Lincoln aviator 2004 ticking on startup

[speed1975]

My 2004 Lincoln aviator has had this issue for a couple of years now and I just am not sure what the problem exactly is.

On cold startup or if it has sat for a few hours on startup there is a loud ticking/ rattle sound that comes from the engine. It does it for like 3 seconds then stops and sounds fine.

I have traced it to two possibilities.

1. Timing chain stretch and or slack tensioner. i was reading that someone said they are Hydraulic??? I was not sure.

2. Which seems more likely is the Hydraulic lifters. I was told they lose their seal and bleed off if they sit long enough? Sounds logical however I want to be 99.9% sure before I go trying to replace these guys..

also if it is lifters how much of a problem is it really... is it worth replacing them?


Any one have this or know someone who had had the same problem?

Thanks
S.

 

[Number4]

There is a seal in the timing tensioners that fails and they lose pressure after sitting. At startup, this causes slack in the chain and the chain can hit the timing phaser, or slap on the guide etc. You should have a little bit of glitter in your oil.

I'd say your running on borrowed time, having the issue for a couple years. I'd address it.

You can pull your valve covers (after the car has sat over night) and see if there's any chain slack. They should be taught.

After two years, you may need to replace more than just the tensioner and guides.

 

[Harpua216]

Speedy - I am having some of these noises as well. Some rislone helped quiet the lifters and now I am thinking the rattle I hear may be the TC instead.

Number4 - is that possible? plausible?

also, theres alot of information out there regarding pulling the engine to handle timing chains and there is some out there that states for some jobs you do not have to pull it.

I am looking for a little quick direction as to what parts of the chains can be worked on with the engine in and which have to be done with the engine pulled (knowing that probably most of it falls into this category..) thanks.

 

[Number4]

Speedy - I am having some of these noises as well. Some rislone helped quiet the lifters and now I am thinking the rattle I hear may be the TC instead.

Number4 - is that possible? plausible?

also, theres alot of information out there regarding pulling the engine to handle timing chains and there is some out there that states for some jobs you do not have to pull it.

I am looking for a little quick direction as to what parts of the chains can be worked on with the engine in and which have to be done with the engine pulled (knowing that probably most of it falls into this category..) thanks.

The 4.6l S/DOHC can be done engine in.


Edit: [MENTION=178840]Harpua216[/MENTION], to do the 4.0 chains properly, that is, any part of the rear chains, you need to pull the engine. Now, it's not that big of a deal if you have your basic cherry picker, but more involved than it is for the V8. Also, the kit is more expensive.

Rattle at cold startup is usually a chain issue. After the oil pump primes the leaking tensioner, the rattle goes away.

You can buy time by doing a startup +wot. This will prime the pump without firing the engine. So you'll have less RPMs prior to tensioner being primed.

Now, the 4.0 is known to catastrophically fail. Sometime with little to no warning. Being an interference engine, this isn't good.

 

[Harpua216]

meaning... none of the 4.0 SOHC can? thanks

 

[apenland01]

I just had the timing chains done on my V8 4.6L engine and the job is done with the engine in place. The 4.6L only has front side chains, so it's a regular timing chain job.

The V6 4.0L as I understand has the timing chains on the front side and the rear, so the engine has to be pulled to do the job. Most owners of a 4.0L with bad timing chains will just opt for a remanufactured engine, since it's about the same price as getting just the timing chains done.

 

[Harpua216]

thanks guys. please explain startup +wot and the process, or point me in the right direction thanks.

related question, can the torque converter have a rattle or chatter to it?

 

[Number4]

thanks guys. please explain startup +wot and the process, or point me in the right direction thanks.

related question, can the torque converter have a rattle or chatter to it?

WOT is wide open throttle. If you press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, the PCM either kills spark or fuel, I don't really know which. Actually, it may only do this on the electronic throttle bodies (2004+) the engine will crank but not start.

Go to post #4
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3529930

 

[Harpua216]

WOT is wide open throttle. If you press the gas pedal all the way to the floor, the PCM either kills spark or fuel, I don't really know which. Actually, it may only do this on the electronic throttle bodies (2004+) the engine will crank but not start.

Go to post #4
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3529930

great info thanks! i am sort of thinking its my torque converter as that post was saying. I have some puking of some ATF or potentially what i thought was a front pump or seal leak, but recently the leak is less (i think, still watching, its drying). Now, I am starting to think its the sleeve? or seal on the converter, or the converter itself. I can tell there is some flare in the tranny, but my mind and foot doesnt feel tranny, it feels a bit different