I have an 97 passport lx. Every time I start the engine, I hear this knocking noise coming from the engine. I don't know what it is. Some guy told me that it has something to do with the rod and that the engine is no good. The engine has 163,000 miles on it. Can you tell me what is making the knocking noise? Can it be fix or do I need a new engine?

maivku3 wrote:

I have an 97 passport lx. Every time I start the engine, I hear this knocking noise coming from the engine. I don't know what it is. Some guy told me that it has something to do with the rod and that the engine is no good. The engine has 163,000 miles on it. Can you tell me what is making the knocking noise? Can it be fix or do I need a new engine?

Well first thing first-get a doctor's ear probe the middle of the engine do you hear it in there. if its a rod it will make a thudding noise-when you accelerate it will intensify and gradually lessen up at higher speed and when you decelerate it intensify again.

Hows the oil level? An empty oil or low level crankcase will make a noise in the engine and then seized big time mainly due to lack of preventive maintenance and there's goes your back pocket.

You need to identify what type of noise it is and comeback maybe I can help.

okay, i just did an oil change today. the clicking/knocking noise is still there. I can only hear the sound when the car is on idle. once i speed up i can't really hear it until i come to a stop. I ask the mechanic that was changing my oil about the noise and he says it was normal for the 3.2 liters to be doing that. so what is your opinion?

here is the deal, the guy that i was selling my car to told me that the knocking was a rod knock. i don't know what that is. he continue to explain it but i have no clue to what he is talking about. he told me the engine needs to be replace and i shouldn't be driving it because it is not safe. he test drive the car and say he can still hear the knocking noise but the transmission shifts fine. he told me the oil pressure gauge reads low but when i look at the manuel book it says the oil is normal. after all is said and done, he offer me a price of $400 to take my car. his friend so happen to be driving near by decided to stop by and check out the car. he said samething but later on, he offer me $1,200 for the car. does this sounds like a scan? are these guys trying to rip me off?

All i know about the knocking noise is, i could hear it knocking when the car is idle but once i speed up or reving it up i can't hear it. i don't know if its a big problem or not. any opinion of yours will be greatly appreciated. sorry, this is the best i can describe it because i don't know much about the engine.

maivku3 wrote:

okay, i just did an oil change today. the clicking/knocking noise is still there. I can only hear the sound when the car is on idle. once i speed up i can't really hear it until i come to a stop. I ask the mechanic that was changing my oil about the noise and he says it was normal for the 3.2 liters to be doing that. so what is your opinion? here is the deal, the guy that i was selling my car to told me that the knocking was a rod knock. i don't know what that is. he continue to explain it but i have no clue to what he is talking about. he told me the engine needs to be replace and i shouldn't be driving it because it is not safe. he test drive the car and say he can still hear the knocking noise but the transmission shifts fine. he told me the oil pressure gauge reads low but when i look at the manuel book it says the oil is normal. after all is said and done, he offer me a price of $400 to take my car. his friend so happen to be driving near by decided to stop by and check out the car. he said samething but later on, he offer me $1,200 for the car. does this sounds like a scan? are these guys trying to rip me off? All i know about the knocking noise is, i could hear it knocking when the car is idle but once i speed up or reving it up i can't hear it. i don't know if its a big problem or not. any opinion of yours will be greatly appreciated. sorry, this is the best i can describe it because i don't know much about the engine.

Does it sounds more like a ticking and tapping, if it is sounds like lifters. Try listening to it and describe where its coming from top or bottom of engine.

it sounds like a ticking noise. the noise is coming from the bottom of the engine.

maivku3 wrote:

it sounds like a ticking noise. the noise is coming from the bottom of the engine.

Its a bad area-could be rod or main bearings-or a wrist pin,piston slap,bent crank etc.-dunno what to say its all up to you now, take the money and run or get a second opinion,

We also have a passport, and have had ours checked by many mechanics. They all had the same answers. It is the lifters and over time they will continue to get louder, until you have to have them replaced. The best solution that was given to us is to add a very small amount of transmission fluid to your oil until it is time for a change. When you have your oil changed use 20w-50, this helps somewhat quieten the ticking noise and is a thinner oil to push through your lifters.