Timing chain issue.

[lucylocket1966]

Hi Fellow enthusiasts! I have a 97 Explorer which I am considering selling as I have been told (and I think the same) the timing chains are chattering ... I love my 'Dora and am going to get another one BUT in the meantime, maybe some of you can shed some light on it for me.

In really cold weather or even just over night on a cold night (we used to live in snow, now we live in more California type-weather) my Dora will, on start up, just about cr@p herself on the revs. It will swing wildly from almost stall to 3500rpm or more, then back down, up down up down for ages until it settles - could this be the temperature sensor? Or a small air leak somewhere? It takes ages to settle BUT even if it's parked in snow, later in the day will not do this. The Check Engine light kept coming on too and I can't remember how we fixed that and the only thing that kept coming up was lean on one bank, which suggested EGR but our useless mechanic said it wasn't.

It doesn't do that anymore, can't remember why - disconnected it???? Anyhow, now I have this chattering under load - it's like the bearing pinking and eases when I take my foot off. I've been told it's the timing chains but that's by a Ford Dealer here who was to remove $6,000 NZD off me for the privilege of fixing them, $2k for the parts alone! Sheesh. Mind you, this is the same dealership which said my wheel bearing was poked for the warrant of fitness, when it was just tyre noise. I need to sort as otherwise I will sell while it's still alive and get another later model, at least for another 20-40k kms .... I have horses and really don't need the motor letting go on me while towing up some of our steep long gradients!!

Also, since it came back from a bit of an explore at the dealership, I'm not sure if they have disturbed something or dropped some dirt into it from moving the spark plugs or whatever, but it's now doing what my old laser did when it popped an HT lead - driving fine, BUT sometimes when I'm stopped at lights it will (mostly in drive, but sometimes in N) fluctuate in it's rpm from 900 (just right at idle) to nearly stall, back up and so on. And then not at the next set. AAAARRRRRGGGGHGHGHGH. If it was a normal old Chev I could probably fix it, or a Holden, but these Dora's are a different beast and I don't want to go hunting and create more issues ........

So, gurus of Explorers, any suggestions? Feel free to PM or email me too if you don't want this to become lengthy ... or I'm on skype too.

 

[blueka]

sounds like the OOM12 kit is needed... upper and lower intake gaskets..

Holden?? do they fix them? I thought they just scrapped them?? lol

Si

 

[lucylocket1966]

Hi Si - thanks for that. Is that ALL it could be?

As for the pinking under load, is that what the chains sound like? Since Dora went in for her little exploratory look, it seems to be quieter than it was, but these other issues have shown up!

It is worth fixing at those sort of prices? I don't know what 2nd hand dealers charge over seas but here in NZ? Well, put it this way - at least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed you ... $350 for a new lower (rectangle) driving light LENS (if cracked); $280 plus GST (12.5%) for a SECOND HAND wheel hub assembly ... which is why I'm wondering if it's going to be cheaper to buy a whole new car!

I'll have hubby look at that aspect when he gets home (he's away) ... it's more the timing chains which really bother me from an expense if they let go point of view.

And yes, gonna ignore the Holden dig. Let's face it "Hold on Dear Engine's nackered" is probably more flattering than all the FORD ones ...... so we won't go there!!!

 

[lucylocket1966]

Oh and while I'm at it - heathen that I am - what do the AU, AN, UA mean behind the XLT on model type??????????????????????????????????????? *blushes at ignorance*

 

[blueka]

is the check engine light on? does it come on just before you start it up, then go out? or does it stay on? get the codes read and it post them up, have you thought about getting the parts from somewhere like Rockauto, or summit racing and getting them shipped? or asking someone to ship em to you as a "gift"? might be cheaper in the long run... I didn't think NZ was that expensive? It's getting as bad as England haha

What you're describing sounds like how mine was before the kit was done, it's been fine since.

