99 Windstar ticking

[SlimJimRD]

I have the 3.8L with 125,000 miles on it and in the past week or so it is ticking loudly when first started. The ticking usually goes away within a mile of driving. When I listen with the hood up is sound like it is a lifter. Is there anyway to tell if it is the lifter and then is there something I can add to the oil that may free it up?
Thanks
Steve

[tomj76]

Have you checked the level of your oil? Low oil can cause the lifters to tap.

[SlimJimRD]

Yes that was the first thing I checked, oil level was between the marks. I changed the oil this morning as well to see if it makes any difference which it didn't yet. I usually change the oil ever 3k.
By the way my son told me that Mom calls this her helicopter car because of the noise. That goes with the helicopter she sees on the dash when the check engine light comes on. lol

[12Ounce]

The 99's had a bit of problem with the plastic innards of the upper intake manifold coming loose. Do a search. For resolution, you can buy a new-design upper ... or you can apply a couple of RTV daubs ... I chose the RTV.

[SlimJimRD]

If the intake manifold were the problem would it go away? I have only heard the problem on startup. I would think the intake manifold would show up again at idle if that were the problems. Just my thoughts.

[12Ounce]

Mighty easy to remove the upper and take a look.

[SlimJimRD]

Okay I have finally gotten around to taking the intake off after the noise came back. I wanted to post a picture to make sure I have this right.
So the upper part of the manifold is 2 pieces with just 2 clips holding it in place which the picture is showing one of them.



Do I RTV around the whole thing or a just a few places?

Thanks
Steve

[12Ounce]

Well, the "conventional" wisdow is separate the two pieces ...even if you have to break the clips. Do a bit of cleaning, and "RTV" the pieces back together ... 4 or 5 one-inch daubs should be OK.

If you want to do what I did (which is NEVER recommended! LOL!) ... separate the two pieces ... making sure the clips are removed. Do some cleaning, then "RTV" the inner "horn" piece ... not to the upper, but to the intake-spacer (the section the throttle control is attached to ...) RTV thoroughly, a complete sealing bead around each of the six "pipes". The intake manifold will work pretty much the same ... but the EGR jets will plug less often.

[SlimJimRD]

Okay I am going the conventional route this time, sorry 12ounce.
I have taken it apart, cleaned with brake cleaner and will be using the Ultra Black RTV sealer.
If I decide to go the 12ounce route in the future. Did you break the clips off before you sealed the inner horn piece to the lower? It kinda of looks like if you didn't then the clips could still engage and then cause problems trying to take the top part off later.
I did the isolator bolts etc about 2.5 years ago and the EGR jets look good yet is also why I am not going doing the horn to lower part right now.

Mostly I really hopes this stop the noise and it is not something worse.
Steve

[SlimJimRD]

Here is a picture of the RTV before I put the halves together.



Now it is pouring rain so I got soaked trying to put everything in the van and out of the rain. No garage at my house just a nice hill to deal with. I hope it stops before it gets dark so I can put everything together.

[12Ounce]

I hope you were able to assemble things together before the RTV cured! The daubs in the photo look fine to me ... more than needed perhaps ... but should work very well. (So far, we only had rain at nighttime this weekend.)

Yes, I did break away the clips before sealing the horns to the spacer. I did a lot of fitting/measuring, using modeling clay for impressions, etc, etc ... before convincing myself it was the way to go. And this was not my first assembly ... the first time, maybe even the second time, around I went the "conventional" way.

[12Ounce]

I use brake cleaner quite a bit also ... works well, but dangerous stuff!!

[SlimJimRD]

Well major disasters here at the house.
Went downstairs while it rained and my 90 gallon reef aquarium is leaking from under the tank. Trying to find buckets and anything to hold 90 gallons of water, fish and coral was an experience I would rather not do again. Lucky my son did not go back to college yet so he helped me. I still do not know where it is leaking from.
After the tank is emptied and wondering what to do I figure go finish the van.
The rain had stopped but I open the hood and the intake had a bunch of water in it.
More water problems than I can deal with. Now I wish I had just put the undried upper manifold in place anyway. So I dried out the lower and the inside of the front right intake which had a lot of water.
I put it back together as it starts to rain and thought I will just start it before I go in the house. It will not start and acts like it has compression keeping it from turning over.
Did I just make it so the van needs to go to the junkyard?

What should I do next.

Thanks for all the help so far.

Steve

[12Ounce]

Yes, there's a good chance water made it's way down into the chambers. I wish you had posted before trying to crank ... but all may be OK.

I would remove all plugs and spin the engine a couple of times with plugs removed .... after that, reinstall plugs and have another go at it.

[SlimJimRD]

I will remove the plugs in the morning and hope for the best.
What should I have done in case I do something stupid like this again?
Thanks