muscledom

When I'm rolling really slow in 2nd gear, like when you roll through a stop sign in a parking lot (like 5 mph), and I give it gas there's a grinding noise. I took it to the Dodge dealership where I bought it and the service manager told me it was spark knock. Is this a possibility or is the dealership trying to get out of doing warranty work?

UnrealFord

Does it happen everytime in those circumstances? If so get second opinion from another Ford dealer.

muscledom

Yea only at really low speed. They offered to send it over to ford but I think that the only way to get a real true diagnosis is to pay ford to diagnose it thinking it's a retail job, not a warranty issue.

AlsCobra

What octane fuel are you running? If not premium, try it. Could be a light spark knock detonation at low speed higher gear.

muscledom

The manual recommends regular 87 so that's what I run.

AlsCobra

Not a mustang but my truck does the same thing with regular. Have to run the middle grade stuff. Just try a tank of premium. It definitely can't hurt. If it is detonation, this should take care of it. It's more of a clatter noise right?

muscledom

I'll give it a shot, but I definitely want to get a couple different opinions before my warranty runs out. As far as the noise goes it sounds like more or a grinding to me but I guess it could be described as that.

muscledom

Out of curiosity I tried to make the same thing happen in 3rd gear and I got the same results. Would that indicate spark knock or a transmission/clutch issue?

AlsCobra

Same thing. Low rpm high gear under a load. Pretty sure higher octane should take care of it.

muscledom

Thanks Al, I'll give it a shot man. It's kinda starting to get through to me haha

AlsCobra

No prob man. If it is the noise that I think it is, it's called detonation or pinging. Not good but at least it's not at high rpm's. Hope it takes care of things. Low octane fuel may be recommended but with the addition of ethanol everywhere, just might not be burning it well enough. It sucks because my work truck forces me to use higher octane and it's like wasting money.

muscledom

Yea man I hear ya, pissing away money is the pits. Next tank is gonna be 93

ford4v429

my 06 (100% stock) rarely pings, but likes sunoco gas...cheaper grades get crap mileage and occasional low rpm pinging. funny, if I run sunoco 89, i get 20 mpg, sunoco 87, 18...the occasional off brand gets 16-17(overall driving- highway seems around 24 irregardless)

my wifes chevy loves the cheepest gas you can find...07 avalanche, she gets 18 avg on giant eagles gas, our other cars wont hardly run on it...put better gas or 89, mpg falls to 14...weird how some like crap fuel, some dont...

FordService

Hi muscledom,

If you are still under your Ford warranty, you should not have to pay them for diagnosis unless they determine it’s not a warrantable repair. If your Dodge dealership is willing to send it over for you to make sure it’s covered, do it. They will be in the best position to look into this concern for you and get it repaired. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help.

Deysha

muscledom

Yea Al was right, it was spark knock haha. Now it grinds going in to 3rd and 4th, only in the morning, and only once each. Happened yesterday morning and I thought maybe I just didn't have the clutch in all the way but it happened this morning too and I know the clutch was to the floor. From what I've been told it's probably the syncros (sp?). Does that sound right?

muscledom

Thanks for the info Deysha. I'm at 57k an it's an 08 so I think I'm still covered right?

FordService

Your Powertrain warranty is 5yrs/60K miles. Your dealer will be able to tell you if the repair is covered after they diagnose the problem.

Deysha

AlsCobra

Glad I could help man. The trans grind is probably from the fluid issue mentioned many times. It's a temperature thing. Don't let it go too long because a grind is actually doing damage to the blocker ring and syncro.

muscledom

Yea man for sure. Gonna bring it to Ford probably early next week

FordService

Cool! Let me know if you need me.

Deysha