Si

 

[lucylocket1966]

Um, check engine light would come on not long after start up - mechanic (useless twat to be honest) would clear the code. Can't remember what it was but it was something to do with the EGR I think? But he reckoned (with his after-market, not genuine ford, scanner) that it wasn't that, or couldn't possibly be. What is the 00M12 kit? Is that just the gaskets? Check engine light doesn't come on anymore but I can't remember honestly if that's because TM (twat mechanic) disconnected the sensor? Or if we did something that worked.

And what about the timing chain rattle? IS that timing chain? Or is that just something else. To be honest, I also told the Twatty Mechanic (in Dunedin) that the accelerator appeared to be sticking, esp on first drive off. He said, don't be stupid. Even my husband (who fixes just about any classic car, he was an engine rebuilder in a past life) said it was sticky. Sure enough (thumbs up to Ford here) the throttle bolt was in the wrong position and now it doesn't stick - and the rattle in the engine seems to be less.

Gas mileage - could this be another give-away? I am getting REALLY REALLY sh*tty gas mileage, worse than my V8 Range Rover. Sometimes only 400km to the tank and rarely 500km - it's hideously expensive to run, and worse when towing. The bottom quarter seems to be the worst, sometimes perhaps 80km from the quarter.

Could this be tyres, the gasket issue, or the fact it's AWD, or something else? My car is lovely and I love it and it tows the horses brilliantly, BUT it's just got all these 'little' issues which are driving me mental. Not enough for the car to be declared 'dead' but enough that, seeing as we both need cars which are working (I'm a shift worker, he's on days and we have kids and sports) all the time I'm thinking of kicking it into touch and getting something which will do at least another 20-40 thou kms for me.

 

[lucylocket1966]

And you have DEFINITELY pimped your Xplorer for off-road. Nice work. I'd love to get some of the seats with the headrests for DVD/PS stuff for the kids - do all the seats from later models integrate with the earlier models easily? ie same rails, etc? Not too many of these being wrecked here as such - mostly the engines die.

how long, out of interest, do the timing chains keep going before they sh*t themselves once they start rattling?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've renamed your thread, and moved it into the stock 95-01 section.

 

[lucylocket1966]

Thanks for that - this is a great site! Am going to have a go at cleaning my IAC out to help the idle and also a couple of other things - I still think my timing chains are muntered but at least I might be able to sell the beast in better condition!!!

Have had a look on the recall website and what do you know - the throttle body is supposed to be replaced too ... so I will see if Ford here will do that. Mind you, when they tried to fail it for the warrant of fitness and I said neither issue was a WOF issue and could be easily resolved without buying $300 2nd hand parts (that's $600 in total PLUS their labour to fit, yeah, bet most people came down in the last shower but not me - teensy dot of clear glue for a lens hole and a $45 alignment instead of a new wheel bearing and me applying a crescent to remove disconnected spot lights on the nudge bar) they threw a hissy fit, almost threw my car out of the workshop and barely spoke to me ... Dealerships, don't you just love 'em????

 

[blueka]

The seats were out of a 2000 model I think, in England it's called "the north face", I think they're "limited" or "eddie bauer" seats over here.

They just bolt straight in, some wiring mods needed though.


Si

 

[janolsson]

Hi
I think you r heading in the right direction for the hunting revs by cleaning the IAC. I assume you did some searching as no one seems to have suggested it.
The oom12 kit would address the start up rattle issues and problems at idle. The kit comprises upper and lower intake manifold gaskets, an oil way restrictor valve ( a plastic pencil you drop in an oilway) and the front cam guide tensioner.
As for the rattle, the new tensioner may help is the old one has got tired.
I would also advise dropping the oil pan to see what bits of plastic you have in there, and while it's off you can clean out the oil pick up tube. This has a filter that can get blocked by the smaller pieces.
With all this done you may see the rattle lessen.
I had a terrible rattle that made the engine sound like a diesel and it drove well for about 1K before i set about the fixing, tho they can just let go.
If you can get the parts from the US along with the otc-6488 tool kit you can DIY (or your hubby can) as there is more than enough info and expertise on this site to help.

I got into problems with mine by letting a mechanic do the front badly and then my own stupidity but all in all it's not as scary some people make out.

Regards