Had the chain tensioners issue been ironed out by the 2002 model year (I have a 2002 Exlorer XLT with 4.0 SOHC)??

 

Nope... I have my parents '02 4wd explorer in my garage now for the same issues they've always had... They took it to/from Houston from Indy just enough to have 37k miles on it so Ford wouldn't cover the repairs...

No easy revision you can make without major dollars to fix it the oil issue either...

 

what work exactly are you getting done on their vehicle. Also what do you mean by the oil problem?

 

Left Hand Cassette Tensioner for Left Cam caused engine to eat the plastic guides Ford is still using

 

Ford fixed this problem in 2000. Any vehicle with less then 100,000 miles will be fixed free. contact you ford dealer.
Dave

 

Dave 257,

what parts did Ford change to eliminate the problem?

 

There were some plastic parts in the tensioner I beleive that were changed. check you dealer.
Dave

 

All new tensioner and guide parts look to have been heavily reinforced compared to orignal design... Still a lot more plastic than I care to see in an engine but at least the newer parts should hold together...

 

Does this apply to Rangers also? I asked my Ford dealer and they said the 3/36 is all that would cover it. Mine's a 2001 with 62000 miles.

 

Make : FORD Model : RANGER Year : 2001
Service Bulletin Num : 0281 Date of Bulletin: APR 29, 2002
NHTSA Item Number: 637920
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Summary:
SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 SOHC (SINGLE OVER-HEAD CAM) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN RATTLE NOISE. *TT

Ask you ford dealer to look up the service builletins you tor year.
Dave257

 

HEY GUYS,

I AM DOING THE WORK WITH MINE MONEY....SO, I GOT TO SEE THE ACTUAL NEW TENSIONERS AND CASSETTES AND HATE TO REPORT THEY ARE STILL PLASTIC. JUST STRONGER AND SLIGHTLY LARGER....I HOPE THIS WORKS, OR I MIGHT HAVE TO SUE THE DARN DESIGNER THAT GOT THE BIG BUCKS FOR HIS CRAPPY IDEAS .... .....SO, WE ALL JUST NEED TO HANG IN THERE AND BITE THE BULLET IF YOU OWN ONE OF THE BAD BOYS ...LOL

 

Hey, for those with this problem...how do you tell it's the timing chain rattling and not the valves, etc. from the gasoline? I have 12,000 miles on my '03 Ranger and it's making a rattling noise under acceleration...but I just assumed it's the quality of fuel around here. How would you know the difference?

 

If it's rattling under acceleration it should come between 2000-3000 RPM, mainly about 2400. That's according to the TSB. Since your truck is under warranty, I would take it in and have them look at it.

 

,


I WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED. I BELIEVED BY THAT YEAR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED. GO TO YOUR DEALER, HAVE THEM RUN YOUR VIN# AT THE SERVICE CENTER AND SEE WHAT WARNINGS( THE OTHER WORD THEY LIKE TO USE FOR RECALL: CAUSE WE FU*K UP). AND CHECK IT THAT WAY. EITHER WAY YOU SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY.

 

I had mine fixed under warranty, but the noise came back. Not near as bad, but it is still there.