'94 Ford Explorer annoying ticking noise (how much will this one cost)?

Question

My truck (133K) makes a loud "clack clack clack" sound when I start it up for the first time of the day. The sound last longer when it is cold outside. Then it stops. I hear no noise until the truck is at normal temp. and then I hear a "tick tick tick" that is increases with the RPM. Some times are louder than others depending on the position of the pedal.
I always change the oil every 3k.
I keep a close eye on my fluids.
My question is, whats wrong / could be wrong, how much will it cost, and is there anything I can do to fix it, even though I'm not very good with cars.
Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

First, check the " Check Engine" light. It sounds to me like a bad muffler, but there's a lot of possibilities. Bad fan, rocker arms loose, or something worse. Have your car looked at by a professional mechanic. Most diagnostics will run $70-80, and look for a place that has a good rep. Go from there to see if you can fix it yourself. Also, buy a Hanes manual fotr your truck from Auto Zone: $20.00. That will help you troubleshoot better, and, if youre mechanically inclined, fix your truck for a little less money. Good luck. P.S. Auto Zone might do a diagnostic for free. Check with them.

Answer 2

This is interesting. It sounds like my 94 Mazda 626... coincidence that Ford owns mazda, and the Mazda 626 engine is the same in the Ford Probe from '94. Not sure if it will help, but I'll tell you what the mechanics told me.



My car was 120k. I went to about 8 different mechanics, but had no work done. 1 of them told me it was a valve-train issue. That would be very bad. Basically, my valves were bent??? If that was true, then my engine would die. So I went elsewhere. I heard a few other stories, but 4 of the mechanics told me the same thing... after 100k miles, the cams need to be adjusted (dialed down?). They said that after that many miles, they just weren't lining up quite right and would make some noise. They also told me that it was not harmful to the engine and I didn't need to worry. It just reminded me of a bomb waiting to blow! TICK TICK TICK TICK. I never had a problem with the engine though, and since it was overhead cams it would have been a simple fix to pop the cover and adjust them.



It always seemed worse in hot weather. Honestly though, I noticed other cars doing it too! Expecially older Audis.

I was already planning on buying a new car though, so I didn't have work done. I'm sure this didn't help much, but it's just something to think about. Dang man, that's a 13 year old vehicle. It's time. Think about this though- It must really disturb you. I know my Mazda disturbed me. I also kept an eye on the gauges all the time, and it saved me more than once. I had a problem with the water pump 2 times. Well, 1 time the water pump died, so there went my engine cooling. But the 2nd time I lost a belt, and the belt is what turned the water pump, so I lost my cooling again! The exhaust system died 2 times, and that was $350 each. And one time I had a problem with the oil, in which oil got all over the motor. They had to decontaminate the motor and install new wires and whatnot. That was about $300. That was when I got fed up and decided to get a new car. If any of that sounds like you, you know what to do my friend!



P.S. Don't waste your money on a diagnostic. If your check engine light is not on, then there's nothing for the engine to report.

Answer 3

If it truly is a cracked block then the engine ought to get replaced. A cracked block won't be able to be repaired, except that's cracked on the exterior someplace it truly is extremely not likely. If it truly is a blown head gasket it is going to likely be an intense priced fix as it truly is a good sized pastime. The assocciated gaskets can run very nearly $2 hundred.00 in all, and then you're able to imagine about difficult paintings, that would also be intense priced by involvement of one of those job. you may favor to seem for a used engine as this would nicely be more most low-cost and may possibly be carried out swifter than the gassket fix. All informed the fix shouldn't value more beneficial than $six hundred.00 and that is inflated dealership expenditures, each body tries to charge more beneficial than that, tell them to end ripping human beings off. sturdy success my chum.

Answer 4

sounds like a worn out engine ,may have weak oil pump sounds like lifters tapping is the oil pressure low i would have engine rebuilt ttl job around 1600 to 1800 dollars or you can replace all of the lifters ,oil pump and check to make sure head drain holes are not stopped up i am assuming a v-6 engine but all will be the same ,you can try some SEA-FOAM pour at least half in oil other half in fuel really good stuff use it all the time in my shop , only use good grade oil and motorcraft oil filter good luck hope this helps e mail me with further question can also try lucas oil may or may not help try sea foam first

Answer 5

it could be a number of problems, what it sounds to me like is the over head cam they are known for clicking and why its louder at start up is because the oil has to be pumped up from below things you could do to help is use a thinner oil like 10w30 or unhook the coil wire and turn the motor over for a few min. so the oil can get to the top end of your motor but u need to remember that the motor is getting tired and will stat making noises good luck

Answer 6

Could be the a/c I had that problem with my 1977 L.T.D.

Answer 7

you have an exhaust manifold leak and need to remove and install a gasket.

Answer 8

get used to it , no biggie,

latter it will rev up and down when cold.

warm it will run great.