Is there a recommended mechanic where I can take my 97 mustang gt to be looked at? I have a horrible scratching sound when it starts up cold. Ive had it for a couple years now, it happens every cold start up, especially now that its winter(happens the first start up every day). Ive been told it is my lifters but I could use some opinions.

Thanks for any help

1/14/2006 9:19:16 AM

are you running 5w-20 oil in there? if not you need to, and let it run abot 5 min before you dirve it anywhere thats about all you can do for it. i'm assuming this is a 100k+ mile car ?

1/14/2006 9:55:20 AM

is it when your starting the car... like before it starts? could be your starter my celica does that.

1/14/2006 11:36:19 AM

its the rabbits you left in the engine bay





and i bet the holocaust didnt happene either, right?

1/14/2006 12:04:01 PM

lifters would be a ticking sound, not scratching... sounds more like an accessory bearing.

1/14/2006 12:05:45 PM

97 GT= 4.6 SOHC I agree with ^

1/14/2006 12:17:53 PM

well where is the sound coming from? valve cover? ^pulley?

that usually helps a bit

1/14/2006 7:52:36 PM

97,000 miles
hell if i know where it coming from
thats what im asking

1/15/2006 2:49:33 AM

take the belt off, and spin all your pulleys, see which one sounds bad, probably the alternator or idler or tensioner. it you cant tell anything from that, while its running and making the noise, take a long screwdriver, touch one end to the accesory case in question or idler pulley bearing and hold the other end to your ear, you will clearly hear where it is coming from.

1/15/2006 9:35:15 AM

The tensioner bearing fail all the time on high mileage 4.6s and they make a ton of noise on startup....

1/15/2006 12:36:17 PM

how much to repair the tensioner bearing?

1/15/2006 10:29:31 PM

$16 from advance auto

1/15/2006 10:44:08 PM