Rod bearing? Listen to this.

[brihann]

Hi,

2000 Explorer 4.0 with 140,000 miles.

Just looking for confirmation that my truck is dead.... or not

A few days ago we took my truck on a trip from So Cal to Lake Havasu. About a 5 hour drive each way. Truck ran like a champ. I flushed the radiator the morning before we left.

After returning I drove it the next day, no problem.

The following day when I started it, it hesitated for a moment before cranking over and started right up as if the battery or starter was an issue. But started and all was good.

Drove it the next day. No problem.

Sat in the garage on Saturday and then tried to drive it on Sunday. This time when I turned the key the motor would not turn over. Locked up. Tried again and it turned over and started with this sound (watch video). The belt is off in the video because I removed it to eliminate any possible issue from pullys, power steering, ac, etc.

In the preceding weeks there has been a slight momentary squeel when cold that I thought might be power steering or other pully.

So this is what I have.



My last ditch hope is..... is it possible that the starter is bad and not disengaging from the flywheel or did I seize a rod bearing?

Radiator still full and oil looks fine.

Any help or guess would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Brian

 

[donalds]

Okay be dumb but I can't tell is that the ohv engine or the shoc

 

[German Engineer]

Sounds like you might have one of these popular bump stock AR15's stuck in the engine compartment somewhere.

Joke aside, can't you locate where the knocking sound comes from by listening? You should be able to tell if the sound comes from the starter.
You could also try slowly turning the engine by hand and listen if you can locate the knocking noise with the starter on the engine, also after you have taken it off.

Other than that from what you write and the video I have the same guess as you.
I'd personally bet, hope, and check for the starter not disengaging first.

 

[German Engineer]

Okay be dumb but I can't tell is that the ohv engine or the shoc

Looks like the OHV engine to me.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

First check the oil for metal contamination, if rod knock the oil will look like metal flake paint. If oil looks ok, remover starter and inspect, if starter is ok, then unbolt torque converter from flexplate, then grab the flexplate and see if it is loose (possible cracked or broken), if the flexplate seems ok, push converter as far away from flexplate as possible make sure it will no contact flexplate, reinstall starter and start engine and listen for noise. If noise is gone, the noise is in the torque converter or transmission, if the noise persists, it is in the engine somewhere.

 

[donalds]

Looks like the OHV engine to me.

That's what I thought but hay better to ask
I thought it sounded like tensioner noise

 

[BTR]

Which tensioner are you referring to?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Ouch. Is that at idle? Sounds a little fast to be rod knock, from other motors I’ve heard.

 

[Turdle]

too fast for a bearing or valvetrain issue. Something it hitting the timing chain, maybe the flywheel would be my guess.

 

[GroupExploder]

Used motors can be had from LKQ cheaper than repairing.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Used motors can be had from LKQ cheaper than repairing.

Depends on what’s wrong. Plus with motors this old, you never know what you’re going to get. You know what they say, the devil you know.......

 

[donalds]

Lol sounded like a chain slapping

 

[Turdle]

Check your fan blade, sounds like it might be cracked and hitting the shroud? Possibly the fan is hitting a bracket or bolt?

 

[RandomNerd2000]

Check the TC bolts to make sure they're tight? Check the oil's condition and make sure you have oil pressure. The belt being unhooked eliminates several things including the fan.

 

[lobo411]

Check your fan blade, sounds like it might be cracked and hitting the shroud? Possibly the fan is hitting a bracket or bolt?

Couldn't be that though...OP says he removed the belt to take the video.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's the starter coming out of the flexplate, the teeth are disengaging. Don't hit the starter again, it's damaging the flexplate teeth. Remove the starter(assuming the bolts are not loose), and inspect the flexplate teeth.

Hopefully all you need is a new starter.

 

[BTR]

It sounds like the starter gear is not completely disengaging the flexplate gear, i.e., the teeth on the starter gear are remaining partially engaged with the teeth on the flexplate.

 

[sukarian]

My 2000 ford explorer xls was making the EXACT same noise as in the posted video. Here is a video of the noise from my engine, in action :

Thought it was the starter, as many commented. Took off the starter, tested it - it was fine.

Thinking that i may have "done something" by taking it off, i put it back on thinking/praying it may just start up normal.

Nope. - it started with the same rattling noise it had before i took off and tested the starter. I guess its going for sale "as is."

Was told by some others that it is probably a rod bearing.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

A cracked/broken flex-plate can make a noise similar to "rod knock". Check your engine oil for metallic particles, if it is a rod bearing you will find heavy metallic flakes in the oil, it might even look like metal flake paint.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, watch that oil very closely, change it if it still looks normal, and keep checking it often. If it really looks like metal flakes in the oil, it's time to not run it anymore, and fix it now.