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2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Shane Lowery
Novice
Dec 30, 2014, 11:53 PM
Post #1 of 13
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2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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I'm not the smartest person with cars so please bare with me. I have a 2000 Ford Mustang 3.8L 162k miles. Everything under the hood Is stock besides the radiator, radiator hoses, alternator, sparkplugs and sparkplug wires. About a month ago I had a head gasket leak which was very small but did enough damage to turn my oil completely white and force me to pull my car on the side of the road from smoke. The car would barely start and if it did, it would shut off in 2 seconds. But thank God a local mechanic came to my aid and managed to get my car to the shop down the road. He sealed the gaskets with some kind of high dollar sealant material and it has worked so far cause I check my oil
regularly and it is the color its suppose to be. No white whats so ever. Bit in the past 2 weeks there's been a weird noise coming from under my hood. It doesn't make any sense to me and I hope someone will know whats going on. If I leave my car sitting over night it cranks up normally but there is a very loud knocking noise coming from right under the oil cap/coil pack/spark plug area. Its very quick but whenever I start driving it eventually goes.away whenever I get.into 2nd or 3rd gear and doesn't not come back. Even if I leave my car sitting for a while during the day and there is just a little bit of heat still on the engine it will not make the noise when I crank up. Only on cold starts. But it recently I the past couple days hasn't done it at all. Even when it sits over night. I've read that it would be a spark plug, exhaust leak or a lifter. My first though would be a lifter but I don't understand it because it doesn't constantly make the noise and does not mess up the driving of the car. It runs great. But if anyone knows what this problem could be, please help! Any advice will be greatly appreciated
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 31, 2014, 12:33 PM
Post #3 of 13
(1966 views)
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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I agree with HT. Engine is toast and you should start looking for a replacement engine or another vehicle.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 31, 2014, 1:29 PM
Post #4 of 13
(1959 views)
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Shane: Now that makes 3 including me - engine sustained too much damage and is done now despite still running it's any time now will repeat or really act up badly again. Magic in a can isn't a cure just sometimes buys some time which is unknown but only for last ditch attempts when YOU AREN'T going to fix the problem. I think it was too late when you first noticed unfortunately.
Barely matters but what you are no doubt noticing now is oil pressure is NOT getting around because of worn engine parts on a 162K engine already is enough for many.
It got a bit colder and that alone will bring out the faults faster which is somewhat why it can go away after warming up some.
Consider it a lost engine but if you still want to try for a little more time to find an engine a couple approaches may work or make it worse than it is now.
1. Change oil again now and go with like a 0-40 viscosity oil might get more oil faster thru a partly plugged up oil pump pick up screen or make it wildly worse right away.
2. OK - If that's worse more mechanic in a can. Drain out 1/2 quart and use the old fashioned (any brand) but STP which is thick as an oil additive can be and still pour out of a can brings viscosity (thickness) up. Same, will make it much worse or better quickly noticed.
3. Last try IMO is just change oil again totally with the regular suggested oil and hope you are at least back to before doing anything and wasting some oils and filters each time.
It happened. It was fake repaired with whatever mechanic put in it and apparently changed the oil then too. Head gaskets don't heal that way and most don't even slow down real head gasket problems which isn't the point as the damage is done.
NOW - When open again plain call your local salvage yards for an inventory of exact engine, tested and known mileage in stock. Have your VIN# ready to make an EXACT match no games. Ask that place what shops will even consider doing an engine swap with their engines and a short warranty that it's good. Most would give you another engine but not the labor again.
IMO - all new probably not worth it at all. If the car is otherwise exceptional I'd fix it with used and if other issues known now in general swap out for another car if used have it fully checked out ahead of purchase by a REAL shop.
The first mechanic got it going - fine - but if you weren't told that was a fake fix with about no chance of solving or curing this engine I wouldn't go there again.
I've done a couple of those fake patch fixes both with no assurance the vehicle would move another mile and both were headed out for a new car the next day - that's it for that crap,
T
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Shane Lowery
Novice
Dec 31, 2014, 9:29 PM
Post #5 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Thanks y'all. I told ya I wasn't the smartest guy. But I've already got a truck so I'm not worried about that part. And it wasn't an on going thing whenever the head gasket blew. It was a split second thing out of no where. But there honestly aint a mechanic around here that I trust but at the moment I had no other options.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 1, 2015, 3:51 AM
Post #6 of 13
(1936 views)
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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It's not so much if you are so car smart you have to know who is in your area. It costs a fortune for training then tons more for tools and equipment so people think the repair biz is just a rip off too much.
Your problem with gasket or whatever caused it was probably giving off tell-tale signs of trouble long before and I can't know that either.
Find the right place and tech or techs. Avoid (IMO) the super fast, bargain places for real anything for the most part. Plain oil changing puts your whole engine at risk every time so a bargain from a place or person with little or no experience isn't a bargain at all for even that much.
