Timing chain guide.So they say.baby comin need help

[bryankojak]

I own a 1998 4.0sohc all stockwith 154000 mi, i just got a week ago.I read off the codes and it showed #2&#3 cylinder missfire.I took it to the dealership for a check up for a tapping noise under the hood.you can also hear it strong from underneth they went on to tell me it was a broke timing chain guide and it would lay down on me before long.they said they had to pull the hole moter to find the broken guide and it would be $1800 to $1900 to fix my tapping noise.is this a commin,if it is wouldn"t it be cheaper to just buy a used moter and have it stuck in.and can the tell its a broken giude just buy looking. please help got a bby comming in 2 weeks and wont have anything to bring him home in.

 

[White98]

First off congrats on the baby coming! I have one that is due on the 24th of May.
As for your motor, the timing chain guides are a weak point on this engine, yes it is a common problem. I just learned a bunch off of this site through doing a search of the timing chain issue. If you are at all mechanically inclined, you should be able to do it yourself. There are some special tools required to do the procedure. I was able to replace all of the chains an guides in my 98, including the tool kit, for under $500. As for buying a used motor, you dont know what you are getting. Given the track record of the timing issues, you would be taking quite a gamble going with a used motor. If you could find a used motor with low miles and inspect the guides before buying it, that would be a viable option. I think that a good used 4.0 SOHC motor will probably set you back $1000+

 

[matt98sport]

Did you pull your motor to do this work? if not, how did you do it? Im in the same boat (minus the baby).. I'm gonna be walking soon

 

[White98]

Yes, I did pull the motor but you do not need to pull the motor to replace the timing components. I figured it would be easier to get to everything if I pulled it though. I have no regrets about pulling it. In fact, I ended up replacing the rod bearings while I had it apart.

 

[bryankojak]

thanks,but dag

thanks for the info,and as a matter a fact i have a garage at home and,use to be a macanic, but that was 18 years ago.and i hated the job.guess i should have picked a better class in vocational school. anyway i just dont have time to do it myself i work 7 days a week 14hrs a day. baby money ya know. i found a motor about 100 miles away with 70 thou miles with a garrentee for $750 and a guy says he will put it in for 500. im pretty shure my motor is past fixin cause it pings twice as lowd as it did before,and i have a cil#2 and #3 misfire,id say alot more shot than the guides once a guy got in there so id say she is gutted. either that or take it and trade it in before it blows,dag i hate to let it go its ment condition other than the moter. dag dag dag .