96 contour ticking noise

hello, i have a 96 contour 2.0L dohc and it is making a ticking noise like it is low on oil, which it is not. I just had to put a head gasket on it, resurface the head, and time it. so my question is do all contours have that ticking noise or did i mess up the timing? also the car doesn't want to idle properly and i just put a new iac valve on and checked the vacuum lines and electrical connections, is there any other sensors that would make it not idle properly.thanks in advance, any help is appreciated.

are you sure you timed it properly? I think a common problem is a lot of people when they install a new belt miss it by one link.

Im not to familar with the zetec, but maybe sk8ter will chime in.

idle properly?

check your plugs/wires. clean maf.

If you were off 1 notch on your (either on crank, intake or exhaust cam) the car will stall as soon as you put the slightest load on the motor (shift it into reverse or drive) if you were more than 1 notch the car would not even start and idle on it own.

my car ticks by default, it's not a loud tick nor is it very noticeable. It's the lifters, as they get old they like to make a racket. Others louder, some quiet.


It could also be timing belt slap, you may've not got the slack adjuster on the timing belt tight enough so you're hearing it slap against either the top timing cover or between the idler pulleys.

honestly, I don't know as much as I'd like to know about the zetec (I learn something new about it everyday). Your best bet is to visit the www.contour.org forums and register. Theres no site (that I've found) that has as much information about Contour's.

thanks for the help thats all i tought it was was just the lifters making noise so i'll go with that, thanks again