# Engine noise on cold start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** explorer-sport, engines, ford\ **Created:** [July 27, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464 "2024-07-27T18:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jd8516\_190769](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jd8516\_190769](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jd8516_190769)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/1 "2024-07-27T18:39:17Z")
My wife’s car started making this noise a few weeks ago. I’m hoping someone can help point me in the right direction as far as figuring out what’s going on. It only happens on the first start of the day (cold start) and only lasts 2-3 seconds, then sounds completely normal. Our driveway is slopped and it seems to only happen when we’ve parked it upslope (front of the car is higher) overnight. I’m wondering if it’s a timing chain but not sure how that would be related to it only happening once a day? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as this is certainly not my area of expertise! It’s a ‘17 Explorer Sport with the 3.5 Ecoboost with 80k miles on it. Here is a video… [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/c/bc865ba3784e64c8217af05703c44873d815abcf.jpeg "2017 Explorer Sport engine noise") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNF4Zv9gmrw) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/2 "2024-07-27T18:56:43Z")
[https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=2017+explorer+engine+tap+at+start-up+3.5+ecoboost+engine#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:eded1bae,vid:eC2eNd9g9XE,st:0](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=2017+explorer+engine+tap+at+start-up+3.5+ecoboost+engine#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:eded1bae,vid:eC2eNd9g9XE,st:0) Tester ---
**Author:** ![jd8516\_190769](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jd8516\_190769](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jd8516_190769)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/3 "2024-07-27T18:59:22Z")
I’ll check to see if ours is apart of the recall, thanks for that! ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/4 "2024-07-27T21:44:48Z")
Are there any fans in the engine compartment spinning when this occurs? On a 2017, probably not. But if so, make sure the blades are in good shape and are not hitting anything. ---
**Author:** ![jd8516\_190769](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jd8516\_190769](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jd8516_190769)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/5 "2024-07-28T01:10:29Z")
I’ve looked around as much as I could and didn’t see anything that appeared to be out of the norm. I’m thinking it going to be the Cam Phasers that was linked in a previous reply and/or the timing chain. Unfortunately the recall on the cam phasers has expired! ---
**Author:** ![fmaddin\_190802](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@fmaddin\_190802](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fmaddin_190802)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-noise-on-cold-start/195464/6 "2024-07-30T21:17:41Z")
Try this, see if it goes away. My 2011 sounds like a diesel for the first few seconds. This prevents that. I cold start my truck like this to prevent further issues. Takes around 12 seconds for mine to get oil pressure on the gauge. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/3/8335beffde42ed326a5d4e6960596c553dc5a164.jpeg "3.5L Ecoboost F150 Rattle on Startup then gone, Try this - Could Fix Ford's Phaser Problem") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFI2URUsx0Y&t=8s)