🔧 Technical TCG Know-it-all’s step in. 2.3 Duratec Valve Tick.

[Outlaw]

My 2003 Ranger has a very annoying ticking noise. Sounds like top end to me. More noticeable around 2500 RPM especially on coast or decel.

2003 MY
2.3 Duratec DOHC
76,000 miles

Has anyone dealt with this in the past? From what I’m reading it’s a solid lifter engine that would require shims. Also read something about flapper valves in intake and timing chain guides. Ranger Facebook group is useless. One guy told me to replace the lifters because it worked on his 1988 V6 ranger, another said motor honey.

K

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[Outlaw]

Quick video. Not as noticeable in person. Video actually does a good job picking up the noise.

2003 Ranger Valvetrain Noise

youtube.com

 

[Rdrnnr]

3800 swap it

 

[Outlaw]

Would probably get better fuel mileage lol

 

[Rdrnnr]

Probably. I got nothin on this one basic knowledge would say timing chain or lifters. Does it have cam phasers?

 

[Outlaw]

Not that I know of.

With that being said I know fuck all about Ford engines.

 

[Rdrnnr]

Same but they can't be too far off can they? [emoji23]

 

[Outlaw]

No idea lmao. I’ve owned three of these, you’d think I knew something about them by now. But if it isn’t a 7.3 or an LS engine I’m like the confused GF asking dumb questions about the 710 cap.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Actually if I recall the duratec is mostly Mazda

 

[Outlaw]

It is from my googling on the issue.

Sweet thing is all I could find is a bunch of forum posts about the issue with broken redirect links and YouTube videos that no longer exist.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Yeah if I recall on those the tappets our machine to varying thicknesses and they mix and match them to get the proper clearances. I'm going to guess some are worn out more than others and you're going to replace a bunch of s*** or live with a tick

 

[Rdrnnr]

Rotella and send it [emoji23][emoji2937]

 

[Outlaw]

Yeah if I recall on those the tappets our machine to varying thicknesses and they mix and match them to get the proper clearances. I'm going to guess some are worn out more than others and you're going to replace a bunch of s*** or live with a tick

I’ll probably end up pulling valve cover and measuring clearance on them. If there’s any obviously out I’ll probably try and shim or replace. I’m too fucking anal to live with a tick.

Truck is too nice and has no miles, I plan on driving it for the summer at minimum and when I go to sell it someone will probably notice the tick and I’ll be listing it at a premium.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

And that's the day you add the motor honey.

Durrrr

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

Pull the vacuum line on the intake mani, see if it shuts up

 

[daturbosix]

Put 15/40 in it

 

[Outlaw]

Pull the vacuum line on the intake mani, see if it shuts up

I’m assuming that’s in reference to the flapper valves in the intake? I’ll try that now.

 

[Outlaw]

Pull the vacuum line on the intake mani, see if it shuts up

which vac line?

 

[Outlaw]

Nevermind. Found it. The small line between the intake runners. As soon as I pulled it the noise stopped. Plugged it back in and it stayed silent. Shut truck off and restarted and noise back.

So that’s the problem. What is the remedy? Can that just be capped and send it or what?

 

[Outlaw]

Found an awesome write up on ranger forum.

Truck has the failure prone IMRC manifold. There’s individual butterfly valves in the runners and one of them must have loosened or failed. Looks like the fix is to replace the intake. Most of the info I see states they fail right around every 80k, so that’s spot on.

 

[bikrboy128]

I came here to suggest the intake runners are probably failing. Happens on all the duratec 4 bangers. Unfortunately if you leave it unplugged it sets an engine light, and manifold replacement is the only way.

 

[Outlaw]

Yep that’s what I determined. Thank you for popping in regardless, it really had my stumped for a day or so before posting in the first place.

Going to call the dealer tomorrow and see what my price is on a new manifold, PCV valve and gasket set.

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

Nevermind. Found it. The small line between the intake runners. As soon as I pulled it the noise stopped. Plugged it back in and it stayed silent. Shut truck off and restarted and noise back.

So that’s the problem. What is the remedy? Can that just be capped and send it or what?

Sorry was in the garage last night and didn't see your reply. Yeah, those intake flaps crap out on pretty much anything from that era: Ford, Nissan, Toyota, etc. When you pull the intake take a peek at the flaps and see if anything broke off and potentially made it further down the line. It for sure needs to be replaced. Hillbilly option is delete it from the existing intake but that requires a lot of epoxy lol.

 

[Outlaw]

Sorry was in the garage last night and didn't see your reply. Yeah, those intake flaps crap out on pretty much anything from that era: Ford, Nissan, Toyota, etc. When you pull the intake take a peek at the flaps and see if anything broke off and potentially made it further down the line. It for sure needs to be replaced. Hillbilly option is delete it from the existing intake but that requires a lot of epoxy lol.

I’m definitely going to replace the intake.

Can I run it unplugged for the time being and just get a vacuum cap and a golf tee? I’d assume it’s better to have it hung open than clattering around like that

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

I’m definitely going to replace the intake.

Can I run it unplugged for the time being and just get a vacuum cap and a golf tee? I’d assume it’s better to have it hung open than clattering around like that

Yeah, it should default to wide open and throw a P2004.