Is there a time when you need to replace a timing chain? my truck is a 00 with 91000 miles. the truck drives just fine, but i suspect the clanging/tapping noise coming from the front/passenger side of the engine is a broken guide that causes the chain to bang against the cover. I spoke to a ford mechanic and said this is kinda common on the 5.4 v8's.

my question is, how difficult is it to replace the possible broken guide, or the timing chain??? according to the haynes manual , u need to remove quite a bit to get to it, which doesnt bother me too much, but i have never messed with timing chains before, and not in the mood to replace an engine.

Has anyone ran into this problem before?

 

I don't think that is a issue on the 2V 5.4 , I would look for missing exhaust manifold studs first as that is a lot more common of a noise issue than the timing chain. Now if you said its a newer 3V 5.4 I would say possibly timing chain issues..

 

an exhaust manifold was replaced a few years back and had the other checked out. that doesn't seem to be a problem unless the person i took it too didn't know what they were doing.

 

That's a definite possibility, Like I said it is the most likely to cause a noise. Check that first and if you don't find anything post back and we will go for the next most likely. When you are looking at the studs look for black carbon around the manifold it is another indication of a leak. Also just because they changed a manifold doesn't mean they replaced the studs..

 

I'll see if I can get it In the garage tomorrow and look around for that . Just out of curious from your experience what else could it be? The noise isn't loud , it doesn't go awAy in any condition , it's just kinda there. More of an annoyance than anything. Thanks for the help

 

My next question would be what oil filter are you running?

 

Motorcraft

 

You could need a timing kit on an 2V but this is not the engine to be the first to learn on without experienced help.

 

I would be surprised on a 2v 5.4 with only 91,000 miles.

 

i dont think i would mess with the timing chain, not with everything i have read about it, im ok with admitting when something is over my head. Hope to find out the real problem this week. maybe it is the other manifold, god only knows what this will cost... thanks for everyone's help.