[Stan27]

I know I haven't been active here for a while, but you guys are still the best guys for mustang help, so I'm back.

A while ago my car developed what was identified by a few people as a lifter tap. My Haynes manual said to replace the oil and add some special additive.
Did that, still the same problem.

The car doesn't do it until it's been running for about a minute, then it starts. The sound is first heard at 2500 RPM in most gears.

I wasn't driving it like a maniac, but I have to admit that I neglected changing the oil when I should have.

It's a 2000 GT, and I have heard this tap on many other Fords, could Fords be sensitive to this or it it all in my head?

I would like to know what I have to do to fix this problem, and maybe some information about what's going on.

Thank you to anyone who replies, and I apologize if I left out any crucial information.

[White99stang]

are you sure its a lifter, it could be your camchain tensioners, the little tensioner and the guide could go bad cause it needs oil to keep pressure on the tensioners. Take a long screwdriver and put your ear to it and place it on the timing cover and see if its coming from there or put it on the valve cover and see if its coming from there, it will me more distinctive sound.

[raceruler03]

you can replace the lifters if they are bad, though be careful, I had something get into my oil collector and it starved my whole motor of oil, I had to replace the motor, so get it looked at, by a mechanic.

[SWEET2KSTANG]

+1 on the tensioners. i have heard of them needing replaced after being neglected or when someone runs way to thick of oil in the motor.

[WAR-PARTY]

Yea my bet is the Tensioners, sorry dude but you got some work ahead of you. But the bright side is, Now is the time to put a bigger set of cams in the motor, and hey get the heads cleaned up too. Remember half full not half empty. Good luck! W.P.

[Stan27]

Just checked it with the screwdriver...

Both of the valve covers have about the same sound, but it's an equal sound with no knocking or out-of place vibration.
The timing cover has a similar sound, just at a different pitch.
I can not hear the sound with the screwdriver.

When I just listen for it, the sound seems to be coming from the passenger side.
My auto shop teacher tells me he's sure it's a lifter, but I will tell him what you guys said.

Is there another way to determine what the sound is?

What kind of prices am I looking at to fix my problem?
WAR-PARTY, I wish I could get a new cam, but I'm on a really tight budget right now.
I plan to do all of the work in my auto shop class. How much time do you guys think it will take?

Is it bad to drive the car as it is?

Thanks to everyone.

EDIT:
The car is nearing 100,000 miles, if that helps...
I do have a scanner available to me, but the check engine light has never been on, could it still have a code?

[Stan27]

I just checked lower down on the timing cover, and I can hear a more erratic whirring, so I guess it is the timing tensioner after all.

Also, when I push the accelerator about halfway, but below 3000 RPM, the noise goes away. It returns at higher RPM.
This seems to me as more characteristic of a belt(chain, whatever).

Again, what kind of prices and time am I looking at?
Am I correct in thinking that I'll need to remove the engine from the car for this?

Thanks again.

[MySallyMI]

The belt tensioners shouldnt cost you that much and you can replace them your self by removing valve covers, all pulleys up front, i think alternator needs to be removed, and removing your timing chain cover. They are mounted on your heads up higher in the motor. While you have your valve cover off you can check yourself for lifters that might be damaged, well somewhat anyway...just whipe the oil off with your fingers and check for a bluish color and carbon scoring on the tops where they contact the roller rockers, the bluish coloring is what happens when metals are heated past there heat withstanding limits and means they are detemperd. It goes over this in the vehicle manual if you own one. Should be section 2-13 if you own a haynes.

[JRuckas]

it sounds like a simular problem i am having as well. i still haven't found the exact problem yet, but i went ahead bought all new internals anyway. just an excuse to get new parts once all apart, i will look further into the problem.

[JRuckas]

does it get louder the warmer the motor gets too?

[Stan27]

Originally Posted by WHT00GT does it get louder the warmer the motor gets too?

It might, but it doesn't seem to get noticeably louder.

Just today, it started making the noise at lower RPM, and even slightly at idle.
Obvious when the RPM are going down also.

Can anybody help me out with the part I need on a website, and possibly a picture of what exactly I need(assuming it's the tensioner)?

MySallyMI: yup, 2-13.

[JRuckas]

i am having the same issue with my car! i haven't had the time to break into the motor yet, but when i get back from cruise, i will look into alot more.