Timing Chain symptoms recognition and replacement

[zeekay]

Hi friends,

I am new to this forum. I may not know exactly where to post but thought I should post in somewhere near to my vehicle type.

I bought a used Ford Explorer Model Year 2006 XLT V6 4.0L SOHC American specs (why I wrote American specs coz the dealer denied to serve my vehicle here in Saudi Arabia because its not Saudi specs), since then I am in real fix.

IDLING: My car starts from cold engine with a quite high bursting sound and goes in to 2,000 rpm cycle for about 4 - 5 minutes with sometimes minute oscillation between 1800 to 2000 rpm. Then after 4 - 5 mins it suddenly sinks to 900 - 1000 rpm with a weird vibration in the standing vehicle with a boggling sound for a 30 sec to 60 seconds - then with a spray of water vapors with charcoal ash + a burst of black smoke for a few seconds, it come at 1000 to 1200 rpm and stabilizes - NOTE: IF I ALLOW THIS 5 - 10 minute cycle to complete, then my vehicle runs smoothly over the road until the engine is stopped again for a long time to get it cold. During driving though, a weird hydrocarbon burning smell (or it may be an un-burnt fuel smell - I am not sure) prevails in the cabin and it felt more when the vehicle is stopped at any signal or roadside. The more the vehicle gets heated the more it give this smell.

So can anyone help me understand what is happening and how to get it right. Because unfortunately, in my small town of Saudi Arabia there no specialist and educated mechanics of American cars - every other so called mechanic has his own version of diagnosis and I m confused. I can do DIY if I get clear cut understanding as to what is the real problem and how to do it.

Please help.

 

[carpenter]

Hi friends,

I am new to this forum. I may not know exactly where to post but thought I should post in somewhere near to my vehicle type.

I bought a used Ford Explorer Model Year 2006 XLT V6 4.0L SOHC American specs (why I wrote American specs coz the dealer denied to serve my vehicle here in Saudi Arabia because its not Saudi specs), since then I am in real fix.

IDLING: My car starts from cold engine with a quite high bursting sound and goes in to 2,000 rpm cycle for about 4 - 5 minutes with sometimes minute oscillation between 1800 to 2000 rpm. Then after 4 - 5 mins it suddenly sinks to 900 - 1000 rpm with a weird vibration in the standing vehicle with a boggling sound for a 30 sec to 60 seconds - then with a spray of water vapors with charcoal ash + a burst of black smoke for a few seconds, it come at 1000 to 1200 rpm and stabilizes - NOTE: IF I ALLOW THIS 5 - 10 minute cycle to complete, then my vehicle runs smoothly over the road until the engine is stopped again for a long time to get it cold. During driving though, a weird hydrocarbon burning smell (or it may be an un-burnt fuel smell - I am not sure) prevails in the cabin and it felt more when the vehicle is stopped at any signal or roadside. The more the vehicle gets heated the more it give this smell.

So can anyone help me understand what is happening and how to get it right. Because unfortunately, in my small town of Saudi Arabia there no specialist and educated mechanics of American cars - every other so called mechanic has his own version of diagnosis and I m confused. I can do DIY if I get clear cut understanding as to what is the real problem and how to do it.

Please help.

I guess that by now your problems should have been solved ,? i sounds more like a computer issue then a timing chain one.

 

[Flag Gibby]

Carpenter... not sure what you mean since this was just posted today. First thing that comes to mind is a heavily restricted exhaust system and as things get really hot it flows better so as to allow the vehicle to run correctly. I have never personally seen it, but plugged catalytic converters or a really bad crushed section somewhere in the exhaust is where I would start.

Edit: Been thinking about this... seems like your O2 sensors could be acting up too.