Does this sound "normal"?

[Rdaly101]

My '22 2.3L Bronco(I know) started making this noise during cold starts(video attached). I brought it into the dealer and they said the noise is considered "normal" and told me Ford is aware of the issue and published a response code : SSM 51465. I have read alot about the cam phaser issues but Ford is saying those are exclusive to the 2.7L engines. I bought the car in July of "23 used with 21K on it. I'm up to 36,500 and out of the bumper to bumper warranty. I love this vehicle and would prefer to keep it but I don't know what to do. The noise goes away with in a minute or 2 of driving it. So my options are ignore it and rely on the 60K powertrain warranty, add an extended warranty or cut my losses and buy a new car. Would welcome everyone's thoughts.

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[Ride Em Bronco]

Although your video is not opening up to see/hear, since the extreme cold spell hit in PA a month ago, my recently purchased 2024 2.3 Big Bend, which I park outside, does make an engine noise when I first start it. But I do let the vehicle warm up while observing the Hot Cold temperature reading display, which I consider as an operating range. And I never operate the vehicle until at least the LED first temperature indication appears - which also is about the time that the engine noise is gone. And I drive it slow until I see the second LED temperature indicator appear. Hope that helps. Maybe others can chime in with a more technical response.

 

[Ducati1098]

I have no idea what that noise is. Doubt it's phasers, but either way it doesn't sound normal to me.

 

[NC_Oak]

I have a 2024 2.3 and startred some weeks ago when we had temps in the teens or 20s (cant remember what the actual temp was when I started it) and I don't know how that compares to your cold start temps, but mine sounded pretty dang "normal". It certainly didn't sound like your clip. You have a lot of powertrain warranty remaining and perhaps still some cold temps up in RI to continue to monitor it and troubleshoot. But if you have a catastrophic failure you're still covered for a couple more years

 

[Ride Em Bronco]

My '22 2.3L Bronco(I know) started making this noise during cold starts(video attached). I brought it into the dealer and they said the noise is considered "normal" and told me Ford is aware of the issue and published a response code : SSM 51465. I have read alot about the cam phaser issues but Ford is saying those are exclusive to the 2.7L engines. I bought the car in July of "23 used with 21K on it. I'm up to 36,500 and out of the bumper to bumper warranty. I love this vehicle and would prefer to keep it but I don't know what to do. The noise goes away with in a minute or 2 of driving it. So my options are ignore it and rely on the 60K powertrain warranty, add an extended warranty or cut my losses and buy a new car. Would welcome everyone's thoughts.

"NO VIDEO WITH SUPPORTED FORMAT AND MIME TYPE FOUND"

I wish that I could at least hear your video??

 

[jrollo7]

"NO VIDEO WITH SUPPORTED FORMAT AND MIME TYPE FOUND"

I wish that I could at least hear your video??

his video and sound worked perfectly for me. Weird.

 

[JadeMyWorld]

Sounds to me like something is loose and scraping. I typically remote start mine but will listen to mine in a cold start.

 

[timhood]

I don't have the 2.3, but this doesn't sound normal for any engine that isn't a diesel, Ford or otherwise. See if you can more closely pinpoint where the sound originates by lifting the hood and standing close. Some people have used stethoscopes to help diagnose where the sound originates. But the dealer you took it to didn't even make an effort. I'd go for a second opinion because

SSM51465 doesn't even cover the Bronco (although some other vehicles with the 2.3 EcoBoost are listed). More importantly, it has nothing to do with the sound you are experiencing. It is specifically for engines that "may exhibit a light to moderate ticking type noise at idle (600-700 RPM)." I've heard that ticking in other engines (Ford and others), and it's quiet enough that you often wouldn't notice it unless the hood is up. This is better described by 'Twas the Night Before Christmas when there "rose such a clatter!"

 

[rpaluch1]

I have a 22 OBX 2.3 with 33000 miles. Mine makes the same noise on startup and by the time the idle returns to normal it’s gone. No issues with the engine ever. The engine made the same noise at startup even before I did the Ford Performance tune.

 

[HotdogThud]

I bet it's because you tried to start the car upside down.

 

[UncleBrad]

Sounds to me like something is loose and scraping. I typically remote start mine but will listen to mine in a cold start.

I was thinking the same thing. Without getting in there, it's sometimes hard to tell where it is and what's doing it. Back in the 70s I remember loose vacuum lines causing crazy sounds.

My 2.3L 7MT has what sounds like a synchronizer gear noise when started on a cold morning. Pushing in the clutch makes it go away.

 

[thesocalexplorer]

Two thoughts come to mind for me. Sounds almost like a heat shield vibrating, does it come back when you drive it around 1200RPM (cold high idle RPM)? That would rule out if it's RPM dependent.

Other thought that comes to mind is the wastegate actuator being loose and vibrating, I know that was pretty common on some of the other 4 popper ecoboosts back in the day.

From my ear, doesn't really sound like anything internal to the engine... unless it's timing chain related, which wouldn't go away once warmed up.

 

[Rdaly101]

I just fired it up again. I think its coming lower in the engine.

 

[hilmar2k]

Sounds like timing chain noise. No idea if that's an issue on those engines, though.

 

[ejaffe]

I had a similar sound on another vehicle. It was a heat shield with a spot weld that was cracked so the weld was not holding the metal. The vibration made that noise. Not sure if there is a similar shield anywhere near the motor but you can look under the truck and check.

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