2003 Cobra TSB - the "Tick"

bbk03gt24 · May 25th, 2011, 12:29 PM

Guys,

After being absolutely the happiest person alive for the past 2 days (just picked up an '03 cobra w/ 1,500 miles), I was watching the episode of Horsepower TV that showed where an 03 cobra picked up over 60 hp with just a tune and pulley swap and saw the infamous "TSB" line about the ticking in the driver's side head and the replacement head that you will need to get (mine was indeed built before 11/2/2002).

I've done some very moddest research through google and a few other mustang forum sites, but haven't really figured out whether this is something that will ultimately develop in mine that i NEED to get replaced or whether it's something that I can live with. I mean, do any of you know about it and what are the biggest concerns that I have with it? Will it hinder performance someday or will it just be something irritating that I will have to get used to?

All & any feedback will be GREATLY appreciated here!

rk_2000_Z/28 · May 25th, 2011, 02:05 PM

From what I have read, it doesn't effect performance, but it's loud and annoying as Hell. With the car being 9 years old, I don't know if you can get a dealership to honour the TSB recall. I would try that first. With your car having such low miles, it may still be at risk to develop the tick. Research the head cooling mod. It's been said to help keep the head tick away.

1999cobra92 · May 25th, 2011, 02:13 PM

I used to have the head tick on the passenger side head until.......... My engine broke. Soooo yeah. If you eventually get it then start planing on doing a build. It won't hert e
performance but think of it as a countdown till new engine

1999cobra92 · May 25th, 2011, 02:14 PM

Also my engine lasted 6 months with daily driving

bbk03gt24 · May 25th, 2011, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by rk_2000_Z/28

Research the head cooling mod. It's been said to help keep the head tick away.

The head cooling mod? Where would I go look into this? It sounds very interesting & appealing... You wouldn't happen to have a link or anythign would you?

Thanks man!

rk_2000_Z/28 · May 25th, 2011, 07:38 PM

Search the Terminator section of svtperformance.com. It's a very popular mod. The guy I bought my car from had it already installed.

bbk03gt24 · May 25th, 2011, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by rk_2000_Z/28

Search the Terminator section of svtperformance.com. It's a very popular mod. The guy I bought my car from had it already installed.

That's awesome man; I really appreciate the heads up on that one.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, when was your cobra built? Before or after 11/2/02?

bbk03gt24 · May 25th, 2011, 09:34 PM

hey man,

is this the head cooling mod that you were talking about??

Lethal Performance GEN 2 Head Cooling Mod [LP-GEN2COOLINGKIT] : Lethal Performance, Performance parts for Ford Mustangs

again I appreciate your feedback!

Lefty · May 26th, 2011, 08:20 AM

Yup.

rk_2000_Z/28 · May 26th, 2011, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by bbk03gt24

hey man,

is this the head cooling mod that you were talking about??

Lethal Performance GEN 2 Head Cooling Mod [LP-GEN2COOLINGKIT] : Lethal Performance, Performance parts for Ford Mustangs

again I appreciate your feedback!

Yeah that's it. And I'm not sure the exact date of my build, but I know it is a later 03 with the 8 thread heads.

bbk03gt24 · May 26th, 2011, 07:21 PM

Thanks guys, i appreciate the advice/feedback.

Real quick though, the idea behind the mod is to help move more coolant to the back of the head, right? This is like an added insurance to prevent the "tick" from developing; however, it's still possible - even though it's much less likely - to still develop the "tick", especially if you're going for more power and run the car really hard for consecutive periods of time?

WickedSnake00 · May 27th, 2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by bbk03gt24

Real quick though, the idea behind the mod is to help move more coolant to the back of the head, right? This is like an added insurance to prevent the "tick" from developing; however, it's still possible - even though it's much less likely - to still develop the "tick", especially if you're going for more power and run the car really hard for consecutive periods of time?

All true. The cooling mod just helps increase coolant circulation (and thus heat rejection) to the rear of the cylinder heads, which were previously starved for coolant. However it's still possible, as with any engine, for temperatures to reach unsafe levels there. These high temps can cause components to fail, such as valve guides, which lead to the tick, and ultimately head failure. Upgrading components like the valve guides to bronze ones would help protect from this, but that also involves ripping your engine apart.

