I Love my 98 Continental and will drive it till it dies and replace it with another. Back to the point. I've had mine for over a Year now, not once had a problem, bought it with 118,000 now has 139,000 miles on it. But After 3 / 4 months of use, I noticied a wierd, fast pinging noise coming from the the engine compartment when I take it near 3,800 RPM only while driving. Whats wierd is that it doesn't do it all the time. It's not an engine knock, sounds more like it a pinging noise, as if it has bad gas. My Car Always runs on Brand Premiem Fuel Always ( top Priority), Mobile 1 (5w-30) synthetic, New filters, plugs & coils are fine. I thought it was bad gas at first so I stuck a good fuel system additive in it and nothing. I Gave it and STP Oil Treatment and nothing. Though it never does this noise while in park nor nuetral even if I floor it to it's limit on either 2, only while taking it near and above 3,800 RPM while driving. I took it took it past 5,000 RPM to get back on the freeway off the shoulder once and it didnt do it, minutes before I sprinted a traffic light up to 4,000 RPM & it did it. On normal ( Grampy )driving, U won't here a thing. What gives???
Odd engine noise from my 98 Continental
- Thread starter pokeeto2
- Start date
John Hubertz
Well-Known LVC Member
Hmmmmm. Do these cars have knock sensors? I notice Premium is recommended rather then required....and whatever controls spark advance might be malfunctioning under load.
I know that in 99 and up. I heard Ford used the knock sensors so that Premium isn't a requirement but this car runs so well with Premium. I notice that in thses engines, SOHC 4.6's , 5.4's and Intech DOHC, from expirience they both make a maraca like noise when using 87 and sometimes 89 octane. But every Continental I've driven, 1---95, 2-- 97's, 8 ---98's. 1--99, 1-2000, they all sufered when using 87, or 89 octane, gas mileage goes down, slower pickup and noise. I am not familiar with the knock sensor thing but I I'm starting to believe that I am not having a fuel issue. Though I'll research some more about these sensors. The engine is properly tuned, coils are fine and there is no hesitation. I dont believe it's a rod nor lifters cuz one would here that stuff right at startup and reving. The engine doesnt do this all the time.
John Hubertz
Well-Known LVC Member
I'm voting knock sensors till proven wrong....my SVO Mustang did that, and it had the same "Premium Recommended" note in the owner's manual (it also had a switch on the dash to detune the turbo with regular fuel).
Also, there has been quite a bit of fluff in the press about stations selling premium but letting their high-octane blend tank run out, thus giving you the 87 octane on all three pumps. You might switch stations....
Also, there has been quite a bit of fluff in the press about stations selling premium but letting their high-octane blend tank run out, thus giving you the 87 octane on all three pumps. You might switch stations....
I'll try it. I'm out here in Connecticut, so it gets cold up here. Come to think about it. I was fine last summer. This sound came up when the Winter came. Its a high miled car and I put 21,000 miles in one year on it. Though I changed the filter personaly when I bought it.
Hey John, How did yours make the noise and in what occasion. Mine does it only while driving. If I park or nuetral it, then rev the engine, the car revs like it was new. Though where are the Knock sensors located in the 4.6 DOHC motor?
John Hubertz
Well-Known LVC Member
I don't even know for sure we have them.... I just know some cars do, and when they act up it pings just like you describe.
C'mon one of you techies, help us out!
C'mon one of you techies, help us out!
godspunk32
New LVC Member
The 98' Conti engine does have dual knock sensors. They are located under the upper intake manifold.
From the 98' Ford Service CD...
1. Remove the lower intake manifold
2. Disconnect the connectors from the knock sensors (KS)
3. Remove the knock sensors.
And here's the picture...
JR
From the 98' Ford Service CD...
1. Remove the lower intake manifold
2. Disconnect the connectors from the knock sensors (KS)
3. Remove the knock sensors.
And here's the picture...
JR
John Hubertz
Well-Known LVC Member
Sweeeeeet! Love these simple Ford engines with repairable problems....
John Hubertz
Well-Known LVC Member
Hey - saw a similar concern posted on the LS threads - it was replied to by someone who sounded VERY familiar with the problem....
Could be quite serious - he talked about an injector running lean or a couple of other serious conditions... here's the quote:
Could be quite serious - he talked about an injector running lean or a couple of other serious conditions... here's the quote:
2001LS8Sport said:
Got the fuel filter done, dunno if it's just me but it seemed to of reduced a little. Sprinted a light, around 3,900 RPM to 4,400 it did it and i climed it and around 5,000 to 5,500 ( Just to test ) and it was harldy audible. As long as this sound doesn't intefere in normal driving ( If it doesn't worcen since it seems to of souned the same since it started ) I will not yet do the dirty work with the engine. I still lean to knock sensors though. It does sound like the pinging of the old 5.0V8 (302) if it was over timed for some more ponies.
Read the reply about a dude with a similar sounding issue on his LS. Can a diognostics center determine if my Knock sensors are bad? ( Yeah, now I ask ) I don't wanna replace this and that without knowing for sure of the cause. Stike out my last reply, I can't stand going farther knowing that this sound will always be there. Love my 98 Conti but I don't wanna make it suffer much longer!!!!! My Conti's grill went from a smile to a grin. If it's happy, I'm happy.
This Easter Sunday, Just turn 19 and wanted to start a new top speed record. I just felt like nailing the car to where I haven't before on a nice copless highway stretch that begins at the stoplight. I floored it so hard the even at 30 it sreetched. I redlined at 6500 RPM 1st gear and I nailed it to take it up to 110 MPH. Felt good, what was wierd was in not a single momement did I hear the engine pinging.
Even wierder is that the gas was mixed with 89 octane since premium gas in most places is $3.00 here in Connecticut. The car screamed like it did when I first bought it.
I don't know if the warmer weather places a factor since lately its been over 62 degrees lately here in CT. Or that Marvel Mystery Oil and STP, Fuel system cleaners are good mix ? but that was 2500 miles ago. I guess I'll see what happens on the next oil change. Maybe the car read my mind and that it was ready to boogie that day too??? Dunno????
Even wierder is that the gas was mixed with 89 octane since premium gas in most places is $3.00 here in Connecticut. The car screamed like it did when I first bought it.
I don't know if the warmer weather places a factor since lately its been over 62 degrees lately here in CT. Or that Marvel Mystery Oil and STP, Fuel system cleaners are good mix ? but that was 2500 miles ago. I guess I'll see what happens on the next oil change. Maybe the car read my mind and that it was ready to boogie that day too??? Dunno????