Ford ThunderBirdFord thought they'd take their own stab at the nostalgia business. There are quite a few last-century icons that wear the blue oval. For a revival subject, why not use a car famous enough to have been the subject of Beach Boys songs, starred in George Lucas movies, and has been gone long enough to be missed? Why not indeed. In 2002, the Thunderbird was reborn.
Hello, it's me again. The bird is running strong thanks to everybody, but now there is a ticking sound under the hood when its idling in park or drive. Now im almost poitive that its just a lifter and I will replace that but also, if I stop at a red light, the car will shake a little and then I guess you could say it feels like a "jerk" every few seconds. Are these two problems connected? Or could this be something else different? Just to note my RPM when idling in drive is just over 500. Maybe that is to low? I have no idea.
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1993 Ford Thunderbird LX
77k, 3.8 V6, CAI
The idle is set by an Idle Air Control valve, and the IAC adjusts the idle to conform to the computer's specification. If it's surging, I'd first clean the IAC, and then I'd look for vacuum leaks.
As to the ticking sound, I've heard injectors sound like that. I'm not saying it's not a lifter, but it could be an injector.
They sell automotive stethoscopes, tubes with earpieces for each ear and a small metal probe on the end. You just touch (carefully, so you don't end up twisted in a fanbelt) the probe to various items on the engine to determine where the sound is coming from. Of course, you can't probe something inside the engine, like lifters, but you could eliminate other things.
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2005 Excursion XLT 4x4 with 5.4 3V & 4R100
1989 F250 XLT Lariat SuperCab 4x2 with 460 & C6
1987 Crown Vic Two Door with 5.0 & AOD
1986 Yamaha V-Twin Virago 1100
For my sanity, please try to use punctuation and capitalization. I try to help the people who post, but it's impossible to do when the post is indecipherable.
Is the IAC the screw that I can adjust with a flat head? And as for vacuum leaks, I know during the head gasket replacement we broke a small green vaccum hose(4inches long) but replaced with a rubber hose. Its longer so it kind of has to do a circle then plug in, could that be a problem? Cause the hose was just straight before.
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1993 Ford Thunderbird LX
77k, 3.8 V6, CAI
Is the IAC the screw that I can adjust with a flat head? And as for vacuum leaks, I know during the head gasket replacement we broke a small green vaccum hose(4inches long) but replaced with a rubber hose. Its longer so it kind of has to do a circle then plug in, could that be a problem? Cause the hose was just straight before.
THe IAC looks something like this (this one is on a Windstar, but the shape and appearance are almost identical): http://leckemby.net/windstar/IAC001.jpg The IAC is on the intake, on or around the throttle body.
As to switching hoses, no, that shouldn't make a difference unless the hose is pinched somewhere. You know you can cut vacuum hoses, right?
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2005 Excursion XLT 4x4 with 5.4 3V & 4R100
1989 F250 XLT Lariat SuperCab 4x2 with 460 & C6
1987 Crown Vic Two Door with 5.0 & AOD
1986 Yamaha V-Twin Virago 1100
For my sanity, please try to use punctuation and capitalization. I try to help the people who post, but it's impossible to do when the post is indecipherable.
this might be a long shot but maybe you have bad wires that arc.it sounds like ticking.and causes shaking.i have bought several older cars and seems like everyone had it.changed wires and they were fine
Just out of curiousity and the sake of learning, where and how would an exhaust manifold leak make that kind of noise? Also went to the dealership on the clip for the kick down cable, they said theres no such thing and I need a whole new cable. Are they just trying to get me to spend more money?
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1993 Ford Thunderbird LX
77k, 3.8 V6, CAI
It is easy for the exhaust to make a noise like that. I had a leak in my 1992 Mustang GT's passenger side header so bad it sounded like a rod knock, it happened right after I installed a Paxton Supercharger. I went out and beat the hell out of the car, I came to a stoplight and at idle I heard knock knock knock.
It is the pure pressure and how sound travels that makes the tick or knock noise.
It is easy for the exhaust to make a noise like that. I had a leak in my 1992 Mustang GT's passenger side header so bad it sounded like a rod knock, it happened right after I installed a Paxton Supercharger. I went out and beat the hell out of the car, I came to a stoplight and at idle I heard knock knock knock.
It is the pure pressure and how sound travels that makes the tick or knock noise.
Wow, I'm sure your heart dropped when you heard that at the light.
I have a tick coming from my '93 T-Bird as well. I thought it was coming from under the hood but traced it a bit more and it sounds like it's coming from the front of the exhaust. I haven't put the car up to investigate any further yet. However I haven't suffered any idling issues like T-Bird Guy.
Last edited by devodev; 04-09-2009 at 07:41 AM..
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93 t-bird ticking sound! and jerking?? help 
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