Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

My GT is making an awful racket when I start it. It sounds like a spray can when you shake it. Kind of a rattle. It gets a little quieter after the engine idles down after I first crank it most times, but it's always there and I feel like it's getting louder. I'm able to work on this car but my wife and I need it to get to work so I need a pretty good idea of what to look for before I tear it down.
I think it could be valves or lifters or a spun crankshaft bearing. I honestly have no clue though and am purely going on prior experience with other types of vehicles. Please, don't let it be a bearing!!! Help!

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

Have you tried a new Motorcraft oil filter? If the anti-drain valve in the currentoilfilter is not working, you'll getstart up noise.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

Well is it comin from the top or bottom end???

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

Well, I can hear it from both. Seems to be louder underneath. I've been using a heavier high mileage oil, too. The car uses a little oil. Like half a court every 3k. Had always been taught a heavier oil can help stop the consumption. Have also heard that's bad, too but went with what I know. Could that be a cause of my problem?

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

How many miles on the car? I was thinking loose timing chain?

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

127k. Only other problem is a sqeaky tensioner pully. Replaced twice but, starts again after a few days.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I thought the same thing about the timing change but if you here it fromthe bottom it could be a rod bearing or something I would stop driving the car though before you do more damage than what's already done!!!

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

You might want to get a mechanics stethescope (harbor freight) and see if you can pinpoint the noise location. A screwdriver will work as well

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I'm just going to have to cross my fingers that the motor doesn't blow. This is the only car we have. We don't abuse it. I plan on working on it next weekend and trying a few different things from what I hear here. I'm still open for any other suggestions on what to look at.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I'll definately try the screwdriver tomorrow and get a stethescope if that doesn't seem to work. Didn't even think of that. Thanks! If you think of anything else to check, let me know if you're in the forum.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I have a 2000 saleen. After i raced mine it made that noise. I thought i blew a rod but it turned out I spun a bearing. You might wanna fix that before driving cause it will only get worse. $$$ I only had to miLL the crank and put in oversized bearings.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I'm only going from what happened to me. Check all the bolts on your exhast manifold (aka headers). A few months back i had an awful tapping. My first thoughts were that i bent a valve from an over rev (in an auto...no comments please =) )..anyway i took it to my local ford dealership and they took a look at it. It ended up being a broken bolt off the exhast manifold. I hope this is your problem cause it only cost me 26 bucks. Good luck bro

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

Thanks guys. I'll check the exhaust manifold, but if it's a rod or crank bearing, I think I might just wait till the motor blows and get another one. LOL!!! I can pull one and drop in another a lot quicker than pulling the whole thing apart. I've not done anything on the bottom end of this motor so I don't even know if I can get to any of that without pulling the whole thing. I'm pretty good with the top end now, though. Just went thru the whole change out the crappy plastic intake manifold and some other stuff about 6k miles ago. The rattling sound was happening before all that though.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

Does it sound like this? http://media.putfile.com/strang-sound That is my car when it first started. Then afterabout 3,500miles(and 2 all out races belive it or not) and 3 oil changes every 1000miles it sounded just like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRPLN3nz_o And that is a spun bearing! I just replaced the whole engine.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

You probably have a timing chan tensioner bleeding down overnight. My 95Tbird did the same thing from 75K till I sold it at 130K. It is more annoying than anything. Changing out the tensioner is the only real good fix.

RE: Sounds like a rattling spray can.
 

I listened to the sound bites above and it doesn't sound anything like that. It's close to valve clatter but I don't think that's it. I'll look into the timing chaing thing too. It's not affecting how the car runs and it doesn't smoke or anything either. It's got to be something simple at this point. Keep the ideas coming. I'll be sure to post when I've figured it out for sure and how I fixed it. Hopefully, soon!