Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance lifter noise

When I start my car in the morning, I have what I am sure to be a lifter that is making a loud tapping sound and getting louder since I bought the car. Is this a common problem, and how do I go about fixing it? It goes away almost completely once it warms up, so it would be gone once I got it to the dealership.

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98.5 Contour
Zetec w/ auto (doh!!)
modified stock airbox
res and muffler removed
glasspack added
Knauberized
Pioneer CD
Alpine speakers in all doors
2 pioneer 10" subs
mesh grille
side markers

Yes,sounds like a lifter leaking oil overnight.Should have the lifters & cams checked out,the cam lobes may be scuffed,could be a set of lifters or lifters and cam(s).You can do it yourself,to establish which one is remove the cam cover and check the lifter to cam clearences with a feeler gage to find the 'slack' one,have to turn the engine over by hand(plugs out & socket on crank pulley bolt)the valves must be in the closed position with the followers/lifters in line with the base circle of the cam to check the clearence.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Mabye a good reason to find a better cam!!

Allot of times the timing belt will hit against the timing belt cover and make the same kind of noise. The timing belt does not have to be very loose to make the noise.

A-Ha! I'm not going crazy, and that is indeed the timing belt knocking against that upper cover on cold starts. Seems to go away after the car warms up a little bit. Been making that noise for quite a long time now. At least since 50k miles, now 75k miles. Original belt.

I Changed my 1996 Ford Contour's timing belt because of the timing belt noise. The timing belt would hit against the upper cover when the engine was warming up. I have not had the noise since I replaced the timing belt. Changing the timing belt was easy to do and took 3 hours.

There is / was a modded cam belt cover or a rework to the cover to cut away material to stop the belt 'slap' against it,posted about 2 months ago...anyone rembember it?

Cam belt.... never thought about it. How much does a new one go for??

I remember reading a post about someone putting spacers to keep the timing belt from hitting against the timing belt cover.

Since the noise usually starts at 50,000 or 60,000 miles, I figured that it must be time to change the timing belt. I have heard that the zetec 2-liter engine is an interference type of engine. I did not want to risk having the timing belt brake or slip and damage the engine.

i have written documentation from ford saying that the belt slap noice is normal when the engine is cold. my car has been doing it since i bought it at 18,000 miles.

i just had my timing belt changed last month and the new belt also makes the slapping noise although it goes away faster now than it did before (tighter/newer belt). i would be VERY interested in a new timing belt/gear cover to stop the noise completely or instructions on how to properly space the cover without worrying about getting too much dirt/water inside that compartment.

if you find the thread, please post a link to it. i'll search around too. thanks!!!

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1995 GL Zetec MTX...Light Blue
Born: July 1995
Purchased: November 1997
KKM Intake
Superchip
AR 16x7.5 w/ Dunlop W-10 (205.50.16)
Viper 500+ Alarm
Sounds by: Pioneer CD/Polk dB/MTX Subs/Alpine Amp
Richbrook Shift Knob
"Recontented" Factory Instrument Cluster w/Tach
"Recontented" Foggies


Soon to be added:
FocusSport Wires (Blue)
Accel EDIS ignition
Autolite Platinum Pro's