Engine Clicking And Tapping Noises problems of the 2001 Ford F-150

We have a Ford f150 crew cab with a 5. 4 triton motor. I was putting it in reverse to drive away and there was a strange popping sound. I instantly shut it off and opened the hood. My father examined it for me and stated the number 3 spark plug had ejected itself, cracking the coil as well. We had to have a helicoil kit installed in order to have threads for the new plug. The truck still is not running properly. This has costed approximately $300 so far, and there is more work that will have to be done since it still sputters and runs rough. This is a well known problem by the Ford dealership, as I have researched it on the internet but Ford refuses to take responsibility for the poorly manufactured triton motor. Fires can start when they pop out as well. This is a dis-service to the public who have unknowingly bought these vehicles and get stuck with huge repairs due to the design of the motor. I am disgusted that there is not a recall. Ford must be held responsible for all these repairs! there is a huge injustice happening by allowing Ford to walk away from the responsibility. A recall before deaths happen would be the responsible thing to do! lemon laws should apply to the triton motors by Ford! if I had known this was happening we would never ever have purchased this vehicle! shame on the Ford company!!! get the recall set into motion to compensate all the people who bought these dangerous pieces of crap!.

Was driving normally when I started hearing a loud popping noise from engine. Took to mechanic and was told the spark plug blew out - was also told this is a "common" problem with Ford triton engines and a design flaw with the engine (too few threads on spark plugs).

I have a 2001 Ford F-150 lightning with roughly 31,000 miles on it. Three weeks back I was turning into my neighborhood at 5 mph, and I head a popping sound, and the truck begins to run roughly. I immediately pull over, and pop the hood, I smell gasoline. I shut the truck off. Call a tow truck to my Ford dealership. There they tell me that the spark plug has shot out of the cylinder head, stripping the aluminum head. I get the bill for repair in which they re-bore the head, and install a heli coil at a cost of $560 plus labor. The dealership tells me this should in fact strengthen the cylinder, so I continue normal operation of the vehicle Tuesday 5/17/11, I was driving on route 290 in worcester when all of a sudden at 70 mph the heli coil pops out causing me instantly lose power. In an effort not to damage the vehicle further I put it in neutral, and coast to the break down lane of a three lane highway and proceed to call aaa to get a tow. Once back at the Ford dealership the tech tries to do the same thing, and re-bore the head to install another heli coil. He does and takes it for a test drive. The heli coil that he just installed blows. Now they are telling me that I need a new cylinder head. A $1600 part, plus 19 hours of installation costing $3600 in total. This as I have been told by the dealership and upon hours of research, is a common problem with the 1999-2003 Ford 5. 4l triton engine. This is a factory Ford defect, they did not drill the appropriate threads for the spark plugs. Now it has happened to me twice, this very easily could have gotten me hurt on the highway, or could have set fire to my vehicle since gasoline from the cylinder was spilling onto the hot engine block, directly next to the fuse box, there a current runs through. I have spoken to Ford and there is no recall on this. A factory defect, that is costing me almost $4000, through nothing but careful care of the vehicle.

While driving on the freeway, I heard a loud pop from the engine compartment followed by the engine running roughly and accompanied by popping sounds. Within 10 seconds, the smell of gasoline was noticed. I pulled off at the next exit, approximately 30 seconds later, and came to a stop. As I came to a stop, flames erupted from the hood and the entire engine compartment was engulfed in flames. A fire truck arrived within a few minutes and extinguished the fire, but not before the fire had burned through the firewall into the passenger compartment. The vehicle was a total loss. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the #8 cylinder spark plug had ejected from the cylinder (the initial pop sound) with such force that it ruptured the rubber fuel line immediately above it and aft of the stainless fuel injector bar. With fuel spraying from the hose, it was then ignited by the coil which was still attached to the engine and emitting sparks. It has been documented that the cylinder head design in this vehicle has had a history of problems with ejecting spark plugs due to a lack of adequate threads in the spark plug holes. I believe this defect contributed directly to this fire and is a safety hazard.

I have a 2001 F-150 triton 5. 4 liter Ford with 85,000 miles on it -- it blew out the number 3 cylinder spark plug stripping the threads and breaking the coil pack. I heard a ticking sound for a few weeks prior and had it checked at a shop and they thought it wasn't a bad problem -- 3 days later it blew out the plug.

Had minor ticking noise - was told this is typical in this Ford engine. 16 months ago I had the dealer replace the spark plugs, ticking was still there, and just last week one of the plugs blew out of the head. Luckily no accident or injury. This could be quite dangerous having a plug sparking with fuel vapors escaping from the hole where the plug used to be. After talking to a number of f150 owners - found this is a rather common problem. Why no recall? dealer installed spacer insert rather than helicoil. Rather expensive repair, and if it happens again, will need new head.

I noticed a ticking sound coming from my engine, shortly afterwards it began to pop loudly after leaving an intersection and traveling about 10-15 mph. I had the truck towed to a Ford dealer and was later informed that a spark plug had blown out and caused considerable damage ($4200-$5400!).

The contact owns 2001 Ford F-150. There is a clattering sound coming from the engine. Upon inspection of the vehicle the dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The reason for replacement was that there was a rod knocking in the engine. The manufacturer has not been contacted. Updated 11/16/05.

I was in the parking lot of a store and when I went to start the truck it made a huge popping sound upon investigation I found that the spark plug shot out of the hole after contacting my Ford dealership they informed me that this has been an ongoing issue with the 5. 4 and v-10 motors the problem was the spark plug could only be installed using three threads and that they have corrected that problem and now when I fix the truck the new heads you will be able to go down 5 threads at the price of $1300. 00 per head and the total cost of $3200. 00 parts & labor.

Vehicle smokes almost every time when first cranked up. Is now beginning to smoke while driving some, especially within a few minutes of cranking. Vehicle stalls mostly in afternoon when outside temp is above 70. Vehicle has slight shake and vibration when driving or sitting still with transmission in gear. Vehicle makes clunking noise around front to front left side if allowed to coast to around 20 mph then accelerating.