Rattling Cam chain ---again

[Berg9]

Well, Ford UK has denied to do a Recall service on this, allthough my car is clearly affected and manufactured in the right place and rith date to be covered. That's Ford UK for you...

Anyhow, what is the deal here....do i just need to replace the tensioner itself or is a case of replacing the the actual chain guide as well ???

Cheers

 

[jimbo74]

is there a customer service for the corp that you can call? i know here, there is.......

 

[i8u]

You do not even have to remove the timing chain cover. You can do it by removing your upper intake manifold. All you are doing is installing a plastic restricter. There is also a tsb about bad intake manifold gaskets. You should do the gaskets also.

 

[i8u]

What do you mean "again"?

 

[i8u]

Post your vin number please.....

 

[i8u]

If you want I can check to see if your x has been flagged for warrenty repair for any reason. I can also check to confirm if your vehicle should be covered and give your some documentation that may be helpful. PM and we can talk.

 

[98 XLT 4x4]

Your talking about the chattering at idle correct? Mine wasnt doing it until after Ford worked on it and now they wont cover it. Someone told me it would be too much money to replace all the stuff needed to stop it from making the noise. Something to do with the tensioner.

XLT

 

[jborn888]

cam chain rattling

I am having trouble with the REAR cam chain-guide tensioner making noise. Ford only covers the FRONT. I am at a loss- I dont know if I should go ahead and fix the tensioner or if it is the guide, or both. When I give it some gas the noise goes away. Anyone else have this problem? Can anyone advise me on this problem.

 

[Deak]

jborn,

Welcome to the club of screwed SOHC owners. Mine did the same thing after ford fixed the front guides/tensioner. About a week later the rattle came back and It was the rear one. Ford wouldn't own up to it. That was in may of '03.
I was told that the guide/tensioner area has an oil channel that can get plugged, and at idle/low rpm parts of the chain guide do not get enough lubrication and pematurely wear and rattle. The new part fixes that lubrication problem. In my mind you redesign a bad part,(like the blend door) you should fix them all for free.
I haven't put a lot of miles on it since that was diagnosed, so I have been lucky. Depending on your mileage, if you are less than 75,000 I would get it fixed if you don't go on long trips or long commutes, and plan on selling or trading this year don't fix it and roll the dice. With an engine over 80,000 your paying a lot, 800-1000 in labor (private shop) for a engine with 80,000 miles and a brand new 100.00 rear tensioner. Who knows what will go at 105k? If you want to keep the X, I would look for a newer SOHC out of a junkyard, or insurance auction. It might cost more money for the motor, but you are putting in a more reliable motor since the labor to install it still will be around 800-1000 bucks.

my 2 cents
Deak

 

[jborn888]

thank you for the post deak. When you had ur problem, did you have to replace both the guide and the tensioner, or just the tensioner? The dealership first said that I should replace the rear guide which entails pulling the engine. Then they said that there is a slim chance that it is just the tensioner, but if its not then I just wasted my money on the tensioner. Does anyone have any knowledge of what I should do.
PS My ford has a program 01m01 extended coverage for the FRONT tensioner and guide, but ford says not the back. I believe the guides are the same. Is this true? Has anyone been able to get coverage on the rear guide tensioner?
PPS Also, there is a noise in my front right side suspension, a clunk noise. Ive had two mechanics look at it, adn everything is tight. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Jonger1150]

So its possible to have the tensioners crap out twice. I got mine fixed in May and although the rattle sound is pretty much gone from 2500rpm-3000prm...I can still hear it a bit when the car is cold.

 

[jborn888]

there are 2 tensioners, and 2 timing chains. 1 is on the top of the engine and fairly easy to get at and the other is at the rear of the engine and requires, The engine to be removed to get at the chain.

 

[Deak]

No I have not replaced my rear ones yet. I haven't been driving it long trips and have only been keeping it in town since june '03. Since the diagnosis I have been looking for a replacement engine a 99 or 2000 motor with less than 35,000 miles to put back in. Most of the engine recalls for the SOHC don't apply to the 99 or 2000 so maybe they got those right or hold up better then the year one motor (97). Now I am even looking at 01 motors as they are starting to show up. Big problem was most of the motors didn't have the 4x4 balance shaft. Since looking I was told the balance shaft cuts noise/vibration so its more of a comfort thing than mechanically required for the 4x4.

As far as the guides are concerned, I asked the service guy are the rears made form the same stuff as the fronts? He said yes, I then asked what prevents the rear ones from failing if they are made of the same material? He said a ford engineer. He agreed with the logic that if the fronts failed the rears probably would too. But that was an engineer's decision about faulty parts and a recall. They did say (and this was a big dealership) that this was rare condition and don't remember working or diagnosing this problem in a long time. Yet another dealership where it was first picked, was a small one(and in ohio) and the guy knew of several with the problem. But neither of them said it had to be replaced right away only if it got worse. How much worse? nobody could say and I have no idea cause for me most of the time it sounds like it was back in june and sometimes its sounds worse but maybe I am hyper-sensitive to the noise.

Deak

 

[NYX]

Deak or anyone for that matter, were you able to determine what year engine has none of these issues and would still fit a 97 Sport? Thanks

 

[Berg9]

Well, as per all the above, what a mess....anyway,,...ended up having my solicitor contacting Ford UK and threaten with a case in the Small Claims Court and Ford finally agreed to fix as a gesture of goodwill.

Had the front and the rear entire tentioner assy replaced (both badly worn at 40K miles :fire: ) Would have cost me 2300GBP/4000USD if I had to pay myself. Engine out etc. etc....anyways, now done and purrs like a kitten

The model affected by the original extended warranty were as follows:

4.0L SOHC built in St Louis (plant code Z) from 29 May 1996 to 18 Sep 1998 - and
4.0L SOHC built in Loiusville (plantcode U) from 29 Jul 1996 to 20 Oct 1998

So best stay clear of those engines I guess

Salud