2.3 is making a ticking after we replaced valvecover gasket and waterpump that was leaking. I think its coming from the power steering pump or belt, my uncle believes its in the valve covers. Nothing was done really, I took some of the sludge on top that was dried but didnt otherwise touch anything else.

Anythign I should be checking?

I really dont want to tear open the valvecovers again, I have school in the morning

Trying to find a way to upload a video, whether it will help or not...

EDIT- We can now hear a pssshhhhh sound when engine is cut off. Valve covers have no marks from hitting on them, so thats not it. Were thinking a vacuum leak. We replaced three of the hoses that were broke, but can seem to find the leak, though there is an obvious sound. It could be intake manifold, but its torqued to spec, and we checked the gaskets (just replace them with the valve covers). Is there a hose on the back of the engine might be missing to check? I got the one that runs to the little tee with the other vacuum hose. I'm just stumped.

If it helps any, I touched the wire on the top back side of the intake manifold, and it died a time or two. Whether its related IDK.

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

For the video

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

one of those playing cards are in the spokes of the wheel.lol

sorry had to, sounds like the lifter did not prime if it has lifters don't know about the motor you have. someone is bound to know that sound

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 , Stepside,FRF decals, 4.0L SOHC decals, Primus IQ brake controller, curt 2" rec. hitch, custom winch mount,
Tinted glass, Yellow BUGGMAN OVALS a real treat to have. OHC, CB, night vision goggles, 36" periscope,
DiabloAmarillo = The Yellow Devil

I had the same firs treaction. "What the hell is catching on the belt/fan?" Though it was wind doing it to a paper on a hose or something, checked all and to no avail.

I think my uncle might tear into it tomm while Im at school. He swears its the valvecovers, but I have no idea here.

Prime them? What would cause me to have to prime them? Ad if so, what would one do to prime them at this point?

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

if it has hydraulic lifters sometimes when the oil leaks back down they do not pump up with oil they lose their prime as it is called.
I have just been lucky to pour some oil down the pushrod to the top of the lifter and once it starts it should prime or maybe a lifter collapsed even. hard to tell withoutbeing there. but start it with the valve cover off ,be ready for some spraying oil and you will be able to tell which one it is by the sound.

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 , Stepside,FRF decals, 4.0L SOHC decals, Primus IQ brake controller, curt 2" rec. hitch, custom winch mount,
Tinted glass, Yellow BUGGMAN OVALS a real treat to have. OHC, CB, night vision goggles, 36" periscope,
DiabloAmarillo = The Yellow Devil

Heh, oh boy.

Took the cap off earlier when we were troubleshooting, I will say one thing, oill is spraying lol.

The sound is definately from ner the powersteering pump, whether its in the valve covers or not lol.

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

if it is from the power steering leave the valve covers on, can you take the belt off the power steering and see if noise goes away

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 , Stepside,FRF decals, 4.0L SOHC decals, Primus IQ brake controller, curt 2" rec. hitch, custom winch mount,
Tinted glass, Yellow BUGGMAN OVALS a real treat to have. OHC, CB, night vision goggles, 36" periscope,
DiabloAmarillo = The Yellow Devil

Really? How would I do that? I mean, how would I wrap the belt in order to make it fit correctly this way?

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

maybe just take the belt right off?

Yeah, that...

First thing I though was waterpump, overheating, bad.

But it wont be that long, so I guess I'll give it a shot.

Ignore the fact I even asked lol

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

LOL its all good man we all have brain farts every now and then

You said you cleaned some dry crud off of the inside(?) off the valve covers, that makes me think of crap getting loose and clogging the push rod, making the lifter fail to pump back up after sitting. Again, if they're hydrolic.

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08 4.0 Sport 4x4
Stock

the 2.3L's are DOHC, no lifters

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2012 mustang premium v6 pony package
702 crew
XBGT:IKONIK MOPAR

Wasnt water pump, looks like the valvecovers are coming off.

Anything I should be looking for, I dont see how anything could have shifted there.

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust

Updated first post with some new information we found

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2003 Ford Ranger Regular Cab 2WD
Modified Air Intake , 17 Inch Wheels , Custom Interior, Custom Ford Emblems, Black Headlight Covers, Tinted Euro Tailights, Tinted Third Brake Light, Purple Underglow, Engine Dress Up (In progress), Air Box Mod Sony XPLod Subs/Amps, Aux Lights, Hand Made Grille Inserts, Playing Card Vinyl, LineX Bed Liner, Some undercoating (in progress), Dual Exhaust