Rattle at start up

[lynnboy021]

04 NBX 4.0.. bought the truck 3 years ago and the owner said that he just had the timing done a week before I bought the truck. All it needed was a egr valve and rebuild the trans other then that it's a nice strong truck. My problem is that on the first start up the truck makes a rattle sound like timing chain or lifters.. if I turn off the truck and back on it will not do it or if I let it cool down it will do it again... I really dont want to touch the timing so hopefully it's not that because the engine has a smooth idle and good power.. can the lifters be torqued down or does it need to be adjusted like chevy engines? Bought truck with 109k now it has 146k

 

[Fix4Dirt]

i doubt its a lifter issue. the SOHC v6s have been known to have a startup rattle. the culprits are usually the hydraulic tensioners, accessible behind the thermo housing and on the side of the head for the rear chain. these provide tension to the f/r chains, and are spring loaded when not pressurized by oil. as such, when the spring gets wrak, you get chain slap at startup which makes the startup nosie you hear. the slap can also over time damage and shorten the life of the chain guides. do you know what brand of parts PO used? for me, its FoMoCo or bust, havent had good luck with the others, only ford. if it is indeed the hydralic tensioner, you can either replace with a ford tensioner, or go with a naula tensioenr for a polaris RZR, which doesnt rely on oil pressure to apply tension. hope this helps!

 

[lynnboy021]

i doubt its a lifter issue. the SOHC v6s have been known to have a startup rattle. the culprits are usually the hydraulic tensioners, accessible behind the thermo housing and on the side of the head for the rear chain. these provide tension to the f/r chains, and are spring loaded when not pressurized by oil. as such, when the spring gets wrak, you get chain slap at startup which makes the startup nosie you hear. the slap can also over time damage and shorten the life of the chain guides. do you know what brand of parts PO used? for me, its FoMoCo or bust, havent had good luck with the others, only ford. if it is indeed the hydralic tensioner, you can either replace with a ford tensioner, or go with a naula tensioenr for a polaris RZR, which doesnt rely on oil pressure to apply tension. hope this helps!

I dont know what brand he used to replace the tensioners do I have to remove the chain or put the engine in tdc?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

nope!! its all external, the front tensioner can be found behind the thermostat housing, just have to remove it (at least on my 98, heard in later years ford made it easier to access) and the other one is just sitting there on the rear PS head iirc. perhaps this can be confirmed!

 

[lynnboy021]

nope!! its all external, the front tensioner can be found behind the thermostat housing, just have to remove it (at least on my 98, heard in later years ford made it easier to access) and the other one is just sitting there on the rear PS head iirc. perhaps this can be confirmed!

Thanks bud I'll look into it...

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Thanks bud I'll look into it...

alright!!! usually, that ends up being the culprit of these annoying startup rattles! if you do a quick search, one would find the multitude of threads concerning it!

 

[lynnboy021]

alright!!! usually, that ends up being the culprit of these annoying startup rattles! if you do a quick search, one would find the multitude of threads concerning it!

Went to ford bought the parts and still makes the rattle maybe I should make a video... only thing I can think of is the po lied and did not do the timing and maybe the chain is hitting the cassettes?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

yes yes yes!! video is worth 1000 words!!!