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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
My 01 4.0 SOHC has an engine rattle between 2800-3000 RPMs when under a load. It doesn't matter is it's cold or warmed up. Any RPM before or after this range, the symptom doesn't manifest itself. I've used the "Search" feature looking for a TSB that was mentioned about this issue, but am unable to locate it. It's specifically related to this issue and not the chain tensioners or cassettes. Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Hold on, welcome to the nightmare. I'll bring up a few relevant threads that I had concerning this problem.
in the mean time, visit www.flateratetech.com and ask them what they can do for you.
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Yours may be the 'easy-one' (the front tesioner, cassets) which will be free... or its the rear (like mine) which takes at least a week for ford to repair and costs you about $800.
Those threads should tell you everthing you need to know.
Btw, this is definatly tesnioners/cassets if you notice it between gear shifts. I know it doesnt sound like its coming from the engine, but take it to ford... it probably is.
I have the exact same problem. I thought it was the tsb 00m12 and 01m01, so I took it in, and that's what the dealer thought too, so they went ahead and took care of it, but the noise was still there. I took it back, and they tried to locate the source of the noise. It turns out it is the torque converter. I'm not exactly sure what in the torque converter would make this noise (bearings maybe? are there bearings in the TC?). I told the dealer the same rpm range you said (2800-3000 under load). He even went on a test drive with me. The 2800-3000 rpm range is when you can hear it inside the vehicle, but he told me he could hear the rattling all the time when he was under it. Listen real close next time you have the engine running. You might have to crawl underneath, but you should be able to hear the rattle even at idle (at least I can on mine). The first thing I would do is see if the TSB's apply to your ex. Then I would take it in to a shop, and have them put a stethoscope on it and try to find the source. Please let me know what you find out. I have tried searching and asking around here, but haven't been able to come up with any info concerning this problem. Oh, by the way, for the dealer to fix the TC they quoted me $600. They have to yank the tranny to get to it.
It's not the tensioners or cassette. The rattle is only noticable between the 2800-3000 RPM range while under a load regardless of which gear it is in. There are no noises on start-up or any other times. I know the tensioner/cassette scenario as I went thru it on my 97 Sport's SOHC. This is a completely different animal. And it's not pinging. If it was, it would continue after passing the 3000 RPM range. Somebody had posted a TSB a while ago about this particular problem. Thanks anyways.
God dude, I know its not like the normal tensioner problems, you seem to have ruled it out pretty quickly. I know there are no symptoms other than a rattle at 2800-3000 rpms. I know its doesnt have any other signs besides that. The exact same thing on mine. If I heard it I would throw it in neutral to test it, and it would dissappear. The easiest way for me to reproduce it was to put it in 2nd gear and bring the car from a stop up to about 2900 rpms. I know you think it is the trannie, but I am telling you from personal experience, don't rule out the REAR cam tensioner and cassets. I'm about 90% sure thats what it is for you. It's uncommon, not like the 00M12 issues or the rough idle in our SOHCs. It is JUST a rattle and nothing noticable otherwise. I know I know I know. Just believe me on this one and ask your dealer to at least check and see if your rear tensioners and cassets may be getting noisy. I think you'll be suprised.
-----Nate
OK, found the issue under TSB 02-08-01 that covers the problem of the 2800-3000 under-load rattle. The problem can occur anywhere from 2000-3000 RPM range, hot or cold but more prodominately on a cold engine. There is a kit that replaces the front timing chain, tensioner, counter balance shaft and sprockets with upgraded parts. This is for all 1999-2002 Rangers, Explorer/Mountaineers, Sports/Sporttracs, 2WD & 4WD. Hope this helps everyone who has this issue. This is not the the rattle on start-up.
I have been reading the forums concerning engine rattle at 2800-3000 rpm's my X has 48,000 on it and it does it to. Now in 12/02 I had the 00m12 recall done under warranty but still have noise. Its a 97 4.0 SOHC
Did you read my post about the torque converter? I am pretty sure that's what the problem is (at least with mine). I have the same problem you do. I had the tensioners replaced, and some of the noise did go away, but there is still that noise at 2800-3000 rpm (it is really there all the time, but when you're inside the vehicle you can only hear it from 2800-3000). It sounds kind of like marbles rattling, and if you crawl underneath at idle, it doesn't sound like it is coming from the engine itself, but more around the front tranny area.
*Cough*. I said rear tensioners, right? Its the same chain noise right? Guess what? The trannie / torque converter is at the rear of the engine. I know you still don't believe me, but I am speaking from personal experience here, THIS IS A TIMING CHAIN!!! Just have your mechanic stethascope it and see if he can pinpoint it. Honestly, just TRY.
I don't want to get in an argument, and I'm not trying to rule out anything. All I'm saying is I did have the mechanic put a stethoscope on it, and that's what he found: that the noise is coming from the torque converter area, and not the engine. So I'm going to assume he's correct since he has experience with this, and has seen the problem before.
nweibley, if it is the rear cam chains, do you know of a recall, did that fix yours? And this may-be a stupid question but do think it will hurt not to fix it? I also occasionally have a rough idle around 500rpm, any ideas? I cleaned the IAC
No recall, $1200 hard cash in the ford dealerships hand. For your rough idle, the top things to do seem to be, clean MAF, relace oxygen sensors, replace IAC (cleaning it rarely helps). Reset your computer if you do any of those. Sometimes it gets to things like dirty/bad injectors, FPR, plugs or wires, or more and more things. I would try the first 3 though.
Good Luck!
-----Nate
Well, got my Sport back today from the dealer. All is quiet at the home front and the engine compartment. The rattle is gone. TSB 02-08-01 did the trick for me. The kit includes a new front timing chain, counter balance shaft/sprocket, cam sprocket, lower chain guide and chain tensioner guide. The old guides (plastic) were worn pretty good with only 30,000 miles on them. The counter balance shaft sprocket was also worn pretty good. Now I have a happy quiet SOHC at any speed, gear and load...
TSB 02-08-01 has to do with the 4.0 SOHC having a ticking/rattling noise between 2000-3000 RPMs. It appears to be most noticable in the 2800-300 RPM range under a load. The fix is a kit that has revised parts to correct the issue. The kit contains all required gaskets, timing chain, chain guide, tensioner guide, cam sprocket and counter balance shaft/sprocket. This is not the timing cassette issue of the earlier (97-98) model year SOHCs. Read my response about 8 post up...
To check for the problem, you're supposed to place the tranny in 2nd gear and run the engine RPMs between the 2500-3000 RPM range to see if the symptoms occur. It's best to do it on a grade to place more of a load on the engine.
I have this same damn problem (along with a new one). It sounds like a bunch of marbles rattling around at 2500-3100 RPMs. I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE that damn noise too. I am so **** about rattles and pinging noises.
SO you are totallly sure this is fixable with TSB 02-08-01?
When I go to the dealership I have a feeling they will play dumb at first. What should I tell them to get the ball rolling on this lame problem.