Great. Now I'm going to be paranoid about my 03 Cobra motor. Wish I could test it on an engine stand before I install it to see if it develops. Then I could replace valvetrain components before any serious damage was done. For what it's worth I'll be running a head cooling mod, and the previous owner of the motor did as well. Hopefully he didn't send me a bogus video of the motor running in his car, and really was swapping it out for a forged 5.0 motor.

HurrycaneStang · June 8th, 2011, 12:45 AM

Sorry to drag this up 2 weeks later, but is it possible that a dealership will still do the TSB recall for a 2001 Cobra? I have the tick, but I was under the assumption it was from the previous owner installing this Steeda Timing Adjuster and advancing the timing, if I can get rid of the noise, I would love too! Thanks Guys!

Lefty · June 8th, 2011, 08:20 AM

Depends on how nice your dealer is. They have the option too, but I doubt they will if it's outside the given "fix" period. Keep in mind it's a pretty big job too so it's not like they're just going to have to "change the oil".

HurrycaneStang · June 8th, 2011, 10:41 AM

Damn...lol, nobody's nice in San Diego...

plak424 · June 8th, 2011, 10:51 AM

Would a car with 54000 miles be likely to develop the tick still?

bbk03gt24 · June 12th, 2011, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by plak424

Would a car with 54000 miles be likely to develop the tick still?

from what i understand, anything is possible at any age with the head tick. the only true way to fix it is to get the new updated head that came out in 2005. look at the head cooling mod b4 u go that route tho. we discussed it some in this very thread.

Catfiesh · June 15th, 2011, 12:46 PM

I just did mine two weeks ago, it got to a point where is was annoying. So I dropped the k member with motor and trans as an assembly. Ill post pics later. As for any work being done under warranty.. not happening unless you have a Ford ESP(extended service plan) like I do. I am 100% certain of this because I work at a Ford dealership and my repair was $4200, doubt any dealer will cough that up for a 7+ year old car. Just one head is $1500 over the counter if you want to do it yourself, but having a lift makes is alot easier.

May 25th, 2011, 12:29 PM	#1
bbk03gt24 Regular 2003 Cobra Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 219 iTrader: 1 reviews	2003 Cobra TSB - the "Tick" Guys, After being absolutely the happiest person alive for the past 2 days (just picked up an '03 cobra w/ 1,500 miles), I was watching the episode of Horsepower TV that showed where an 03 cobra picked up over 60 hp with just a tune and pulley swap and saw the infamous "TSB" line about the ticking in the driver's side head and the replacement head that you will need to get (mine was indeed built before 11/2/2002). I've done some very moddest research through google and a few other mustang forum sites, but haven't really figured out whether this is something that will ultimately develop in mine that i NEED to get replaced or whether it's something that I can live with. I mean, do any of you know about it and what are the biggest concerns that I have with it? Will it hinder performance someday or will it just be something irritating that I will have to get used to? All & any feedback will be GREATLY appreciated here! __________________ 2003 Cobra Stock as of now...

May 25th, 2011, 02:05 PM	#2
rk_2000_Z/28 Forever in our hearts travis_afx 2003 SVT Cobra Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Enid, OK Posts: 4,311 iTrader: 0 reviews	From what I have read, it doesn't effect performance, but it's loud and annoying as Hell. With the car being 9 years old, I don't know if you can get a dealership to honour the TSB recall. I would try that first. With your car having such low miles, it may still be at risk to develop the tick. Research the head cooling mod. It's been said to help keep the head tick away. __________________ 03 Cobra-Slow 02 SS, 00 Z/28-Gone Rest In Peace Travis Billings

May 25th, 2011, 02:13 PM	#3
1999cobra92 Enthusiast 1999 mustang cobra Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 882 iTrader: 1 reviews	I used to have the head tick on the passenger side head until.......... My engine broke. Soooo yeah. If you eventually get it then start planing on doing a build. It won't hert e performance but think of it as a countdown till new engine __________________ Black and White Crew Crew Member # 5 Check garage for mods and pics if you Los Angeles and want to ride send me a text (323) 270-6827 0% Wheel hop, 0% broken parts, 100% wheel spin

