New 97 Explorer owner - help.
New User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
New 97 Explorer owner - help.
Recently purchased a 97 Explorer with the SOHC 4.0. I thought I'd been a pretty prudent shopper but I hadn't discovered the various boards on this truck and therefore was unaware of the possible issues with the chain tensioners and the chain guides. So, the truck I bought, from a dealership, makes this continual, fairly light, mechanical sound, (think mechanical lifters in a mid 60's V8). The sound changes in intensity a little with rpm/load but is never really loud. It also silent at idle but it is there. Is this normal? Are the SOHC engines noisier? I have no idea if the 01M01 or the 00M12 programs have been performed on the engine. Can I find out if they were done? Did they fix the timing chain issues? I've gone from feeling great about my "new" truck to a fair degree of paranoia about it. Thanks in advance for your help.
New User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Dodgeville WI
New 97 Explorer owner - help.
I don't know much about the 4.0 engine or the the transfer case in them but welcome to explorer ownership, I am a partial owner my and my girl friend have mutal interest in an explorer, but it has the 5.0 and AWD, so it is different from yours, the mutal interest is quite interesting I pay for the insurance, she drives it and makes payments and my truck gets to sit outside at night,
go figure,
go figure,
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
New 97 Explorer owner - help.
The SOHC engines are bit more mechanical sounding at an idle. Besides the normal ticking of the injectors you do also hear a bit of noise from the cam chains. If I was you I'd find another one the same and part next to it and compare. I doubt you'll find anything wrong with yours. Usually when there are problems on the SOHC they make bad rattling noises when first started. Some noise when you start it cold is normal but if the noise is loud and lasts for more that few seconds you might have cam chain tensioner problems.
