How many miles has your Timing Chain Rattled

[scdix50]

Pulled the engine on my 4.0L 2004 EB w/120K yesterday. I opened it up today, found rear cassette broke into 4 pieces. Balance shaft tensioner broke in half, not worn down. Left cassette was in good condition and primary tensioner was in very good condition. I am doing a full kit plus head gaskets, plus water pump, plus harmonic balancer.

 

[boominXplorer]

Pulled the engine on my 4.0L 2004 EB w/120K yesterday. I opened it up today, found rear cassette broke into 4 pieces. Balance shaft tensioner broke in half, not worn down. Left cassette was in good condition and primary tensioner was in very good condition. I am doing a full kit plus head gaskets, plus water pump, plus harmonic balancer.

You don't have to do the head gaskets unless you "want to". They are MLS gaskets and are very sturdy and pretty much do not fail. Unless you have overheated your truck I wouldn't waste the time and machine shop money.

 

[scdix50]

Already pulled the heads. Could not get the left Cassette out and do not want to drive the new one back in. This way I can install the cassette before I put the head back or file the head to get clearance to allow the cassette to just slide in. I already planed on changing the head gaskets, good thing I did. The left was not looking good at all. I just do not want to dig back in the engine 30-40K down the road. This is my last engine pull. I just can do this kind of work anymore. My head said I could do it, my body says different.

 

[travlincub321]

Ok, the rattle is semi intermittant

Well.. After i removed my floor mat, and we figured out that the mat was causing gas pedal issues, i noticed the rattle is more intermittant and def. dies off after 3200 rpms.. SO between 2400 to 3200 it rattles and and rattles a little at idle..

Drove it 300 miles today and ran like a scalded naked fat lady

 

[TerryinAustralia]

We usually only got the OHV in the manuals.

It's pretty easy to check, the SOHC has a big, plastic engine cover on it with SOHC on it.

You're right, the OHV doesn't have the timing chain problems but I think the '99 SOHC had the better steel backed guides so keeping up with tensioner maintenance will keep it going.

Ha ha, thanks mate and you're right, if I had only opened my eyes and saw the big plastic cover with SOHC on it like I just did after reading your reply, I wouldn't have made such an error.

Hopefully mine has the 1999 engine (the build date was October 1998) so hopefully I've got the later guides. Now I need to go read up on tensioner maintenance.......... Cheers, Terry.

 

[Flash]

Ha ha, thanks mate and you're right, if I had only opened my eyes and saw the big plastic cover with SOHC on it like I just did after reading your reply, I wouldn't have made such an error.

Hopefully mine has the 1999 engine (the build date was October 1998) so hopefully I've got the later guides. Now I need to go read up on tensioner maintenance.......... Cheers, Terry.

I don't think there is an official tensioner maintenance schedule, just something some of the guys here came up with.

 

[jr230]

I have a 2000 Exploder 4.0 SOCH...

I have done a ton of research, reading and so on..... I know it needs to be replaced and fixed, but I have major medical issues right now and can't. I may cut my losses and go find a V8 Explorer like mine (which I don;t wanna do, as mine has nearly new tires, brakes and everything else fixed)

I am at almost 142K.... It doesn't rattle when you start it, it rattles when the idle steps down and its been running and now after running a while there is a bit of a tick, like when the truck is turned off and the cats are cooling down...

Maybe im over doing this in my head, but, is this thing about to Sh** the bed or what?

Truck runs and drives fine and I am getting a nice 18.5 overall mpg with my heavy ass foot.

My question: I have only seen 2 explorers that completly died from this issue... But neither listed miles... How long did you let your rattle go before you fixed it or is it still rattling and you just keep going with your toes crossed??

Again, I know it NEEDS to be fixed, but, unless some one has $1500 to donate or hand to me, I can't do it right now

this is june 2024 now its 3000 labor plus parts too much for a less that perfect o4 i own cannot really complain only paid 2k and it lasted 5.5 yrs with only battery alternator and reset theft system and new keys don't like the front drive newer one and no way will i buy a 4 cyl turbo new one

 

[jr230]

I don't think there is an official tensioner maintenance schedule, just something some of the guys here came up with.

in 99 there's 2 different v 6 4l one over head valve another the overhead cam the cam is the one that fails ohv was a great engine especally with 5sp i owned my unmill 2018 20 -22 mpg only thing touched was thermostat not 1 thing did the motor need in that time not even plugs