its making a fast clicking noise like a toy machine gun noise…its not knocking in motor noise I know those noises…its almost like the timing noises in older cars…it only does it when I accelerate and only in gear…it doesn’t do it in idle…the van jerks at stops…repetitive jerks unless I barely hold down the gas…the clicking noise has gotten worse as I’ve tried to floor it to see if the noise would click itself out…its only if I accelerate and sometimes it seems that its only when i over accelerate past the initial gear speed
RESPONSE
The Ford Freestar was first introduced in 2004. Before that was the Ford Windstar produced from 1994-2003. But was available in Canada in 2002 as a Ford Freestar. So I am going to assume this is a Canadian Version. Not certain of the engine that is in yours.
I would like to determine if this noise in internal or external in the engine. Removing the drive belt and testing should be helpful. If the noise goes away with the drive belt removed, the problem is external and you can then look at the bearings in the pulleys and or accessories driven by the belt. If the noise is still there, then you know the noise is internal. The most likely reason for and internal noise as you described it would be timing chain related.