May 25th, 2011, 02:14 PM	#4
1999cobra92 Enthusiast 1999 mustang cobra Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 882 iTrader: 1 reviews	Also my engine lasted 6 months with daily driving __________________ Black and White Crew Crew Member # 5 Check garage for mods and pics if you Los Angeles and want to ride send me a text (323) 270-6827 0% Wheel hop, 0% broken parts, 100% wheel spin

May 25th, 2011, 07:38 PM	#6
rk_2000_Z/28 Forever in our hearts travis_afx 2003 SVT Cobra Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Enid, OK Posts: 4,311 iTrader: 0 reviews	Search the Terminator section of svtperformance.com. It's a very popular mod. The guy I bought my car from had it already installed. __________________ 03 Cobra-Slow 02 SS, 00 Z/28-Gone Rest In Peace Travis Billings

May 25th, 2011, 09:34 PM	#8
bbk03gt24 Regular 2003 Cobra Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 219 iTrader: 1 reviews	hey man, is this the head cooling mod that you were talking about?? Lethal Performance GEN 2 Head Cooling Mod [LP-GEN2COOLINGKIT] : Lethal Performance, Performance parts for Ford Mustangs again I appreciate your feedback! __________________ 2003 Cobra Stock as of now...

May 26th, 2011, 08:20 AM	#9
Lefty Resident DJ '01 Cobra Vert. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 28,699 iTrader: 12 reviews	Yup. __________________ 2008 Acura TL Type-S (the daily) 2006 Yamaha R6 50th Anniversary Edition (the other toy)

May 26th, 2011, 07:21 PM	#11
bbk03gt24 Regular 2003 Cobra Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 219 iTrader: 1 reviews	Thanks guys, i appreciate the advice/feedback. Real quick though, the idea behind the mod is to help move more coolant to the back of the head, right? This is like an added insurance to prevent the "tick" from developing; however, it's still possible - even though it's much less likely - to still develop the "tick", especially if you're going for more power and run the car really hard for consecutive periods of time? __________________ 2003 Cobra Stock as of now...

June 8th, 2011, 12:45 AM	#13
HurrycaneStang Captain Opinionated! 01' Cobra Vert When life throws you a curve, downshift and take it vigorously. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sandy Eggo, CA Posts: 2,927 iTrader: 0 reviews	Sorry to drag this up 2 weeks later, but is it possible that a dealership will still do the TSB recall for a 2001 Cobra? I have the tick, but I was under the assumption it was from the previous owner installing this Steeda Timing Adjuster and advancing the timing, if I can get rid of the noise, I would love too! Thanks Guys! __________________ MM Cobra Club #100

June 8th, 2011, 08:20 AM	#14
Lefty Resident DJ '01 Cobra Vert. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Posts: 28,699 iTrader: 12 reviews	Depends on how nice your dealer is. They have the option too, but I doubt they will if it's outside the given "fix" period. Keep in mind it's a pretty big job too so it's not like they're just going to have to "change the oil". __________________ 2008 Acura TL Type-S (the daily) 2006 Yamaha R6 50th Anniversary Edition (the other toy)

June 8th, 2011, 10:41 AM	#15
HurrycaneStang Captain Opinionated! 01' Cobra Vert When life throws you a curve, downshift and take it vigorously. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sandy Eggo, CA Posts: 2,927 iTrader: 0 reviews	Damn...lol, nobody's nice in San Diego... __________________ MM Cobra Club #100

June 8th, 2011, 10:51 AM	#16
plak424 Regular 2000 Mustang v6 16.683@83.86 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: CT Posts: 344 iTrader: 0 reviews	Would a car with 54000 miles be likely to develop the tick still? __________________ A turbo, exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, with a supercharger, air goes in,witchcraft happens and you go faster~Jeremy Clarkson

June 15th, 2011, 12:46 PM	#18
Catfiesh Enthusiast 2003 Cobra Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tejas Posts: 636 iTrader: 0 reviews	I just did mine two weeks ago, it got to a point where is was annoying. So I dropped the k member with motor and trans as an assembly. Ill post pics later. As for any work being done under warranty.. not happening unless you have a Ford ESP(extended service plan) like I do. I am 100% certain of this because I work at a Ford dealership and my repair was $4200, doubt any dealer will cough that up for a 7+ year old car. Just one head is $1500 over the counter if you want to do it yourself, but having a lift makes is alot easier. __________________ MM Cobra Club #48 Mineral Gray Club Member #12 Im what you would call a "bad influence".

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