4.0 l timing chain broke?????? help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lisfan]

i would really have to say no but im not totally positive. a salvage yard would have the book to look up that imfo. i did a search online for a 98 and 2004 at same boneyard but it came up different motors. hope that helps.
friom what i know now , you have to pull motor to do right side back chain. others can be done in vehicle , you definetly need the otc timing kit #6488.
i included a couple of links . are you in mass?
http://www.junkyards.com/directory2/index.html.

http://partshotlines.com/rpp/rpp.aspx?rid=ARM&SearchState=4&SearchId=21323413&NumParts=1
http://car-part.com/dealerSt.htm
http://www.junkyarddog.com/

 

[dorin18]

Thanks for replying and thanks for the links. I will call some of the junkyards tomorrow.
I live in Stratford, CT and I thought that that engine is not that far away from me.
At this point I stopped considering repairing the old engine. Only the valve/head job will cost me as much as a used engine and I have to add $350 for the chain set.
One think that I wanted to avoid is buying an used engine that still has the same timing chain problem and put another $350 in parts to eliminate the problem.
I read here that new engines can be put in old models (even on first generation) and I thought that it might be a good idea to try to do the same. I saw that for putting a new gen engine in a first gen expl there were extensive wiring modifications required. I'm not afraid of soldering e few wires, but the trick is to know what to what to solder ) And that will mean quite a lot of time for research and I am quite under pressure here....
I saw that another member of this forum put a new style engine in a 01 sport expl. He confirmed that the engine will fit and there will be no mods required, provided that I strip the engines down to long blocks and swap all the miscellaneous parts.

 

[lisfan]

i would suggest talking to the guy that did the swap. for r/c truck please call dick or roger. tell them you phil from the phone company sent you , dick handles the motors, drive trains etc. at r/c . 508-583-9526.. i was told they ran it before it was pulled and ran awesome . it has only 16 k and from a 2003 explorer vin e or k. it was marked with E. i went with one from another yard because he could deliver for a small fee.
keep me imformed i would like to hear how you make out.
i felt the same way about buying used and having to update the chains. thats why i wanted low mileage motor. i hope i wont have to deal with for awhile . one other yard i would suggest that offers a six month warranty is goyettes in new bedford mass. good rep too. http://www.goyetteautoparts.com/ LKQ IN RHODE ISLAND ALSO.
i updated my mirrors to heated ones, got them cheap from lkq. i sold my regular ones on ebay
best regards phil

 

[lisfan]

it may fit in that case starting from basic long block, you probably would have switch over intake and exhaust manifolds sensors etc. i cant be positive. i can ask a few guys to try to find out for you. im curious myself.

 

[dorin18]

As soon as I get an engine I will let you know. I saw one on ebay for $650 OBO (2004, 77K) but is 4 hours away from me. However, they ship for $150 so I might consider it. I didn't get the chance to call any junkyard today.
The other member (Silver X) said that I have to start from the long block and switch everything from the old one to the new one.
I am determined to go on this road since I like the truck and want to keep it for a while. It has a rebuilt tranny installed less than 4 months ago (according to the previous owner), so with a good engine I should be ok for quite a few years.
Another quest for me is to find a hoist to remove the old engine.
I will post here my progress.
D

 

[lisfan]

i think you are correct sir. i did a search for 98 engines and ones for 2001 2002 came up. other years should be ok. good luck. if i can be of any help let me know

 

[W Ridler]

The same thing just happened to my wife's 04 XLT I think...not 100% positive yet but I was driving and the symptoms were exactly like lisfan experienced. I've worked on my own cars my whole life but never changed out a motor...i'll search for a thread on that next.

Thanks to all of you for the info you shared with Lisfan...and me.

 

[imc]

Wow
Just bought an 03 sport with 100K. This starts to scare me.

 

[beyondyonder]

I took my 98 Explorer in to change head gaskets and manifold gaskets and now the mechanic says it needs a block. I think he is cheating me. He said something about the rear timing chain being bad, but it would take a $900 dollar tool to pull it off so I should just get a new motor. sounds weird to me.

 

[boominXplorer]

I took my 98 Explorer in to change head gaskets and manifold gaskets and now the mechanic says it needs a block. I think he is cheating me. He said something about the rear timing chain being bad, but it would take a $900 dollar tool to pull it off so I should just get a new motor. sounds weird to me.

He has to pull the engine or transmission to replace the rear guide, no way around it.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Tow it to another shop

I took my 98 Explorer in to change head gaskets and manifold gaskets and now the mechanic says it needs a block. I think he is cheating me. He said something about the rear timing chain being bad, but it would take a $900 dollar tool to pull it off so I should just get a new motor. sounds weird to me.

I agree that it is normally cheaper to replace the SOHC V6 long block instead of repairing it when the rear timing chain is bad if you have to pay a mechanic to do it. Replacing the rear cassette requires pulling the engine. The rear cassette replacement process is labor intensive, requires special tools, and knowledge that your mechanic apparently doesn't have. Just replacing the head gaskets requires retiming the camshafts that requires the special tool set (OTC-6488). You can usually purchase a used OTC-6488 on eBay for $150 to $200. There is considerably less knowledge, time and special tools required to replace the long block than to replace the rear cassette. By replacing the long block with a warranted engine the rear cassette, front cassette and the primary (crankshaft to jackshaft) chain and tensioner will be covered.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find an inexpensive, low mileage SOHC V6. The cassettes can fail as early as 50K miles and frequently fail by 150K miles. A salvage yard engine warranty often does not cover the labor cost of engine replacement and may only be good for 90 days. Also, it takes time to transfer the valve covers, wiring harness, intake manifold, etc. that differ between your current engine and the replacement.

Your mechanic should not have agreed to replace the head gaskets without having the OTC-6488 timing tool kit. You should not have to pay for him to purchase the tools to perform the job just because he is unfamiliar with the engine and his shop is not properly equipped with the needed tools. The SOHC V6 is not a simple engine to repair and you don't want an inexperienced mechanic learning your engine at your expense.

 

[beyondyonder]

99 Explorer

Thank you for your reply. The mechanic tore it apart and refused to fix it or give it back to me until I paid him $300. So, I drove it in, but had it towed back home in pieces. It is so disheartening. I am thinking about getting a rebuilt engine. Is there a better engine that doesn't have all the problems this had that will bolt right up. Course the transmissions in these things were bad also. It has been replaced by dealership under warranty.

 

[2000StreetRod]

reliability

Most vehicles that are more than ten years old are either unreliable or rapidly becoming unreliable. Many of us that drive them are willing to maintain them ourselves. Often the cost to pay a shop to make a major repair will exceed the value of the vehicle.

Your 1999 was manufactured with three different engines: your SOHC V6 that is currently disassembled and is prone to timing chain related failures; the OHV V6 which has less power and is prone to blow head gaskets when overheated; and the OHV V8 which is much more reliable and comes with the robust 4R70W transmission. In my local area your vehicle in its current condition would be worth about $800. If it were in good physical condition with a good drive train it would be worth around $1800.

If you have neither the time, tools, workspace or inclination to repair the vehicle yourself then you have a financial dilemma. If you pay someone to repair it and then immediately sell it you may not be able to recover your costs and you won't have a vehicle to drive. If you pay someone to repair it and then continue to drive it there will be more failures (suspension, steering, cooling, A/C, CV joints, etc.) and you will continue to incur repair costs.

 

[beyondyonder]

Thank you, I don't know what I am going to do. I've been putting it off. Thanks for replying