Should I have the timing chains replaced?

[cpoleary]

I was wondering, being new to this Explorer and motor, should I just drop it off at the dealer and have them drop in new timing chains? This sounds like the most likely thing to go out on these.

I would guess that the cost of prevention outweighs the cost of a long block.
Anyone every have the dealer do it and what was the cost?

As it is I have a Caddy in the drive that needs a new Northstar engine and I'd hate to have another vehicle in the same position.

 

[cpoleary]

Sorry for posting this in the wrong place, I meant for it to go in the "Stock 1995 - 2001 Explorers section".

I don't see a way to delete/move.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 95-01 section. Why would you want to replace them if they aren't bad? How many miles does it have?

 

[cpoleary]

I'm new to the truck that has 144K on in it.

There is no noise and the motor runs great, but I'd rather pay a few hundred dollars for some prevention rather then 3k-4k for a long block later. (I guess I'm thinking of it like a timing belt).

This truck is running synthetic oil and I plan to keep to a 5k change schedule with it.

I guess after 3 POS GM products in a row that all required major $$'s for fixes I''m just being over cautious for no real reason.

All in all I'm real happy to be back into a Ford for the first time since I sold my 89 Bronco EB in 1999.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Dealer replaced timing chains

If you get an estimate from the dealer to replace all of the timing chains I suspect it will exceed $2,000.

 

[McSlug]

A lot of people do not recognize the sound of their timing chain rattle and/or dismiss it as normal engine noise or pinging. The sound can disappear after warm up or come and go. Other than the rattle there can and usually is no other noticeable symptom. You may be fully adept in diagnosing this but you may not.

A friend of mine with a '98 Ex said to me when I pointed out the rattle to him "It's been making that sound since I bought it 8 years ago.I thought it was normal." He drove it across Australia like that. Most other people have not been so lucky, including myself.

If you have the rattle it is a sign that total failure could happen at any time. If you don't it may have been fixed.

If repairs are needed exhaust all other reasonable options before going to the stealership. They do not deserve you money. Why pay them to fix their own mistakes.

 

[cpoleary]

Yikes! 2k for this! Thanks for the answer, it makes my decsision not to do the as a PM move.

If repairs are needed exhaust all other reasonable options before going to the stealership. They do not deserve you money. Why pay them to fix their own mistakes.

Very true! I learned that from the GM Northstar engine.

RockAuto has a long block for 2k, why would anyone ever do the chains?

 

[McSlug]

Yikes! 2k for this! Thanks for the answer, it makes my decsision not to do the as a PM move.



Very true! I learned that from the GM Northstar engine.

RockAuto has a long block for 2k, why would anyone ever to the chains?

Here in Australia I was quoted $5000 from one of the 2 mechanics who will work on this engine and both will do nothing short of a full rebuild.
The Fraud Stealership will not fix them they choose to sell you a new engine.

 

[jay3253]

Why not find a newer engine with low miles... say a 2005 or something?

 

[McSlug]

Why not find a newer engine with low miles... say a 2005 or something?

The price would not be worth it

 

[cpoleary]

Well since I paid less the 2k for this truck I'm not really all that worried about it at this time. My only concern is that for now this is my only ride and being down 1-2 weeks would not be a good thing.

If the time comes to swap out the motor, (hopefully never), I'll look at getting the most recent year that I can get if the problems are less. I'll need to read up on any computer/BCM changes that might be needed.

Since I'm new here there is a lot of reading to catch up on!

 

[2000StreetRod]

Replacement long block

You can use the long block from any Ford SOHC V6 in an Explorer, Mountaineer, Ranger, Mustang or Discovery 3. The only difference is a breather in the earlier engines that is now plugged. If you just use the long block no electrical changes are required.

I updated all of my guides and tensioners for less than $300. That's why anyone would do the chains.