03 head tick?
Thread Starter
5th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,035
From: Bethesda MD
03 head tick?
Im looking into getting either and 03 or an 04 mustang. Iv heard from a friend with an 04 svt that the 03s had some sort of head ticking which would cause slight over heating and minor damage. Anyone know anything about this head ticing and if its something to wory about. The car is 99% sure coming out of Carmax, so do you think they would check for that?
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 705
From: Massachuetts
RE: 03 head tick?
The "tick"you're referring occurs in the earky production '03 cobras that were typically produced before Nov. of '02. The acutal problem is over heating in the head due to poor coolant flow which leads to bent valve guides. That's what causes the actual noise. It's not proven either way if this actual problem can hurt the engine.The January '05 heads are a direct replacement for the problem. Also the LDC or even flow cooling mods and not going WOT in 5th or 6th gear can help prevent this issue. I don't think carmax will address the issue since the car most likely is out of warranty with Ford.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,893
From: Florida
RE: 03 head tick?
You're kinda right... however, ALL the production 2003 and 2004 Cobras have the ability to develop the head tick. There were several fixes for this issue, but the only one that worked came out after production had ceased. There are NO direct links to engine failure, just annoyance.
Pleas see CobraBob's FAQ's for more info:
http://stangshiftergaskets.com/2003_2004faqs.htm
Please use search function. There are tons of threads about this very thing.
Pleas see CobraBob's FAQ's for more info:
http://stangshiftergaskets.com/2003_2004faqs.htm
Please use search function. There are tons of threads about this very thing.
ORIGINAL: massmustang02
The "tick"you're referring occurs in the earky production '03 cobras that were typically produced before Nov. of '02. The acutal problem is over heating in the head due to poor coolant flow which leads to bent valve guides. That's what causes the actual noise. It's not proven either way if this actual problem can hurt the engine.The January '05 heads are a direct replacement for the problem. Also the LDC or even flow cooling mods and not going WOT in 5th or 6th gear can help prevent this issue. I don't think carmax will address the issue since the car most likely is out of warranty with Ford.
The "tick"you're referring occurs in the earky production '03 cobras that were typically produced before Nov. of '02. The acutal problem is over heating in the head due to poor coolant flow which leads to bent valve guides. That's what causes the actual noise. It's not proven either way if this actual problem can hurt the engine.The January '05 heads are a direct replacement for the problem. Also the LDC or even flow cooling mods and not going WOT in 5th or 6th gear can help prevent this issue. I don't think carmax will address the issue since the car most likely is out of warranty with Ford.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14,917
RE: 03 head tick?
Like kazp said, there is no evidence it causes any performance loss or engine failures. Anyone who had the head tick and blew an engine, had a bottom end problem by coincidence.
BTW Kazp, what the hell does your sig mean? [8D]
BTW Kazp, what the hell does your sig mean? [8D]
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