaking proportioning valve
All 4 tires not balanced
All 4 wheels not aligned (rear was WAY out)
Paint bubbles in fenders
Paint streaks in fenders
Rough idle
Clunk
etc....

[lethalchem]

Originally posted by ChicagoMike
Ok ... so let me get this straight .... driving the Cobra slow resulted in a prematurely worn out axle and hubs, PLUS:

Cracked Hydrobooster
Cracked windshield washer tank
Leaking proportioning valve
All 4 tires not balanced
All 4 wheels not aligned (rear was WAY out)
Paint bubbles in fenders
Paint streaks in fenders
Rough idle
Clunk
etc....

Hehe. I'm teasing. Some of the cars are experiencing these problems. It's covered under warranty though, and when you get it all back in working order you'll forget all about the gremlins.:tmb:

[ChicagoMike]

Well I have considered other cars. I'd hate to say it, but I am in love with the POWER and FEEL of this car. I feel so free and in control behind the wheel of this beast. I'm bummed that I can't take it to Canada for my planned road trip, but I hope everything is good at the end. You know there is no Sonic Blue for 04? Woohoo! I have blue.

Currently I have sylvania silverstars in both fogs and lamps, and the snorkel removed + K&N filter replacement.

I ordered the following mods:

Front end mask/bra for long road trips only
Gripper cobra shift knob
Billet engine dress-up kit (just all the caps)
Raptor performance red LED shift light

When the car is fixed and working, I'm ordering the Amazon Stage 1 CAI and Borla Stinger catback.

[lethalchem]

Originally posted by ChicagoMike

When the car is fixed and working, I'm ordering the Amazon Stage 1 CAI and Borla Stinger catback.

:tmb: You will love your car even more when you do those two mods. 40RWHP can DEFINATELY be felt SOTP! Not to mention the increase in supercharger whine:bna

[ChicagoMike]

Just to add a note ... I was at an 03 Cobra meet last weekend, and this guy there with ONLY A K&N FIPK (the K&N cold air kit, looks like cheap **** for $250+) ... SAE corrected (I think that's it) he got 397 RWHP!!!!

Mike

[jamchan]

Is there a TSB for the steering creaking??

[sobra]

I've heard it said on this forum, & I'll say it again:
This is a 390 H.P. MUSCLE CAR with gobs of power & torque!
ALL the musclecars that I've ever owned have had clunks & whines & grinding metallic noises. If you wanted refinement & luxury, you shouldn't have bought a Cobra. You wanna hear some noises? Drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. If you want fast furious power, you're gonna hear noises, and, occaisionally, things are going to break, or go out of alignment, or get loose. I have all the peculiarities in my Cobra too.....but I LOVE IT! I also loved my 1970 Boss 302, and my best friend's 1970 AAR 'Cuda...BOTH of which made a LOT of weird noises & required a lot of constant tuning & repairs.

[dennish]

Letahlchem....how the heck do you get 12.4's @115 on F1's?
I am so jealous.
Come on clue us in. My clutch is just about smoked, and it's because I was trying to see just WHERE I should let it out, and I think it's around 3000 depending on the track that day. But I know I've slipped it into slushville learning, and hope to get a new one as well as complete my training in running at least 12.6's.

As far as all the noises???? I could swear, that in the 60's, ie, the beginning, that ALL BIG DOGS, 396 NOVAS, 390 & 429 MUSTANGS, DODGES & PLYMOUTHS (FORGET ABOUT IT) clunked and popped all the time. They also rattled your head off after 5-10M miles of REASONABLE use. I think that's the key here guys. I believe our Cobra's are made better, but once again your seeing that even REASONABLE EXCERSISE will produce strange noises. It's like todays cars are capable of 300HP & 300TRQ, but when you start hitting the 400 we're all pushing into a....dare I say it....OK I won't, we are BOUND to have noises.

Now, do you hear me saying what "I" want to believe??? YES YOU DO. But I gotta tell ya, I can remember an LS6 Chevelle that scared me half to death while I sat through a couple of runs from 0-what ever. Forget about a quite Dodge Charger with a 440. My brother's 69 Coronet literaly tore chunks out of the the cross member where the air shocks bolted on and he only had a 383 automatic. You don't supposed it was from either one of us brake torqing the Micky Thompsons into oblivian to do 100' burnouts do ya? AAAAHHHHGGG HA HA HA.

It turned out my brother had seen it cracked but didn't tell me before my friends pointed out that the left wheel was jumping off the ground. Guy's I could go on forever.
I hope this is all we are dealing with, and I am sure some cars are broken, or put together wrong. It just goes to show you that this power is tough to handle. I did the subframe conectors, I'm gonna get more, and I think I'm just gonna keep the factory clutches comming because the tolerances are sssooo close on thes cars that a beefier clutch will just break something else.

