V6 Sohc timing chains....

[Lazzman]

My V6 Sohc has 132k semi hard (I like fast acceleration) miles on it and I was wondering when the timing belt tensioner or chains should be changed? Is there a warning light to alert one to this problem or do you just have to figur it out on your own?

I ask because lately I have had a bogging problem. Nothing major, truck just seems to go to a certain RPM range and sit there till you either give it more gas or less gas. Such as merging onto a highway, put it half way to the floor and it will jump to 3000rpm and stay there until desired speed is reached. Sometimes if you floor it at this point the transmission will buck slightly, downshift and kick the rpms up to 5000 till it tachs out and switches gears. Also from a stop under hard acceleration it does not pound through the gears as it should but rather bogs a bit initialy and then takes what feels like more time than it should through first and second - as you can guess I have the 5 speed auto. The engine seems confused at times, like it is trying to respond but having problems.

I have kept up with the maintenance, the dealer installed Motorcraft spark plugs and Wires at 100k. I guess that is all it needs for an ignition tune up. I have no check engine light and the fuel system is clean. Transmission was cleaned in February and is in good shape. Does the timing have to be set on a V6 Sohc explorer?

About the only other thing I can think of is the fuel filter which was changed at about 75k. The engine deffinately seems to have trouble burning off the fuel or maybe getting enough fuel. The truck has no oil leaks and burns no oil.

Anybody have any idea what this might be, I am sure those timing chains or tensioners are going to need replacing at some point??

 

[410Fortune]

Did you try a search?

I am guessing its tune up time.
When maintained the SOHC goes a good long time, was the TSb for the tensioner performed on your truck?
All the SOHC's I know of (97 & 98) are still going very strong, in fact have had 0 issues after the dealer performed the TSB early on (both trucks bought used from dealer, they obviously performed the TSB's on te trucks before sold, can tell by the gaskets/silicoln on the engines

 

[Lazzman]

Apparently this is a hot topic on here. I did do a search but no one has concrete answers so it must be a difficult problem that I and others never knew about the v6 SOHC.

after doing some reading I am convinced that my timing chains need replacement or the tensioner.

When I start the vehicle first thing in the morning I hear a solid rattle like there is no oil in the engine, this has been described by many who have the timing chain problem. Also when do midrange acceleration I notice a diesel type sound, that I thought was an exhaust leak. Even though I have 4.10 gears my truck gets crappy milage- average of 16 mpg driving pretty conservatively. If I stomp on it I can literally watch the gas gauge go down, note the truck never got exceptional milage as it shouldn't but I only started noticing the gas milage going real bad recently.

Question is what are my options? I just replaced all the suspention/brakes and the truck is in super condition. The value is probably about $5000, though would I really be able to sell it without disclosing the timing chain issues?

If anyone has had it done- How much does it cost and how long does it take?

 

[410Fortune]

OH yes the sound in the morning does sound like the tensioner issue.
Are you the original owner?

 

[Lazzman]

Sort of, I bought the truck in december of 1999 off a Ford dealer, it had 12k on the odo. It wasn't even broken in at the time, it was new in every aspect. I hear it was owned my a femal state trooper. The engine was still stiff when I bought it, had to break it in slowly and it eventually loosened up, I doubt she even floored the thing.

I had a tune up recently with motorcraft wires, plugs and cleaned the intakes. It definately seems to bog, but not to the point where an average person would notice due to the fact of the excellent engine power and 4.10 gears. I notice because I have owned the truck for 5 years and know what it drives like. A half pedal start should yield brisk acceleration and a quick snap through the gears, not a steady jump to 3000rpm and hold there.

The engine has been very well cared for Mobil 1 every 3000k and the best of tune up parts when needed. How would I know if the dealer fixed the Timing chain Tensioner. I had it recalled for the intake Gaskets, tires and the seat bolt not sure what else?

 

[410Fortune]

ask ford to look upi your VIN, they can tell you the repair history.
Carfax will also tell you.

A good trained eye can look atthe engine and tell also, the gaskets and silicoln look a certain way from the factory, often it changes when the service tech performs the TSB.

 

[Lazzman]

Thanks 410... I will contact the service department at my local ford dealer.

Oh by the way how long would something like that take? The recalls that I took the truck in for took less than two hours. Is the timing chain tensioner a big job?

 

[Aussie Explorer]

I also occasionally have the bogging down you describe, Like the RPM hit’s about 3000 and sits there for a few second’s before deciding if it want’s to go higher then launching off. Mine seam’s to only do this at certain speeds and when the throttle is down just over half way, and I have not been able to replicate it, it just happens when it happens.

As for the Timing, to replace the Front Left bank Tensioner is fairly straightforward and would not take them too long maybe half a day, However to do the back right bank or any of the chain’s or lower timing assembly the engine need’s to be pulled out and you are looking at $$$ for that Job. Just hope yours is the front tensioner that is faulty,

You can trace the noise when it happens and try to pin point where it is coming from if it is coming from any-where other than the front left of the engine it is not good.

 

[Lazzman]

Nice to hear from someone down under. Thanks for the info, I mainly noticed this problem when I started messing around with the airbox. I drilled it out first, then I completely replaced it with a Volant. The engine just doesn't seem to rev as fast and free as it should unless you bury the gas down to about 3/4's. Maybe I am forgetting and this is just a characteristic of the V6 Sohc.

Aussie I read your post a while back about the timing chain replacement and almost crapped me rammies. $4000- forget that the truck is only worth $3k at best.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

Yeah, that is $4000 Australian dollars not U.S, still it is a-lot of money.
Also that was the price given too me by 2 dealership’s and (we all know how much they charge), that was too pull the engine and replace all timing gear, The main problem is the tool’s needed to reset the camshaft’s, and down hear they are only available from Ford.

My truck is still worth about $15-17000 down hear but still you will never see that $4000 agene, I will be doing my front tensioner shortly and hope that fix’s it.

If it does not fix it then it may be time to move on to a new 4WD and sadly it will not be another Explorer, as I really like the one I have at the moment. But the lack of Off-Road ability/ Mod’s available for the 3rd Generation Explores put them out of the pitcher.