Any mechanics here?What could this engine noise be?

[nsl]

When my car is at normal idle,I can put it in gear and hear a light cluck,cluck,cluck coming from underneath.I can hold one foot on the brake and give it a little gas and I cant hear it no more.I cant hear anything driving or when I get into it on the road.I do hear the noise for a little bit when I change the oil.Its sounds like it is between the trans and oil pan.Also,the noise cant be heard with the hood up,it only comes from underneath.It has always done this.I've been told that it may be a bearing,and I've been told not to worry about it.I am thinking of getting rid of the car and getting a smaller sporty car,but if I keep it I want to make sure the noise is not serious as my warranty is almost up.Oh,the car is a 99 Ford Crown Victoria with 60,000 miles,and has done the noise ever since I got it at about 38,000 miles.It has the 4.6 V8 engine.

[BladeLWS]

Manual or Auto?

[WERKER]

Being a Crown Vic , it will be an auto. Is it only noisy when it is put into gear ?

[charger0122]

sounds like a loose fly wheel or a loose torque conveter or it could just be one of the torqe converter bolt loose

[nsl]

Most of the time.For some reason you can hear it sometimes in park,sometimes in gear,and sometimes both.I can leave work in the afternoon,and not hear the noise,go down the road a few miles,go in a store,without the car making the noise.Then I can come back out and start the car,and as soon as I put it in gear to back out I hear it,BUT sometimes I hear it after a long drive to.I am concerned that it may be a main bearing,but would a bearing get louder as I reved the engine or increase speed on the road?Shouldnt,ANY knock get louder by reving or driving?

[Shikkapow]

.I am concerned that it may be a main bearing,but would a bearing get louder as I reved the engine or increase speed on the road?Shouldnt,ANY knock get louder by reving or driving?
Oh,the car is a 99 Ford Crown Victoria with 60,000 miles,and has done the noise ever since I got it at about 38,000 miles.

It has been doing it for 22,000 miles...Personally I wouldn't be too worried about it.(but I would have been concerned when I first heard it)

[WERKER]

Shouldnt,ANY knock get louder by reving or driving? Not necessarily , revving it up or putting it under a load can mask the noise . Well, if it's not a repetitive ticking noise that would rule out Ford's noisy fuel injectors . If it's more like a metallic clunking noise given what you've said, i would venture to say it might be within the exhaust system ( heat shield , catalytic converter, manifold ) , putting the car in gear will change vibration patterns making it seem like an in-gear problem , but it sounds like it varies . Go buy an auto stethoscope and pinpoint the noise, that will tell you rather quickly where the problem might be .

[gwitness]

I chased a similer problem around on a Mustang.....ended up completely draining the trans and torque convertor {fords have removable plug in the convertor}and refilling with mercon5 and a pint of dura-lube...problem gone.

[nsl]

Notice I said that I notice it for a little bit after I change the oil,and sometimes when idling in park.I dont know much about cars,but would that rule out a trans issue?The car was owned by an old man and lady before I got it,so I dont think it was run hard.I have been told that Fords are notorious for rear main bearing knocks.I have thought of taking it to several mechanics and get opinions,but like I said,I will get opinions ranging from "I wouldnt worry" to "Your motor is fucked,and needs replacing."

[Nobeard]

When my car is at normal idle,I can put it in gear and hear a light cluck,cluck,cluck coming from underneath.
First thing Id do is look underneath for feathers...
Sounds like the chicken didnt make it across the road!

Ok,seriously:
Rod bearing first start making noise when the engine isnt loaded down,just ideling in park or neutral.
If you lightly rev the engine and hear a "rattle" "knock" or "chatter" as the rpm starts to drop off its usually the rods.

Most of the time,you only hear main bearings knocking when the car is under load/going down the road.Its usually more noticable under light to moderate acceleration.

Sounds like a loose heat shield,or maybe the flywheel bolts.
Did you check the motor and trans mounts?
When those are worn and get loose,all kinds of things can start moving around that shouldnt and the exhaust system will make all kinds of wierd/intermittant noises when that happens.
It can also tear up electrical wiring and hoses to the power steering,trans cooler lines and heater core.
At 60K miles I would definantly check all the mounts first.

[JPMAYHEM]

I would also guess some part of the exhaust system or heat shields making noise.

[Wayne_Fontana]

It might be your belt tensioner. They have a tendency to go real slow over several months, the springs in the belt tensioner slowly get weak and don't do their job and yoy will hear this clunk clunk type noise. C heck it out.

[63DH8]

If it's still under warrentee, let the dealer take care of it. Don't spend the money if you don't have to. This also means, if you are going to sell it, don't worry about it and simply let the new owner deal with it.

[FredMaxwell]

I have heard that you can make them fix it AFTER the warranty period if you have it DOCUMENTED DURING the warranty period (At one of their dealerships, of course)

[nsl]

Today I noticed that if I am just cruising and need to hit the throttle,I'll get a split second of "clacking"and I do mean a split second.I have always noticed it and thought it was bad gas.Anyway,I came home and while in the driveway,I held my left foot on the gas while in gear,and king of "blipped" the throttle real quick,but not enough to break the tires loose or anything.I did this with the door open,and I did hear the noise come from underneath.That kind of fits with those of you that think something is loose,but I still go back to the noise be a little more noticable after oil changes,and kind of almost insist that it must be in the engine.Oh,I did have a front end squeek checked out today,and the car wouldnt make the noise so the guy couldnt give an opinion.

[Edj11]

sounds like a loose fly wheel or a loose torque conveter or it could just be one of the torqe converter bolt loose

I think Charger has it right. Most likely a loose torque converter bolt. I have seen this before in a 4.6/Auto combo on a ford.

[nsl]

Like I said,I dont know much about how stuff on cars work.So,does a torque converter move while the car is in park?I was under the impression that it didnt move until the trans is put in gear.I did say it the noise is sometimes noticable in park.

[Gjohnson]

Torque converter is bolted to flexplate(some people call it a flywheel but its not) and turns with engine speed, transmits power to trans though veins/fluid.
It could be a cracked flex plate. If it were bearings, whether main or rod they probalby wouldn't have lasted this long.

[Edj11]

Like I said,I dont know much about how stuff on cars work.So,does a torque converter move while the car is in park?I was under the impression that it didnt move until the trans is put in gear.I did say it the noise is sometimes noticable in park.

Yes it spins in the same rotation and rotational speed as the engine. Imagine it as a pump, as it spins faster it creates more pressure engaging the transmission. (of course it is more complex then that)