rhartmaier
Member
- Joined
- June 26, 2015
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Monroe Township, New Jersey
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Ford Explorer
Hi All,
Last Fall my 2002 Explorer with the 4.0 V-6 engine began making a rattling noise, mostly on acceleration from a moderate speed such as 30 to 40 mph. Guessed it was detonation, but also saw the write ups on the forum about a loose timing chain giving the same symptom. Took it to my shop, and after more than $500 of testing this and checking that, they said they solved the problem, but suggested using premium fuel to see if that made any difference. Noise did seem to get less, but did not go away completly. Parked it for 7 weeks while getting out of the NJ winter for warmer climates, and upon return the beginning of March, the noise was very loud again. Began to drive it over to a shop to have them take a look, and halfway there the engine quit and I could hear the timing chain falling into the bottom of the cover. Quote was almost $6000 for a reman Jasper engine, which I did not feel was worth it for a 15 year old truck. Less than 150,000 miles on the clock, oil changed religiously every 5,000 miles, Z-max treatment every 10,000 miles. Well, to pull the engine and replace all the chains and tensioners might not have been cost effective either, at least that is what I keep telling myself. Anyway, I am very disappointed, as I feel an engine that is given just the bare minimum of care should last many more miles than that given today's technology. And that is not all. All four hubs had been replaced, one twice! The tranny let go at around 130,000 miles; cost $4,000 to replace. Rear end began to whine and was replaced once under warranty. Soon after warranty expired, the new one began to whine also. Handbrake cable and rear brake discs replaced twice due to corrosion. One front strut suffered a broken spring. Towed two other times, once when fuel pump failed and once when a short in the wiring bundle in the driver's door caused the battery to go dead. Another broken wire in the same bundle caused the power windows to stop working, but I was able to repair that myself. I could go on and on, but long story short, I am sick of Fords. I am now driving a Kia Sorento with 2.0 turbo. Quieter than the Ford, much better gas mileage, handles like my Toyota Supra and rides like a dream.
Well, I guess my point is that any of you who have the 4.0 engine should be prepared to spend a lot of money and/or time to pull the engine and replace those timing chain tensioners.
Or get rid of the truck before they begin to rattle!
Jersey Bob
Last Fall my 2002 Explorer with the 4.0 V-6 engine began making a rattling noise, mostly on acceleration from a moderate speed such as 30 to 40 mph. Guessed it was detonation, but also saw the write ups on the forum about a loose timing chain giving the same symptom. Took it to my shop, and after more than $500 of testing this and checking that, they said they solved the problem, but suggested using premium fuel to see if that made any difference. Noise did seem to get less, but did not go away completly. Parked it for 7 weeks while getting out of the NJ winter for warmer climates, and upon return the beginning of March, the noise was very loud again. Began to drive it over to a shop to have them take a look, and halfway there the engine quit and I could hear the timing chain falling into the bottom of the cover. Quote was almost $6000 for a reman Jasper engine, which I did not feel was worth it for a 15 year old truck. Less than 150,000 miles on the clock, oil changed religiously every 5,000 miles, Z-max treatment every 10,000 miles. Well, to pull the engine and replace all the chains and tensioners might not have been cost effective either, at least that is what I keep telling myself. Anyway, I am very disappointed, as I feel an engine that is given just the bare minimum of care should last many more miles than that given today's technology. And that is not all. All four hubs had been replaced, one twice! The tranny let go at around 130,000 miles; cost $4,000 to replace. Rear end began to whine and was replaced once under warranty. Soon after warranty expired, the new one began to whine also. Handbrake cable and rear brake discs replaced twice due to corrosion. One front strut suffered a broken spring. Towed two other times, once when fuel pump failed and once when a short in the wiring bundle in the driver's door caused the battery to go dead. Another broken wire in the same bundle caused the power windows to stop working, but I was able to repair that myself. I could go on and on, but long story short, I am sick of Fords. I am now driving a Kia Sorento with 2.0 turbo. Quieter than the Ford, much better gas mileage, handles like my Toyota Supra and rides like a dream.
Well, I guess my point is that any of you who have the 4.0 engine should be prepared to spend a lot of money and/or time to pull the engine and replace those timing chain tensioners.
Or get rid of the truck before they begin to rattle!
Jersey Bob
