Timingchain tensioners and gaskets- Airleak!

[Oden Cortez]

Hi everyone,

I just bought my second Explorer in my life. The first one was a 2000 Limited wich I sold when the timingchain started to rattle. The new one is a 2000 regular, with the same rattle! Haha!
I've been missing having one so I thought I'll take the risk of buying it even though I could hear a slight rattle.

So-I started with changing the lower intake gaskets and the front- and back tensioners. A company here in Sweden sells these spareparts as the "small pack" and it's supposed to fix erratic idling and the rattle. On startup, after I was done, there might have been a slight improvement to the rattling but the idling was still nervous, raising the rpm and then back to idle. Is this normal?

What was more annoying was that something was leaking- AC (there was a strange smell and white vapor or mist coming from the right side where the AC is located), vacuumleak or spilled coolant being heated...

Any suggestions?

Anyway it's great to back in this forum with a "new" Explorer! Thanks for reading (I will upload photos of the repair if someone's interested!

Cheers

/Olle

 

[J_C]

I had erratic idling when my IAC got too dirty. It would especially do it when the AC compressor cycled on.

It is unlikely that you would get a smell and white vapor from a vac leak, so I would think it's coolant IF it only happens when the engine is hot, and of course your coolant level is dropping. Otherwise AC I know less about, but think it might short cycle if low on refrigerant. If you have the climate control set to any mode that turns the compressor on then you might turn it off and see if that changes the idle behavior.

If you do have a refrigerant leak it should be obvious soon enough due to no cold air.

 

[Oden Cortez]

Hi J C,

Before I fixed My car it was running ok! Haha!

Thank you for the advice. I will definately get My IAC clean. A dirty EGR is another common problem-will clean that one too..

For now I'm getting help from a Ford Service to fix My "repair".

Thanks again.

/Olle