Thread: Rod Knock or Lifter?

My mom started are 01 GT and I hear this horrible sound which increased with RPM's that sounded a lot like rod knock or maybe a lifter or something not quite sure. Here is a video clip of the sound, my mom is freaking out about it because we don't have much money. Yesterday I also had to add some oil to it and it drove fine till today. Any help would be appreciated because I am not sure whats wrong. I'm thinking it probably isn't worth the money to fix because the Tranny is going bad in 3rd and 4th is surges when you add little throttle. Its has 160.xxx miles, rusted all to hell under it. Shame because its a Special Edition and I love the way it looks.
Here is the clip:

Originally Posted by FordMan77

Sounds like a lifter to me. Not deep enough to be a rod knock, at least not from the video. Grab yourself a long screwdriver and touch it to to motor in different spots and put your ear to the handle. Might be able to pinpoint the source this way.

Seems to be coming mostly from left side of the engine near the belts and near the intake and front valve cover so Its looking more like a lifter or something. EDIT: More like a tick than a knock just started it again to hear around def coming from the upper portion of the motor.

Originally Posted by Kolton Lock

Also. See if the rpm level makes a difference. So have someone idle at 2k for a few seconds. If it goes away its not bottom end.

I did this with some revs and it increased with the RPM's, but I'll try again holding at that RPM. Can't do anything with the belt till the weekend, I don't think its a bad pulley. EDIT: Just did that with the RPM's and it just made that sound but faster.

Check plugs first, make sure you don't have a cracked one making all that raquet. Check injectors they can make some strange noises. Check flexplate. Check under the valve cover as stated. Get a mechanics stetho or a long ass screwdriver.

Okay so on my list of stuff to do this weekend includes:
-Check Spark Plugs
-Check Injectors
-Check Flexplate
-Check Valve Springs and Rocker Arms
-Acquire long ass screwdriver
Also crap ton of other car stuff wrong with my car I have to fix, this weekend is gonna suckkkkk. I'll get back here on the weekend with and news thanks for the help so far guys.

Would injectors make a sound that loud? This is video I looked up: Broken flexplate Grand Prix GTP - YouTube sounds identical to me but, I'm really thinking valvetrain because of location and because I don't want to pull the motor with it being this cold, garage having no room even when empty, never done it before and no hoist. But hey gives me a reason to fix the leaky everything on the motor lol.

Thanks FordMan,
If It was the flexplate the sound would be more to the right side of the engine and not the left side right? I looked up a video and it sounds identical to someone with a bad flexplate but I belive the sound is coming more from the left side for me.

This sounds nothing like a flexplate, it really sounds like it is valvetrain related or even injectors.
But it also sounds nothing like rod knock to me, when mine spun a rod it was a sound I recognize everywhere now, it just is that bad.

011-4.mp4 Video by devenaroo | Photobucket flex plate sounds like that.

Thanks again, will report back this weekend (when I have the garage heater because freezing weather sucks).

Emm not the flex plate. I agree with valve train related I would pull the valve covers and rockers and take a look at the springs. I doubt its a lifter I never heard one get that loud before.

I'm still gonna check the belt, the car will run with the belt completely off right?

Left side? Maybe your tensioner's noisy?

yes, but dont run it to long, or drive it, it can over heat.


sounds like a rocker or bad lifter from here too. pop that valve cover off and check it out.

Check the oil. If it's like like barbie glitter then it's a rod bearing or you're grinding down the cam with a bad lifter. If it is not you are looking for something lift up in the valve train.

With the belt off check all the pulleys and everything. Really bad water pumps can make a heck of a racket.

FWIW when referring to a car, the headlights are the eyeballs and the grill is the mouth. Passenger = right, Driver = left.

Tossing that in there if you ever need to buy something that is side specific like a caliper.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

FWIW when referring to a car, the headlights are the eyeballs and the grill is the mouth. Passenger = right, Driver = left.

Tossing that in there if you ever need to buy something that is side specific like a caliper.

Thanks I was referencing if I was facing the front of the car so opposite....wups, I feel smart now