2000 windstar engine knock

2000 windstar 3.8 62,000 km. developed an engine knock that seems to come from the passengers side of the intake runner. Is this the dreaded isolator bolts or could it be a sticky hydraulic lifter. The knock goes away when engine is at operating temp. but will return if you accelerate hard. After idling awhile it will quiet back down. Any ideas?

Your plastic intake upper is probably of the original 2-piece variety. The inner piece can get loose and make some noise.

You can pay the piper and get the newer one-piece glued-together version ... or you can disassemble and reassemble using some sensor safe RTV between the pieces to dampen the vibrations (that's what I did 110k miles ago). Just don't overtorque those 14 screws. 7 ft-lbs.

One of the tricks to test the intake I learned on here is to grab the intake cover and apply pressure. Like pushing down and pulling back torward you while the engine is running on its first cold start with the knock being heard.I ending up replacing mine with the updated cover and yes the noise went away while pressure was being put on the intake.So got a new one and problem solved.

Had a similar problem with my 2000. At first, I thought it might be bad gas that was causing a knock, but upon further review, it was the intake manifold runner control linkage (IMRC) that had fallen off. Mine, however, gave a check engine light. I would go with the upper manifold being loose if you are not getting a light-it seems to be a pretty shaky setup as I noticed when doing the iso bolt procedure. Good luck.

Hi
I am helping a friend with an '01. I have not yet listened to what he hears, but I have scanned the CEL and gotten the 171/174 codes. I am looking into the isolator bolt TSB, but also wondered about the loose "baffle" in the upper intake I had heard about. Do you know if the '01's had a similar problem with the loose baffle?

Thanks

Busboy, you will know as soon as you get inside the upper plenum. The inner is either "clipped" or "fused". It may have been corrected in the later part of model year 2001 ... I'm not sure.

Busboy, you will know as soon as you get inside the upper plenum. The inner is either "clipped" or "fused". It may have been corrected in the later part of model year 2001 ... I'm not sure.

OK
Thank you. I have seen some pictures now. I'll check it out.