2002 Explorer 4.0 question

[nazcardan]

I have an 02 Explorer 4.0 4x4 XLT. Within the last 6 months we have dropped almost $2000 into the engine from timing chains issues. From this nightmare I have learned they are actually called 4.oh no's by most mechanics. (Wish I would have known this when I bought the thing) After we finally got it out of the shop and paid for, we started getting a chirping noise that I determined was the bearing inside the tensioner pulley. I figured this out by spraying a small amount of WD 40 to quiet the noise. Once it came back I knew what it was. Okay that was replaced and now I'm getting a similar chirp from the next pulley down the line. The pulley I replace was grooved, this next pulley is smooth, is this one called a drive pulley? Or how do I know which ones are drive pulleys and which ones are idler pulleys. Spraying the WD 40 on the one I fixed, helped me to diagnose the problem. Now I'm wondering if I need to keep focusing on the pulleys OR would the belt itself cause the chirping noise as it rolls over certain pulleys if the belt is what is needing to be replaced? I did not replace the belt when replacing the idler pulley. If I have to replace any additional pulleys the belt will be replaced also. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mlp2435]

i had the same issue.. mine is the harmonic balancer. if i were you i would change it before it blows and causes major problems

 

[hobbitak]

Sounds like it could be the harmonic balancer..... here is a really good thread on that: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302068

Also how many miles do you have on your 4.0 ?

I happen to be anti dealership/mechanic and think that they will just happen to tell you exactly what you don't want to hear (i.e. that's the worst engine/transmission/vehicle out there you might as well give me you credit card number now so I can keep it on file....especially when the shop is slow and I need money)

I have 110K on my '03 4.0 and no major issues yet....

 

[Exproblems]

Now I'm wondering if I need to keep focusing on the pulleys OR would the belt itself cause the chirping noise as it rolls over certain pulleys if the belt is what is needing to be replaced? I did not replace the belt when replacing the idler pulley. If I have to replace any additional pulleys the belt will be replaced also. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Belts definately make squealing or chirping noises as do pulley bearings, but I would check the belt for cracks and wear this time since you already replaced one of the pulleys. Check the ribbed side for the cracks. Gotta try and bend the belt a little to see the cracks in the ribs. Do you know how old the belt is? If not, replace it! $25-$37 for a belt, not counting the labor charge to have a mechanic put it on if you can't yourself. Takes about 5 minutes to R&R one. The belt that was on my Ex when I bought it squealed like crazy till it was replaced and quieted it right down. On the harmonic balancer pulley, check it or have it checked as a precaution, but only replace it if need be. You can check it yourself visually, by running the engine in idle and park, and look down at it from the side view and see if it is spinning "true", no wobble at all. If you see a wobble, have it replaced.

 

[nazcardan]

Okay well now I'm just ready to get rid of the stupid thing. After reading all the replies it is painfully clear to me what it is now. I put a flashlight on the harmonic balancer while it was running... stupid thing is wobbling like crazy. My next question now becomes... how do I find out WHEN this started? Is it possible the mechanic messed something up or did this develope after we got it back? It has over 120k miles on it, I no longer trust this vehicle, I don't trust anything the mechanic did to it and I'm ready to get rid of it. If I'm going to have to put another 400 or 500 into it I might as well use that as a down payment.

 

[nazcardan]

Is there any possibility that something just didnt get tightended back up when it was in the shop? My guess is the mechanic should have probably noticed this while it was being worked on? The work was done back in July and hasn't sounded right ever since. With the harmonic balancer wobbling, approximately how long can I expect before this thing goes out on me? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[hobbitak]

I believe the timing chain is accessed by removing the harmonic balancer....seems interesting that the balancer starts giving you issues after you have the timing chain serviced. I would think the mechanic checked the balancer to see if it was all installed correctly....certainly could have been a removal/installation issue or may just have been on the way out anyways and messing with it to get to the timing chain cover was enough to get it to start acting up.

 

[Exproblems]

Is there any possibility that something just didnt get tightended back up when it was in the shop? My guess is the mechanic should have probably noticed this while it was being worked on? The work was done back in July and hasn't sounded right ever since. With the harmonic balancer wobbling, approximately how long can I expect before this thing goes out on me? Thanks in advance for your help.

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I wouldn't drive it any further with the harmonic balancer wobbling like you say it is. From what I read in here a while back and if I remember right, it could cause you to blow your motor if it completely lets go. Better get it looked at right away by another mechanic or talk to the one who worked on your Ex back in July about it. On some of these Ex's, the harmonic balancer has been a problem for some people. Figure a few hundred bucks($200-$300) to fix at a shop, parts and labor incl. You can price the part yourself at a parts store or Ford supplier web, site then compare with the shop you choose to do the work.

 

[nazcardan]

Thanks guys for all your feedback. I don't feel right about ANY of the work the prior mechanic did on my Explorer. I don't like to talk negative about people but this guy won't be getting any second looks at it. I don't think I'd have any kind words for the guy if I tried to take it back and bring up the fact he may have messed it up while he was in there before. I think it would be best just to cut my loses and move on. We tried going the cheapest route to fix it and it came back to bite us, it won't happen again. Where I live we have 2 other mechanics in town who aren't as cheap but they are dependable and I know now we should have taken it to one of them in the first place. I think I'll have one of them look at it and go from there. Based on all your replies and one of the other good threads from the forum, I have no doubts that it is the harmonic balancer. We really can't afford $200 or $300 but that's a lot better than what we've had to pay up this point in time. I'll keep you updated on what I find out. Thank you again for all your feedback. As always, I'm open to more feedback if you have any.

 

[Exproblems]

I don't feel right about ANY of the work the prior mechanic did on my Explorer. I don't like to talk negative about people but this guy won't be getting any second looks at it. I don't think I'd have any kind words for the guy if I tried to take it back and bring up the fact he may have messed it up while he was in there before. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Talking negative about a person is one thing, talking negative about a scum bag crook of a mechanic or repair shop owner is another. Crooked repair shops deserve negative comments about them, because they took your money for shotty repairs, over priced repair quotes or they tried to sell you on some fix you don't need. Just because they run their own business for a living, doesn't give them the right to rip people off. Remember this, you hired them and are putting money in their pockets, they didn't hire you. So you as a good paying customer deserve the work you hired him to do, be installed right the first time with the correct parts and be charged fairly for the service. If you truly believe this mechanic ripped you off in some way either thru price or shotty work, then I would bad mouth him all over your town, so he loses business. He deserves it! I've dealt with a few scum bag repair shop owners myself in my time and they'll never work on my vehicles ever again and I've bad mouthed them to as many people I know as possible. Good luck with the next mechanic!

 

[nazcardan]

I just got our Explorer out of the shop... it was the harmonic balancer as I had suspected. We were very pleased with how things turned out after taking it to a reputable mechanic (this is who I should have taken it to in the first place) and the price was more than fair... actually cheaper than I had expected.

I want to take a quick second to thank everyone for your input and wisdom on our situation. I am very thankful that this forum is here and will continue to support and reference the valuable knowledge that everyone here shares.

Thanks.