Will a bad lifter cause a vehicle sputter and tick loudly? and will it cause the plugs to burn up?

(2010-11-15 03:10:05)

1. CountryMom84 Says: OK so the beginning i was home went to leave and my battery was dead. a neighbor came over and jumped me off. so on my way to nashville which was roughly 100 miles everything was just fine, about a block away from my destination as i was going up aa very slight incline my van which is a 2001 ford windstar with 120k on it lost power, started spitting, sputtering so bad it wouldn't even idle by it self. i drove it to a nearby parts store and they said it was misfiring in 3 cylindars so my husband changed the plugs which was burned up completely and we changed wires still no fix but it does stay running by itself now and it got a lot of its power back. we changed the coil and still no change. at this time it is not throwing any codes. it runs rough still when idling still and the loud ticking sound get faster when you accelerate. can someone please help us? we really need to get back home.

2. mobile mike Says: try unplugging/replacing the knock sensor. the computer "sees"any engine noise as detonation and will keep retarding the ignition timing until it will barely run.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++… sorry my answer was a little too general for some. the proper way to check a knock sensor is to hook up a scan tool and tap on the intake manifold.look for knock counts on the scan tool. of course with a tapping lifter you wont have to tap on the intake, the lifter is doing that for you. a lifter can tap and not be totally collapsed. its inside the engine so in my mind it's an internal engine problem that's fooling the computer.not to say that's what's wrong. just something to check.

3. Dan Says: if you have a bad lifter then your valve is not going to open so it wont fire, if the lifter is compressed there is probably slop between your rocker arm and push rod causing the loud tick noise. but it could be many things, the loud tick suggests a mechanical engine component, i wouldn't waste my time replacing any more parts until it is diagnosed properly.
the above poster is assuming that an internal engine failure is your fault when nothing has been presented to suggest this, internal engine components fail just like tie rods and ball joints it may have nothing to do with your maintenance at all.
Driving the car any farther will do nothing but cause more problems down the road, your options seem to be A. stay there and get the vehicle repaired while finding a place to stay.
B. rent a car and have yours towed so you can bring it to a shop you trust.

4. bandit_60 Says: put some fuel injector cleaner in it. it sounds like you go water the last place you got gas.

5. Adam Says: Have your fuel injectors checked

6. P W Says: Here is my help.

Do proper maintenance on your vehicles. Don't just put gas in them and drive until they blow up then expect someone to have an easy answer like "oh just replace the plugs". If you had been changing oil on schedule with the proper oil your lifter wouldn't have failed, and you wouldn't be stuck out of town right now. You will pay for mainenance..... one way or another. either pay when its due or pay later with interest when car breaks down.

sorry to tell you there is no easy fix need skills and tools to diagnose. if it runs half way right just drive it back home like it is and give to your mechanic for repair.