Rock in the engine?

[ZachMan]

Everytime I start up at idel it sounds like there is a rock banging around in my engine compartment. If you can picture a dryer and having a rock or two in it rolling around is kinda how it sounds. Its kinda loud, but not overpowering loud. Anyways as I am ideling I open the hood and I couldn't quit figure where the sound is coming from. Then I get on the ground in front of the X and slid under the IFS. Well as of now it seems the noise/rattle is coming from above the oil cooler (I think the oil cooler is the very little cooler mounted by above the front end under the engine?). Well not sure if its in the oil pan, in the engine or just something loose, but its worring me and I have no clue what it is. ANY HELP???? PLEASE!!!! This is a 2000 OHV w/ 49k miles.

Please help me, I won't be back on here till Sunday.

Ohh yeah, while I am driving I never notice it. I can say when I put in park when I turn the engine off you can hear the rattling come to an end as everything is shutting off. I don't think its pinging either...

 

[ZachMan]

Ok, went back out real quick. Thesound almost seems as if its coming from one or both cats on the exhaust. Its just sounds like rock(s) kinda rolling around or something.

 

[00sport4x4]

does it only do it when the engines cold and in park? When you put it in drive does it stop?

 

[00sport4x4]

Well if it does seem to quit or quiet down when the engines warm or in gear. Then you probably have whats known as the "MARBLE" noise I also have the same thing I took it to a dealer after I bought the truck used they replaced all the converters and it still did it. Then they handed me a TSB on it and it stated that Ford knows about it and has done a high milage test on it and found that it will not affect your engine. Alot of 4.0 OHV owners have this and theres nothing you can do about it unless you rebuild the engine. I have put 36,000 miles in 2 years on mine now at 61,000. So as I'm not happy about it the truck seems to be fine.

 

[N7XME]

I have had a similar noise on my 93 Explorer. Turns out the heat shields over my cats were only be held on by 1 spot weld each. When the engine was running, they would rattle, but once up to speed, road noise would drown it out. I reached up and yanked them off, end of rattle.

 

[bmxking5]

I have had a similar noise on my 93 Explorer. Turns out the heat shields over my cats were only be held on by 1 spot weld each. When the engine was running, they would rattle, but once up to speed, road noise would drown it out. I reached up and yanked them off, end of rattle.

Same here, that is one of the more common causes of that rattling noise.

 

[ZachMan]

It must be the heat shield on the cats, but not sure.

It only makes the noise in park btw.

 

[DeRocha]

I have had a similar noise on my 93 Explorer. Turns out the heat shields over my cats were only be held on by 1 spot weld each. When the engine was running, they would rattle, but once up to speed, road noise would drown it out. I reached up and yanked them off, end of rattle.

Same hear... I used some stainless steel hose clamps and secure it together. No more rattle and I still have some heat protection.

 

[dreamr]

Well if it does seem to quit or quiet down when the engines warm or in gear. Then you probably have whats known as the "MARBLE" noise I also have the same thing I took it to a dealer after I bought the truck used they replaced all the converters and it still did it. Then they handed me a TSB on it and it stated that Ford knows about it and has done a high milage test on it and found that it will not affect your engine. Alot of 4.0 OHV owners have this and theres nothing you can do about it unless you rebuild the engine. I have put 36,000 miles in 2 years on mine now at 61,000. So as I'm not happy about it the truck seems to be fine.

That be my exact story! I did enjoy getting free cats out of the deal though.