Find the right place as said,
T
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Shane Lowery
Novice
Jan 1, 2015, 5:12 AM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Yeah that's true. The guy I took it to is honestly the most trustworthy one within 50miles imo. Hes a one man show cause he can't find anyone who is decent. And truthfully the car didn't show ny signs of engine wear in the time I drove it. The guy before me dogged the hell out of it and I took it easy so I reckon it was just slowly falling apart without my knowledge.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 1, 2015, 5:58 AM
Post #8 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Being honest and being knowledgeable are 2 different qualities and you really need to find a mechanic with both. An honest guy is worthless if he doesn't know what he's doing and a skilled mechanic is worthless if he will rip you off.
Try to stay away from the chain type locations as they have a large turnover and always have somebody at higher levels pushing for more sales. Find an Independent with the right qualities, then stick wit him and don't let price be your guide.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Shane Lowery
Novice
Jan 1, 2015, 7:30 AM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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You're right man. I really didn't explain myself too good to start off. The stang was my first car and I've had it for about 3 1/2 years. I bought it for $2800 with 120k. It kind of had a idling problem to start with but the mechanic handled that. And as for the mechanic I didn't explain that well either. He is an independent business guy and his family has been in the business for over 80 years. Hes a very straight forward guy. He DID NOT promise that it fixed the problem but he did say that it would last me a little time to find another viehicle which I already have. He flushed the system out right after he did that sealant stuff. And why he did has held up for the time being. And a lot of mechanic won't leave work to help someone that's a couple miles down the road. He pinpointed the problem right away when he got there and checked every and somehow managed to get my car to crank. But I'm not arguing.g with y'all. I'm still asking if y'all know what that ticking noise. Oils be. The car runs good overall at the moment. Its just the sound that's unknown. And I believe you when. You say that these chain businesses jip people. Could it be a lifter? Because my work hours are totally different then his and it won't make the sound if I drive it to the shop cause of the engine being warm. And I don't wanna bother him after he gets off work
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jan 1, 2015, 7:41 AM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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You know, he did probably made the right decision because he knew the motor wasn't going to last even if the head gasket job was done. Plus there was no way of predicting when and if something was going to go out on it. So instead of spending lots of money on a lost cause he gave you the "hail mary" option of head gasket sealant to get you by till you found another engine or car. Like HT stated, once you get coolant in the crankcase, good bye bearings. Would be an interesting experiment to see how long it stays running till it really gives up the ghost.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jan 1, 2015, 7:46 AM)
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Shane Lowery
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Jan 1, 2015, 8:01 AM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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I know. He wanted to take the engine apart but I told him not to because I'm not paying more on an engine repair then I payed for the car.and plus I didn't want him spending any.unheeded Money/hours on it
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 1, 2015, 8:14 AM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Just your question "Could it be a lifter" -- on that maybe yes but the reason it needed one if only one was heat, lack of lubrication or more. Seems if that (those more of a tick than a knock) a new one will just lack lube again. Chain reaction, the lack of proper lube to ALL parts isn't even with this if running at all something is still working. The work to redo the whole thing outweighs the value now.
Family biz for generations on end. All for it myself. Doesn't matter what type of biz you still have to adjust to the times if only money exchange. Gee - imagine that pretzel cart that won't take payment from my iPhone thing or something now!
The car biz like all have to keep up with changes like any. Training takes more than just the next model year's book at the ready.
Worked for one of those for a while myself and long ago now. Had in stock in a gas station type shop about all common belts, hoses, bulbs and could fix most tires or had spares, batteries and so on at the ready. Can't fit all those parts now in an airline hangar so forget that. Was nice while that life style lasted. No money no problem. We/+owner knew you and you'd be back and did.
With car anything I find owners of many times the most expensive thing(s) they own they don't know crap about them or how to even care for them and don't want to. Biz and makers react by making vehicles that need little along the way up to about disposable vehicles. One good problem and it exceeds the reasonable cost to fix.
Add for vehicles that you also need a place that can handle all the hazmats, meet fire codes and so on it's just insanely costly so losing out to the quicky nifty places where you get a free cup of coffee and on your way in 15 min, had Wi-Fi available or lose biz - whole game never ends like that. We all lose,
T
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Shane Lowery
Novice
Jan 1, 2015, 8:26 AM
Post #13 of 13
(1891 views)
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Re: 2000 3.8L Mustang Cold start knocking sound
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Thank you man. That first paragraph answered everything I wanted to k.own. yes the car just randomly started over heating before all that happened. And basically what your saying is that its not worth fixing. That's all I wanted to hear in a professionally stated comment. I didn't ask about "what do you think the mechanic should've done" but thank you Tom for you opinion. That's all I wanted to hear
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