Occasional weird rattle at idle... belt tensioner ??

[pwrshft99]

Truck has a strange rattle sometimes when its idling. I have a loose heat shield but its not that. This is cooming from the front of the motor and its causes a slight fluctuation of the idle speed.

I have not looked into it too much but I remember Ford having belt tensioner problems in the 99-01 years on V8s...

Mine is a 2000 limited V8...

 

[dkchrist]

My 03 ranger had a rattle on the front of the engine and a new tensioner cured the issue.

 

[petzl90]

I dont know about a rattle but mine died completely. Made a horrible screaching noise and didnt make enough tension. I had no power steering and my battery wasnt getting charged. Of course mine is a V6, but thats not to say it wont still just give out.