poll on 97'98'99' sohc 4.o

[jazz_master221]

ok..how many of you guys and gals have had problems with the timing chain... i just want to know is the camshaft chain tensioner and the front chain cam quide really a massive failure are is this just intermittant problem or has this just happened to a few of fellow x owners.....please post millage on your x and if you have had work done onthe open campain..........00m12 or 01m01..and your opinion on the issue..
97 x sport sohc 4.0
97k
front chain tensioners replace buy previous owner
still checking for other work done buy previous owner.....had a desiel like sound on start up for about 1 second when i would let it sit for a week...
add motor purr to engine ...it has not been doing it lately...hopefuly the motor purr is working

 

[sideswipe]

they did the timing chain and the tensioners on mine, but by then it was too late, they gave me a new engine.

 

[Haggard]

I had a new tensioner on mine at about 58,000 miles. Mine was only a very slight knock when starting after it sat over night

 

[Robert]

My '97 has had three sets of tensioners installed. The first set was at about 20K while the second set was at about 30K. Neither of these sets were under ONP 00M12. The third and final set was installed at about 55K under 00M12. I haven't needed a new set since. My engine still starts up nice and quiet. I have never had the guides replaced nor have I had a need for them. I currently have 96K miles.

 

[SWLathrop]

I had my 97 Sport done just to get newer parts. Never had any problems before or after...

 

[mikeh]

Currently have the problem with the timing chain tensioners. I have 81K so I had to buy the M0012 kit for $50. I'm going to install soon. If anyone has any tips for the install please help. The other reason is because I have to replace the lower intake manifold gaskets which is also part of the ONP program. The program ends at 72K. If you haven't had it done get it done now or you will have the problem in the future. Just complain about cold idle and noise at startup (like dieseling). I highly recommend it because if you have 73K and complain they tell you it's your problem.

mikeh

 

[jazz_master221]

i would like to know too

 

[97emerald]

I bought my 97 about 4 months ago at 80,000 miles. I had the local dealer do a search on the serial number to see if these programs had been done. He said they had not been done, but the tensioner and intake gaskets were past the mileage limit. They will not do the guide unless there are symptoms. I now have 85,000 and have my fingers crossed. A friend in the automotive repair industry told me that usually if the sohc gets past 50,000 miles, the timing chains don't fail from these programs. I would think that if oil changes are done at proper intervals, that would also help these problems.

 

[jazz_master221]

hi 97 emerald ..lets keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.the dealers i have talked to say there's nothing to worry about..it's just so hard for me i keep wanting to push the pedal to the metal with my ex it's so responsive..speacialy with 77 k on the od..i just need to back off and baby my x ..in a few weeks i'm going to roll to las vegas...600 miles round trip...i know it's gonna be hard i'll try not to go above 70 most of the way...but i know i'll push it to the limit...100+mph
Side swipe ..you lucky guy ...

 

[tenikiwon]

Bought mine with 59k and ***** about the noise and Ford ***** back and said that they'd charge me for a diagnostic if it wasn't the problem.

They place I bought it from said not to worry and I trust them a lot. Parents bought 2 cars from them with no problems and they've fixed many things for cheap or outside of grayline warrenty things for below cost.

Mine makes noise only at startup. The colder the longer/louder.

:redexp:

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by tenikiwon
Bought mine with 59k and ***** about the noise and Ford ***** back and said that they'd charge me for a diagnostic if it wasn't the problem.

They place I bought it from said not to worry and I trust them a lot. Parents bought 2 cars from them with no problems and they've fixed many things for cheap or outside of grayline warrenty things for below cost.

Mine makes noise only at startup. The colder the longer/louder.

:redexp:

Your Ford Dealer is being an ass. Since it is such a widespread problem, they should have no problems letting you leave it there overnight so they can spend 30 seconds starting it up. Once the hear the rattling, they will have confirmed the problem. My dealer is about the worst when it came to trying to get them to do something under warranty yet they had no problems taking my word for it when I told them mine rattled intermitantly when I started it. They didn't even verify my concerns, rather they just scheduled me for an appointment to drop it off to have the updates performed.

 

[X24]

So what are the symptoms of this. Just a rattling at start up? Sometimes when mine sits idling for a while I hear a steady knocking. I think I have already had the tensioners replaced at about 50K.

 

[section525]

My GF is probably going to get the 00M12 advisory done next Friday. They're going to do it for free if they determine the cause of her 'rough idle at startup' is due to the manifold o-rings. Also, she is about 15k over the mile limit. Out local dealer is pretty top-notch.

 

[Stomper]

OH DAMN!!! Can't believe I just found this thread, and how @#$%&* coincidental it is! My 97 Sport just turned 80kmi and my engine started with that diesel sound about a week ago! I know that all the performance upgrades are dialed in well, used Mobil synthetic lubes and even gas everything to keep it clean, so I know it wasn't detonating (engine knock).

GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! :fire:

Luckily when I went to my shop to get some new tires mounted a couple days ago, I mentioned it to the owner and he said it sounded like a timing chain ready to go kaplooey. The look on his face when I started the truck kinda frightened me, so he and I are gonna look at it this weekend. :frustrate

I'll keep you posted as to what I find, what the fixes were, and what damage (if any) that this condition can cause if not remedied.

Lataaa

 

[jazz_master221]

keep us posted thanks ..............Stomper...DOES IT GO AWAY AFTER A FEW SECONDS ARE DOES IT DO IT ALL THE TIME....hopefully it just your cam chain tensioner...they say when the cam chain guides goes it make that rattling noise all the time..if it does it all the time i would not rteccommend driving it ....your oil pump will pick up the pieces and get plugged up and you know the rest...

 

[Robert]

Stomper - As was just said, if the noise is there all the time, it is probably your chain guide. It is warranted for 7 years, 100K miles so if you suspect that to be the cause, let Ford fix it for free. If the noise goes away after a few seconds, then it is probably your tensioners, which as you know are now out of warranty. From your description of the noise though, it sure sounds like your guides. They make a much worse sound than bad tensioners.

 

[DaleG]

I had the 00m12 done on my 97 Sport back in November of 2000 with 42,000 miles. I had only just bought the truck 3 weeks before. The dealer was very good about it and fixed it for free under their 30 day used car warranty. Keep in mind this was right before Ford announced the 00m12 campaign.
Anyway I was experiencing both the dieseling sound at startup and the rpm hunt due to the gaskets leaking. They installed the kit and no problems since. I believe this was also about the time that the revised kit that actually fixed the problem came out. Like I said its' been right at 2 years and have had no more problems.
To my knowledge (2nd owner) the guides are original and will hopefully live a long and happy life.
Sitting at 68,500 miles to date.

Dale

 

[bert blues]

'98 tensioner

I had my tensioner and intake O-rings replaced last week at 50,000 miles. I didn't know anything was wrong with the rings. Was there an O-ring recall? FYI, I just discovered this site this morning and I'm looking forward to joining the discussions.

 

[Robert]

Ford is instructed to replace both items when either need replacing. The o-rings can leak air into the engine when they fail which causes a rough idle when cold and eventually a check engine light. When the tensioners are bad it causes a "diesel" typ sound when first starting it up. You have to do about 3/4 of the same work for both problems so Ford is just trying to save having to do the same work all over again by doing both at the same time.

 

[Stomper]

Hey guys, did Ford replace the tensioner and Orings for free as part of a program? Please, let me know. I will try calling the local dealership too to see if there are any recalls/techpubs/programs etc.

THANKS!