1999 Ranger Tapping/Ticking ??
 

Hello,

My Ranger has been making this ticking type sound for quite a while now and i cant figure out what it is. I checked all the bolts on the exhaust manifold, but i think its something inside the engine. When I changed the oil, the sound stopped for about 10 minutes, then started up again. I have no idea, and my 4WD quit working, when i turn the switch, the light comes on but nothing happens.

Run a can of seafoam through your engine. That might help the ticking.

For the 4x4 check all your fuses. Also mine stopped working for awhile and I was told to tap it with a hammer ( lightly ), sometimes the motor sticks.

Does it sound like a diesel? Especially after an oil change. If so its called piston slap. Which is common for that year OHV.

My truck does it.


The 4wd not working is most likely a hub problem. The Ford way says to replace all seals in the knuckles.

The easier method is a manual hub conversion.
Look for AVM hubs on www.tellico4x4.com

It kinda sounds like a deisel but not really. I dont see why it went away completely after I changed my oil, but then came back pretty quick. But thanks for the replies anyways.

When the 4.0 stops ticking and gets real quite , that's when you worry lol, no seriously mine has ticked for about a year now.. no problems.

Lifter tick?

I'm telling you that it is a lifter problem in your 4.0L OHV. The lifter gets worn or loose, and taps the pushrods rods etc. unecessarily. The only way to get rid of it is not with Seafoam or any other over the counter cheapo fix. You need to take off the valve cover and either 1.) tighten the problem 2.) replace the lifters.

It's nothing to be too concerned about. Your truck will continue to run smoothly, but it may get extemely annoying after a while. I'd replace it when you have the time and money to do so.

My 3.0 does it. I don't know any rangers besides for the 4.0 sohc that don't do it.

It is a ticking under big load (ie towing, grade, acceleration, etc)