# Sounds like a machine gun **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 27, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981 "2013-01-27T08:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LMNONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LMNONE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LMNONE)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/1 "2013-01-27T08:47:25Z")
about two days ago we were driving home and our van started to make a noise when we press on the gas pedal. it sounds like a machine gun under the hood. what can it be? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/2 "2013-01-27T08:51:54Z")
See if you popped a spark plug. Tester ---
**Author:** ![LMNONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LMNONE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LMNONE)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/3 "2013-01-27T08:58:18Z")
when you say popped can a piece of it be rattling in the engine? can it be a wheel bearing? ---
**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:** [January 27, 2013, 9:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/4 "2013-01-27T09:04:15Z")
Look on the engine, and see if there’s a spark plug that’s no longer in the engine. You know what else would help? If you told us what make, year, and model of van you’re talking about. Tester ---
**Author:** ![LMNONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LMNONE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LMNONE)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/5 "2013-01-27T09:05:30Z")
sorry it is a ford windstar 2000 ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/6 "2013-01-27T09:07:49Z")
@LMONE I’ll make a few guesses. The check engine light is on. Maybe the check engine light is even flashing. If your engine is a late model Ford V8 or V10, I’ll agree with @Tester. You almost definitely blew out a plug. And it’ll have taken the coil along with it. Quite common, unfortunately. If we’re right, replace all of the plugs and that one coil now. ---
**Author:** ![LMNONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LMNONE](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LMNONE)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/7 "2013-01-27T09:12:15Z")
thank you for the advise we will definitely that…yes the engine light is on. it flashes ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/8 "2013-01-27T09:16:01Z")
@LMONE Make Model Year Engine Miles A flashing check engine light means the misfire is severe enough to damage the catalytic converter. Continue driving the van at your own risk. A plugged cat won’t be cheap to replace. Unfortunately you may have to remove the doghouse (the engine cover which is underneath your center console, most likely) to inspect the engine. ---
**Author:** ![98caddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/bb73d2/32.png) [@98caddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/98caddy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 10:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/9 "2013-01-27T10:18:34Z")
A company I used to work for had a spark plug blow out of their Ford 15-passenger van (V8) - I think it was about a 2001 model. I wasn’t in it at the time, but I was told that’s how it sounded. Unfortunately, it cost them $2,200.00 to have it repaired. ---
**Author:** ![alust2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@alust2013](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alust2013)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/10 "2013-01-27T10:40:47Z")
Almost certainly a plug blown out of the engine, however @db4690 , the windstar has a transverse mounted V6, much easier to see if anything has happened, and doesn’t have the doghouse. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/11 "2013-01-27T15:24:08Z")
It could even be just loose. Check all for tightness. I would remove and check each one otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/12 "2013-01-27T22:01:33Z")
@alust2013 do the Ford V6 engines also blow plugs out? The V8s and V10s are essentially the same engine, with the V10 having 2 cylinder more. But I believe the V6 was an entirely different design? ---
**Author:** ![alust2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@alust2013](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alust2013)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 9:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/13 "2013-01-28T09:57:50Z")
I’m not sure if it was a common problem, as it is a different design, but I figured it was still certainly possible given the age and likely high miles. ---
**Author:** ![Stoveguyy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Stoveguyy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stoveguyy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/14 "2013-01-28T19:57:35Z")
Could be a broken valve spring, rocker arm, it is a pushrod motor. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/15 "2013-01-28T22:27:46Z")
There are a lot of possibilities and a number of them probable. Including some identified in i this thread as well as a spun main bearing. The important thing to know is that until you know exactly what’s wrong, you can assume that every time you start the engine it does more damage, so it’s imperative that you have this towed to a shop and not try to drive it. With luck it’ll be one of the less detructive possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![starg8fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@starg8fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/starg8fan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sounds-like-a-machine-gun/76981/16 "2017-06-20T19:30:30Z")
I have a '98 GMC 1500. It is also making a machine gun noise but only between 40-47-ish mph. It doesn’t do it every time and varies in length from a split second to possibly 10 seconds. If I let off the gas, it quits. On a side note, not sure if important, I recently had the transmission rebuilt, but the truck seems to be shifting fine