Question:

Hello All,   I have addressed this before but know have another question for this forum. I have a 1997 Explorer Sport I purchased in Oct 96.  The vehicle has 3500 miles on it.  I noticed a clicking sound only when the engine was cold and at about 1500 RPM’s.  I took it to the dealer and they kept it for five days and replaced all the lifters in December.  Now in February, the lifters have started clicking again.  Is this a big deal? Could this indicate another problem other than the lifters?  Should I call the dealer once more and have them check this?   I would appreciate any suggestions.   Thanks, George Evans San Antonio, TX

Response:

> I have a 1997 Explorer Sport I purchased in Oct 96.  The vehicle has > 3500 miles on it.  I noticed a clicking sound only when the engine was > cold and at about 1500 RPM’s.  I took it to the dealer and they kept it > for five days and replaced all the lifters in December.  Now in > February, the lifters have started clicking again.  Is this a big deal?

My brother’s pathfinder (1987) has done this since he bought it (about 1989), which means the last 50,000 miles. Doesn’t seem to cause any problems, other than annoying noise when it’s cold. I’ve tried flushing the oil, running synthetic, and lighter oil…. to no avail… tappety tap tap… Cheers, Charlie My apologies for the invalid return address, I was losing the war against the auto-mailers and SPAM junkies. Mail should be addressed to user:

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hello All, >  I have addressed this before but know have another question for this >forum. >I have a 1997 Explorer Sport I purchased in Oct 96.  The vehicle has >3500 miles on it.  I noticed a clicking sound only when the engine was >cold and at about 1500 RPM’s.  I took it to the dealer and they kept it >for five days and replaced all the lifters in December.  Now in >February, the lifters have started clicking again.  Is this a big deal? >Could this indicate another problem other than the lifters?  Should I >call the dealer once more and have them check this? >  I would appreciate any suggestions.   >Thanks, >George Evans >San Antonio, TX

I wouldn’t make any special trips to the dealer for it.  You have a long time yet on the warranty.  Give it time and see if it gets worse (or better).  If there is some underlying problem then it should get worse in the next 20,000 miles.  What I would do is make sure you mention it every time you do happen to have it in the dealer for servicing for other warranty items so that it gets put on the work orders.  When you are getting within about 6 months/6000 miles of the end of the warranty that’s when I’d start to get serious again if it still seems to be a concern.

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