Mystery Noise Help

[SVOMACH1]

This is probably nothing but I'm OCD when it comes to my cars. My 2005 GT has JBA LT headers and catted H pipe. Once the car is warmed up I hear a ticking/dieseling noise from the floor/firewall and it's driving me nuts. The header bolts and collectors are tight. Is this a normal sound for long tubes?

[ZR]

Many long tubes have a distinct tic-ish type sound. Usually more pronounced at warm idle or light load / cruising.

[Uncle Buck]

Not sure it's the same but sometimes I hear something similar in my 06 with BBK catted X. I think it's the cats. Maybe louder with LTs since the cats sit further back.

[ZR]

Better described as a tingle.

[SVOMACH1]

Not sure it's the same but sometimes I hear something similar in my 06 with BBK catted X. I think it's the cats. Maybe louder with LTs since the cats sit further back.

I never considered the cats sitting further back but that would contribute to it too. Maybe I'll put in some Dynamat and see if that helps. The noise is annoying as hell.

[Stephen06GT]

Are there heat shields on the cats? If so, could one of them be loose, or hitting something?

[SVOMACH1]

Are there heat shields on the cats? If so, could one of them be loose, or hitting something?

No heat shields. They're barely cats imo. Barely bigger than the pipes.

[Stephen06GT]

No heat shields. They're barely cats imo. Barely bigger than the pipes.

I hope this is not the case, but any chance the cats are on there way out and have the guts are loose inside the housing? When the housing gets to temp, it expands a little and the cat material rattles around. Just throwing out ideas.

[jibbijib]

^^^ Thanks Stephen. I think that explains the ticking I have from under the car. I have to redo the exhaust on my car anyway so the h pipe kits are lookig mighty fine this year.

[SVOMACH1]

I hope this is not the case, but any chance the cats are on there way out and have the guts are loose inside the housing? When the housing gets to temp, it expands a little and the cat material rattles around. Just throwing out ideas.
Nope, brand new and it made the same sound with the uncatted off road pipe. Sounds almost like an old truck. If you open the hood you can't here it , only injector noise. I may try to post a sound clip later.

[Frankie]

Does it happen only at idle? or only under load?

An exhaust leak can sound like that and may only show itself under load.

[SVOMACH1]

Most prominent under idle.

[SVOMACH1]

I have a video sound clip now but can't post it. Any tips??

[ZR]

Got your vid, sounds like either slightly noisy injectors or a hair of valve train clatter.

[SVOMACH1]

Maybe some bad lifters?

[ZR]

Use a long screwdriver as a stethoscope to sound out each inj.

[SVOMACH1]

Injectors seem fine, no unusual noises from the valve covers, but the noise is super noticeable under the car coming from the headers and collectors?

[ZR]

Single piece or slip together headers?
Can you see all the bolts / nuts are in place at the cyl heads?

[Intmdtr]

The dieseling sound could be spark knock or spark ping which would be more pronounced through the long tubes. But shouldn't be noticed at idle, more under load. My 98 f150 with long tubes made the same type of sound if you didn't use good gas.

[SVOMACH1]

Single piece or slip together headers?
Can you see all the bolts / nuts are in place at the cyl heads?

Single pce headers. JBA stainless long tubes. I had the car at Ford checking the bolts and all are in place.

[ZR]

Look up from the bottom for any signs of black soot.

[SVOMACH1]

I'll get an oil change tomorrow and check for soot when it's on the lift. I'm going to bump it up to 10 w30 full synthetic as recommended by a freind.

[SVOMACH1]

No soot. Changed to 10 w30 full synthetic and hopefully that helps. They put in 5 w30 synthetic last time.

[ZR]

Mod motors love the stuff.

[SVOMACH1]

No soot. Changed to 10 w30 full synthetic and hopefully that helps. They put in 5 w30 synthetic last time.

Correction, it had 5 w20 in it.

[ZR]

Say it ain't so Willis.

[SVOMACH1]

Say it ain't so Willis.

Yep, it runs quieter now but now I think I can definitely hear an exhaust leak. Still a bit of clatter but definitely better. Ford said 5 w20 is the recommended oil and they even called me back twice to double check about the 10 w30.

[ZR]

You know how perfect Stephens still sounds with lots more mileage vs yours and what oil he's running.