A friend of mine has a 2001 model year Mondeo with an 1800 Duratech.

It's had a tapping noise from the top end ever since he bought it and recently he decided to do something about it. It sounded like tappets so he phoned Ford to price a new set. Ford said to him "have you checked the intake manifold"

They appear to be correct, with a stethoscope on the plastic intake manifold the noise can clearly be herd and more towards the cam belt end.

Anyone herd if this before or know what could be the cause. I work for Volvo and they use the 1.8 Duratech in the S40/V50 however, I have never come across this tapping noise.

The Volvo also uses the plastic intake manifold and has swirl throttles inside it. Does the Mondeo use the same system?

Anyone come across this before?