'00 XLT 83k - Wierd knocking type noise. Please read!

[Damn Dirty Ape]

She's done, Jim.

Hi all,

Just picked up a 2000 XLT with 83k, it has the 4.0L SOHC. Got it yesterday (Monday), this morning went out to fire it up and for the first 30 seconds it sounded almost like a small diesel engine. After that it was quiet. No smoke from the exhaust or uneven idle or anything.

Now this afternoon I noticed a knocking-type noise from it, it can be heard from both underneath and above under the hood. Underneath it sounds kind of like a catylytic converter cooling down (you know, clack, clack), but up above under the hood it is a medium-pitch knock. Hard to tell exactly where it is from, but does sound louder underneath.

I'm used to the clicking and all from an engine, but this goes like "knock-knock------knock---- knock knock knock---- knock". Averaging about 2 per second. I just called the dealer I got it from and they are concerned and asked me not to drive it and they will send a hook for it.

It drives great so far other than this, and what is frustrating is that I can definitely hear it under the hook (about mid engine, maybe moreso on the passenger side, upper 1/3 of the engine), but then below it is more hollow-sounding.

Does this make any sense? I'm about to go bananas worrying about it now..

Marc

--------------

Update: See update at bottom of thread.

 

[jjm0001]

Sounds like the Camshaft Chain Tensioner issue that Ford issued, the 00M12 notification for the SOHC engine. So there is a fix for this. Ask the dealer if this vehicle ever had this 00M12 repair work. My 2000 sport which I bought new made this noise when it had low miles and I had the 00M12 fix. I now have @64K and 4 years or so since the repair and the problem has not returned.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

I'll most definitely followup on that in the morning (I'm going with it over to the dealer, they are flatbedding it at 8am).

Would I be correct in assuming that a Ford dealer can run the VIN and find out if it's been done or not? The dealer it came from is a Olds/Pontiac/GMC dealer, so I'm guessing any work will have to be done across the road at a Ford place.

Out of wondering, this would'nt be covered by any warranty (since all factory has expired on it), any idea of the complexity or price of the fix (if that is the problem?)

thank you

 

[sk1er17]

actually from where you described it may also be a "carbon knock"... however carbon knocks tend not to be loud enough to sound like a little diesal engine.... mine sounded like someone was hammering at a nearby house till i realized it was comming from my engine compartment. it went away though.

Sounds like the dealer is actually helping you out so thats good.

Hope everything turns out alright!

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

actually from where you described it may also be a "carbon knock"... however carbon knocks tend not to be loud enough to sound like a little diesal engine.... mine sounded like someone was hammering at a nearby house till i realized it was comming from my engine compartment. it went away though.

Sounds like the dealer is actually helping you out so thats good.

Hope everything turns out alright!

thank you for the kind thoughts. To add/clarify, the loudest time is a few seconds after it fires up after sitting a while (few minutes/hours), kind of sounds like a small diesel maybe. After about 30 seconds to a minute or so, it starts settling down but at idle then I'm getting that knock-knock, etc.

I saw the info on 00m12 and it sounds like that might be what I'm experiencing. If so, I'm out of the mileage limit by 12k miles.

Not sure though what the exact origin is, but that 00m12 sure does fit what I'm hearing.

I'll followup within the next few days..

Marc

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

well, spent 4 hours at the dealer today. They pulled up some info on their systems that show 00m12 was performed about 1 year ago under warranty. Therefore.... they won't even entertain doing it again for free. They said even if I paid for it, it might stay the same, go away , or get even worse.

They said it will not shorten the life of the engine, nor make it break down. Any truth to this? I'm feeling like I'm getting the shaft here somewhere and have been told to just "ignore the noise".

Ready to visit another lot and unload it ASAP. Do explorers with the OHV have this problem? And also, does this problem cover the 2001 as well?

thanks for any advice.
Marc

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

UPDATE: I've been fighting with the used car dealer for the last 35 days on this; the charge for teardown and inspection for the extended warr. company was paid by the used car dealer. Upon removal of the engine from the vehicle, they discovered BOTH the front and rear timing chain tensioners/guides/cassettes were broken allowing the chains to slop around. Before I got it, the oil pump/oil pump drive chain were replaced to attempt to fix a noise in the rear of the engine; I now know what the noise really was. The oil pump/chain replacement made no difference when they did it for the prior owner.

The Ford dealer says they have never seen an engine with both the front and rear tensioners broken and it still be running. The chains, guides and cassettes on both the front and rear have been fixed and the engine is going back in on Monday at the Ford dealer. The total bill to be paid by the ext. warr. company is an estimated $3700. Probably for not much more they could have put in a rebuilt. I'm glad they did'nt since the engine uses no oil, seems tight, and quite quick/powerful.

Anything I should look for in this vehicle after I get it back?

Anyone ever had BOTH the front and back tear up and manage to keep the engine from granding itself?

 

[CDW6212R]

Hello, I am looking for a donor vehicle 99-01 4x4 4dr. I have a good Ford shop foreman who I asked about the OHC engine months ago.
These noises are valvetrain noises, and have at least two sources. The first is the one everybody discusses, the recall issue.
Beyond that, the second cause is poor maintenance. These engines are very sensitive
to proper oiling. Nevermind the factory oil change interval, all Ford OHC engines can last longer than OHV engines if the oil is changed regularly. It was suggested to me that it be changed every 3000 miles. That is my normal interval, so my OHC engines work great.
Unfortunately, some people think 7500 is okay, because someone at Ford told them that. Change the oil and filter regularly.

I am glad that you were able to get your new vehicle fixed. You are fortunate to have the extended warantee.Good luck,
Don W

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

I just have to go on the word of what has been done maintenance-wise on this vehicle; I know I can't go on the fact that this 2000 model looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor either... Well, I should get it back Tuesday evening they say, at least they have paid for the rental car during all this. I know the warranty company is very upset with the original used car dealer (non-Ford dealer), for selling a contract on a vehicle that needed pver $3000 worth of work in the first 30 days.

At least I think I made a good decision in taking it to a true Ford dealer rather than a smaller non-affiliated shop, I think?

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Well, it's been a long 2months +, a month of it spent with it in the ford shop, but last Monday after getting it back all patched up, it went up for sale. Right now it's quiet at startup and all, (after another visit to ford last week), and it went out in front of our house with a 8500 OBO sign on it.

Guy came last night and drove it for about an hour, came back with a checkbook, and she's gone. I realize that the sohc v-6 isn't the best that has come down the pike from ford, but but physically inside and out she was a beauty.

It will be a long time before I forget this little nightmare that has had me wondering if I would lose my sanity. Thanks to those that helped me with the inevitable questions when I defected over from Jeep to the Ex, and for giving me a place to come when a new problem or noise surfaced, to you guys

I'm back to the Jeep family, picking up a 01 grand cherokee with 39k on it, personal family friend has owned it and been a fanatic about keeping it maintained and for the first time in 2 months I think my headache is subsiding


Sorry my visit was so short (I know there will be a nasty comment or 3, but I got a lemon of the bunch and the sour taste will be there for a while).

She's 'fixed' according to the dealership svc manager and the technician, but we just didn't trust her anymore.

Best regards.