Camshaft Position Sensor/Synchronizer - Tick/Chirp Symptom?

[Bronco638]

2001 Edge 3.0 with 126.5K miles.

My commute is about 8 miles, each way, which is about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Towards the end of each 'leg', I start to hear a "ticking". Initially, I thought it was a sticky lifter and it does sound like it's coming from near the firewall on the passenger side. But, the more I hear it, the more it sounds like a 'chirping'. And, wouldn't a sticky lifter tick all of the time?

Could this the the (dreaded) CMP?

UPDATE: I do not think it's the CMP. On the ride home (yesterday) and on the ride in (this morning), I had the radio off. The noise is not present when initially leaving, it starts about 4-6 miles later (well after the engine is fully warm). It's only audible at idle or very low speeds (< 10 mph). When I got home, I walked to the mail box to get the mail. When I got back, the noise had almost completely subsided (~60 seconds). I did the same thing when I got to work today, let the truck idle for a minute or two and the noise, again, subsided. It's most audible from under the truck and seems to be emanating from where the engine and transmission meet.

Flex-plate?

What's throwing me is that it's quite loud and then becomes less and less audible.

Torque converter?

 

[2813josh]

That's a definite possibility..although the ones I've heard are a constant chirping sound.

 

[Bronco638]

Updated info.

 

[RonD]

At 126k I would just change the syncro-shaft as preventative maintenance.

Syncro-shaft issues on the 3.0l are well known, and this shaft also runs the oil pump, so failure while driving could cause sever engine damage.

If you have a chirping noise replace the synco-shaft, if chirping is still there it wasn't wasted money because mileage on engine would dictate the change in any case.

 

[Bronco638]

Yeah, I agree but I don't think that's the current issue.

The noise I'm hearing is not consistent with the "squeal" normally associated with the CMP and seems to be coming from the bottom of the engine or tranny. Also, this ticking noise comes and goes (see my "update") in the original post.