How can i tell if my rear timing chain is broken?

mikeg216 · May 13, 2012

Hello all,
Just went out the other day to start my truck and it wont start.Battery is fine,fuel rail has pressure plugs have spark has compression but not great but it does have 214k on it front timing chain is okay and is moving but of course i cant see the back one and know of no way to check it please help!
Thanks
Mike Gaebelein

teckpro · May 13, 2012

My 98 also does not start

I am sorry I dont know how to start my own post.

My 98 explorer today stalled and would not start.

swapped relays , fuel pump ok.

starter turns engine , just wont start.

noticed check engine light lights on ignition , however after 6 seconds of crank it does not come back on .

Maybe bad crank sensor?

FordGT55 · May 13, 2012

mikeg216 said:
Hello all,
Just went out the other day to start my truck and it wont start.Battery is fine,fuel rail has pressure plugs have spark has compression but not great but it does have 214k on it front timing chain is okay and is moving but of course i cant see the back one and know of no way to check it please help!
Thanks
Mike Gaebelein

Technically you have to pull the engine to physically see it. You can do a compression check on the engine and pull the oil pan to see if the timing tensioners are broken into pieces and laying in the pan.

mikeg216 · May 14, 2012

I'm going to do a real compression test tomorrow but how can I get an accurate reading if the cam lobes aren't closed? Sonofabitch I don't wanna drop the pan!

derek_redneck91 · May 15, 2012

Does the engine at least crank over? Ya never said that so I'm thinking starter, maybe solanoid? As previously said you can't completely see your rear timing chain without pulling the motor (I just put a new motor in my explorer bc the timing chains were bad and it's too much of a PITA to replace them). To check the rear chain and the top of the tensioners you gotta take the left valve cover off (Left side if you are standing in front of the truck). This might be impossible without taking off the upper intake manifold. And yes! By taking off the oil pan you can check to see if theres chunks of plastic in the oil pan or oil pickup. If you do have plastic and/or metal in there like my old motor did, get rid of the motor.

2000StreetRod · May 15, 2012

Timing chain rattle resolution process - SOHC V6

Timing chain rattle resolution process - SOHC V6

mikeg216 · May 16, 2012

Yup cranks over easy in fact a little too easy, which is what has got me thinking that the chain is broke. Though right before it happened I hit a pot hole so big it knocked the positive cable off the battery. I put it back on went to the doctor and drove home. When I went out later that's when it wouldn't start. Anything I should look for?

FordGT55 · May 16, 2012

I doubt it's your timing chain. You would have noticed something had you been driving it an hour earlier. Check fuel pressure to start. Look at the inertia switch too.

mikeg216 · May 17, 2012

The inertia switch is in the passenger footwell correct?

budwich · May 17, 2012

get some "quick start" and see if anything happens when you spray it into the intake.

Sedition · May 17, 2012

Out of time?

mikeg216 said:
Hello all,
Just went out the other day to start my truck and it wont start.Battery is fine,fuel rail has pressure plugs have spark has compression but not great but it does have 214k on it front timing chain is okay and is moving but of course i cant see the back one and know of no way to check it please help!
Thanks
Mike Gaebelein

You will know if your rear guide is broken because the passenger side camshaft's timing will be over 10 degrees retarded. You may not hear any noise, however this will cause a poor and shakey idle. The cat on the passenger side will smoke under heavy load (such as driving in sand, driving up a mountain or towing) and you will notice some performance degredation. Some times when you turn the engine off, listen closly and you will hear a "hiss" into the exhaust just as the engine stops turning. Once you give her a proper compression test, all the cylinders on the passenger side will have a lower compression reading than the drivers side.

If the guide is broken and you do not want to remove the engine, you can simply retime the passenger side camshaft as a temporary measure be removing the timing cover only. Vice grips on the camshaft work just as well if not better then the flimsy timing tools avaliable from Ford.

If the guide is indeed broken I suggest you remove the lower oil pan, 10x10mm bolts, and remove the broken pieces as they will eventually work there way into the oil pickup giving you oil pressure issues at higher RPM's, you don't want that.

If you would like more information on retiming the camshaft to suit the rest of your engine simply say so and I will be more then happy to help out.

Contrary to popular belief the SOHC is a strong and resiliant engine. My truck has done well over 10,000 miles with a broken guide and the camshaft retimed to suit, and I drive her hard!

Good luck and happy exploring...

Sedition · May 17, 2012

mikeg216 said:
The inertia switch is in the passenger footwell correct?

Correct, there is a button on the top of the module. Push it in.

mikeg216 · May 18, 2012

Checked the fuel rail got sprayed in the face so pressure is there check all the plugs and wires and dist its all good but I can smell the unburnt fuel so I dunno

Sedition · May 18, 2012

what about the 12v plug that plugs into the back of the coil pack, is that plugged in?

mikeg216 · May 18, 2012

The idle has been rough and shakey for months. Until fully warmed and has been getting roughly 10mpg. As far as the cats go they were bad so I punched them out. Any help in getting the timing back in line will be greatly appreciated. But for now it won't start or idle even with ether.

mikeg216 · May 18, 2012

Thanks sedition I will check that out

derek_redneck91 · May 18, 2012

But if your plugs have spark then that 12v wire to the coil is connected. It's what gives the coil the power to spark. Without if the vehicle will crank with no spark. Soooo that one is out. Spark, and fuel should = fire! Some timing component is off I'm going to assume. Check to make sure all of your spark plug cables are going to the right cylinder. I've rebuilt a few old motors for some trucks and the wire diagrams were different, one wouldnt fire, the other would. If not, then your timing is off. Other than that you have all the right things to make fire. Hope we get something figured out for you!

mikeg216 · May 18, 2012

Checked re checked and checked all the wires again and just to be sure I checked the 12 v coil pack plug that's okay so I dunno where to look now

budwich · May 18, 2012

do your compression test on both sides, it will tell you if you have "mechanical sanity"... then you can go from there.

mikeg216 · May 18, 2012

Pushed the top of the inertia switch that didn't change anything

How can i tell if my rear timing chain is broken?

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