Timing chain

[gdmp]

Gidday all! Just looking for some guidance regarding the timing chain. Mine apparently broke the other day and that was the end of the car - 96 xlt explorer auto 4litre V6.

It's at the shop now and I am awaiting the full list of damage and the quote to have damage fixed.

I am looking for advice regarding should the timing chain snap at 84000k's and one week after having a service for said 84 000kms?

Also are there any recalls that I should know about regarding the timing chain etc does this have anything to do with the plastic chain guides for the camshaft? I too had weird idle problems on starting the car in the mornings.

I will let you know more as I get the info and look forward to getting information so as to make sure the repairs are correctly done and I am not completely ripped off by paying for something that may have been a recall notice but wasnt sent!

Thanks

Gdmp

 

[Jason_25]

You must be one of the owners of rare 96 SOHC's. You shouldn't have to pay for the repairs. You may want to search on this site for 00M12 or PM Robert for more info. Good luck.

 

[gdmp]

Thanks Jason. Can you clarify the PM Robert reference? I am by no means mechanical but gather that the timing chain has something to do with the cam shaft and that the 00m12 was a recall that affected the timing chain??

ANy aussies on the board that have had the same experience or mates that have had the experience? IN fact any one in Melbourne that might direct me to a freindly qualified mechanic - I dont feel to kindly towards these large dealer service centres.

 

[RAZOR]

ATT: If you go to www.ownerconnection.com you will be in touch with the Ford Motor Co. Customer Relationship Center and they can tell you if you are included in the extended warranty program for the Front cam chain guide or any other warranty program on your engine.
RAZOR

 

[gdmp]

Tried as you suggested but as I bought the car in Australia they dont have a record of my vin number and therefore wont allow me into the section I need to go to view recalls for my model.

 

[Robert]

gdmp - Don't bother looking into the 00M12. Your '96 does not have the SOHC engine which the program applies to. Ford did not install the SOHC until the '97 model year. For proof, look at the 8th digit of your VIN. If it is an 'X' you have the OHV 4.0L, 'E' is for the SOHC and I think 'P' is for the 5.0L V8. On the Explorers that were built in late '96 that had the SOHC they were model year '97. If yours has an 'E' in the 8th digit they yours is a '97. It is possible that the Austrailians designated them differently though with importing and stuff. If it was built in '96 they might consider it a '96 even if it was officially considered a '97 by Ford.

 

[gdmp]

Thanks Robert, My car has the "e" as the eighth digit. I bought it in Jan 97 which makes it a late 96 model perhaps built for the 97 market? As it has the E that would make it an 'soch' engined car there fore the 00m12 would apply. However I rang Ford Australia and went through all the recall/ONP and 00m12 was not heard of by them?!

I read somewhere that the timing chain should be tightened every 100 000kms. The fact that mine snapped at 84000kms seems to be a bit early. Ford America seems to have acknowleged a problem and I am hoping to use that information to get them to address my breakage and assist in the repair. Any further info would be of great help.

Thanks

 

[Robert]

Here in the U.S. the '97 models came out in August 1996. If yours was sold here in the U.S. it would be considered a '97 since the last ones were built in July '96. It must just be the way things are designated over there. Regardless, since you do have an SOHC the camshaft chain guides are warranted here in the U.S. for 7 years, 100K miles. If the chain guide breaks it can cause internal engine damage. The front left guide is the only one with the extended warranty though. The others supposedly aren't a problem. I don't know if Ford Australia would cover it under the U.S. program but do a search here for 01M01. That is the program for the chain guides. The tensioners are what were covered under 00M12 and according to Ford when they fail it won't cause any damage just noise.

 

[tenikiwon]

I have a 97 and it's maun date was November 96