I believe there is a right way and a wrong way to deliver the power, and the difference is what seperates the young from the experienced. Are you Experienced???? Wasn't that Hendrix?

:wtf: :wtf: :bna :bna :cool: :cool: :D :D My Cobra is KING.

[Venom04]

Steering creak fix = Maximum Motorsports aluminum rack bushings. A couple bucks if I remember like $30. Fixed the creak and helped with turn in responce as well great mod and easy install. hope that helps you all out with the creak

[vger]

Steering creak fix = Maximum Motorsports aluminum rack bushings. A couple bucks if I remember like $30. Fixed the creak and helped with turn in responce as well great mod and easy install. hope that helps you all out with the creak

How much time is how easy?

[brock_t]

i have all the same noises comming from my 04 cobra with 19,000 miles on it. currently my baby is in the shop for a new trani, last month had to replace the eaton supercharger, and drive shaft.... I also had a leak from the rearend and was told it was because of the flowmasters putting off too much heat.... makes no since!!!! and this was a svt mechanic.. NORCAL where are you located and who do you take your cobra to... im north of modesto.....

all i can say is its a love, hate relationship like your wife cant live with her and cant live without her

[CSCOBRA]

I purchased my cobra new in 03, and I have not had one problem.This is the best mustang I have ever owned by far, and I have had many some new and some used.
I work as a tech at a ford store and see many problems with cars so I have been waiting for something to go wrong with my cobra but so far no problems.I also talked to one of the SVT engineers several years back and they really test the cars hard.
Most performance cars do make noise and do require more upkeep.Talk to a Ferrari or Porsche turbo owners on what it costs to keep one running.Mustang Cobras are the best bang for the buck bar none.Most of the problems on our cars were covered under the warranty.
I use my cobra hard, I dont beat it but I do 2-3 open track events each year and my street F-1's are almost bald at 9K miles and I have track tires.
One thing that would help most mustang and us cobra owners is to install a good set of subframe connecters. This will cut down on body twist and flex which is the cause of many sgueaks and rattles.Remember our mustangs started out as 1978 Fairmonts.
I get a big smile on my face every time I drive my car and I hope you do as well.Enjoy!!!!!!!

[brock_t]

im glad you have no problems, wish i could say the same... I bought my 04 about 6 months ago and have replaced a few items such as supercharger, drive shaft, and trani, and i do have a ruff idle im yet to figure out....but even with all that I smile ear to ear every time i get in the driver seat.... you do get the klunk from the trani though right? i was told all 03-04 terminaters did it....at low acceleration or letting out of the clutch... in another forum about basic rwhp with no mods i was told my rwhp was way low.... i dyno a 349 with an 04 cobra completely stock....this guy said that some cobras were being produced with rockerarms loose, and that i probably had one come off???? make any sence? this rating was on a mustang dyno, not a jet

[slowpoke]

If you are worried about rocker arms some shops have a tiny camera they can check these for you. or pay a mechanic to pull covers off. can not imagine that it would be over $100.00 either way. With all the problems you are having I would pull the covers for inspection
then you will know.
These cars are 4 years old it doesn't matter whether you drive them or not they still age. "Less miles more problems, more miles less problems"

[vger]

Just drive and enjoy, drive and enjoy!! :beer:
Remember the smile you get when the right foot goes all the way to the floor. :spinem:

[brock_t]

the 2.8 should be installed by next week!!!!!!! what other suporting upgrades besides exaust and clutch do you think i will need?

[slowpoke]

Dyno Tune, tires, differential brace,fuel, axles, wallet

[brock_t]

have all except diff brace, and axles.....oh and the wallet...lol. it seems to be getting smaller and smaller since i bought this car

[vger]

[QUOTE=brock_t oh and the wallet...lol. it seems to be getting smaller and smaller since i bought this car[/QUOTE]


Oh but what fun you will have!!! :spinem: :spinem: :bna :D

[brock_t]

I know, i love this car!!!! within two weeks i will have the 2.8 kb installed, new rims and tires(boyed coddingtons), and new exaust.... will work on suspension later in summer

[slowpoke]

Diff brace should seriously be next move, even in stock form. it will protect your axles

[brock_t]

diff brace? allright, sounds easy enough

[slowpoke]

best money you can spend for rear end insurance. Your car sounds like it is going to be real nice by July, going to Mustang week in Myrtle Beach?

[brock_t]

would love to but unfortinatly im located in Ca... thanks to the us army!!! cant wait to get back east

[brock_t]

trying to go to fun ford weekend in enis tx in sept.... myrtel beach is a drive

[slowpoke]

If your Army maybe you will get transferrred to Fort Bragg
If your Marine/Navy maybe you will get transferred to Camp LeJune

[brock_t]

im a recruiter with the US Army, so wont go to those places....trying to get to dallas, okc, or kc. sometime next year.... get the hell out of ca!!

[slowpoke]

Texas is good ..alot of fast cars there

[brock_t]

i know cant wait