2002 Explorer with 4.0L engine and 27,000 miles pings. Taken to Ford 3 times and they ran it through a bunch of "test" and found nothing. They called Ford Hotline and were told its normal?? They did de-carbonize but that did not help so the idiots set the timing back 6 degrees - the max Ford allows. It still pings.

I took the advise from this forum and replaced the intake manifold gaskets, decarbonized the engine again myself, checked EGR operation, checked for and found no vac leaks (Ford also indicated that there were no vac leaks) still have the same pinging.

Pulled the MAF twice and cleaned.

After performing each thing above the computer was reset (disconnect battery for 15 minutes). Still have pinging. Any other ideas??? Thanks.

 

PREVENT DETONATION

 

4x4 - Thanks for the info.

 

did you ever fix this? I have the same problem, i changed wires it stoped for a week. Then changed plugs, same stop for a week, still pings under light throttle. I also tryed running 93 octane. Nothing will stop it but a BIG TREE.

 

Are you sure it is pinging? The 4.0 SOHC is known to have timing chain rattle problems. The 2002 Explorer that my wife drives is plagued with this problem. The rattle is only heard from about 2400 RPM to about 4000 RPM and sounds EXACTLY like the engine is pinging. There is a Technical Service Bulletin out for the fix, and since you are still under warranty, I would take it in and have the TSB performed. I am living with the noise for now as I am out of warranty. I hope this helps.

Charles

 

i have 110k on it ready to trade it in

 

Sorry, I was thinking about the original poster...I didn't realize how old this thread was. We are coming up on 100k on our Explorer, and outside of the whining rear end and the timing chain rattle, it's not a bad truck. Yours is a pinging for sure, then?

 

and what does a ping sound like and what about the timing chain rattle...what does it sound like???