04 Explorer rattle at startup
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Louisville, KY
04 Explorer rattle at startup
When we start our 4.0 v6 from a cold start, a loud valve rattle. The best way to describe this is it sounds like the first time you start your engine after an oil change.
Has anyone else noticied this? Also, is there anything that can be done to help this?
Thanks in advance!!!
Brian
Has anyone else noticied this? Also, is there anything that can be done to help this?
Thanks in advance!!!
Brian
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Ashland, KY
It's not your valve's. I know exactly waht you are talking about. The noise you are hearing is the timing chain rattling. The 4.0 has 2 timing chains in it. One in the front and one in the back of the motor. 9 times out of 10 it is the front one that rattles like that. If it is still under Factory Warr. take it in and let them do it. I have a friend who works in the Ford Shop where I live and they sent 2 guys to school just to change out timing chains in the 4.0 V6's. That is the only way to make the sound go away, is to change it out. If you don't change it then over time and wear it will just get louder. My buddy has a 2001 Explorer and it does the same thing your's does. It has 80,000 miles on it and it still runs great with no problems, but it just putting up with the rattling sound. Scott
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Freshman User
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From: Louisville, KY
This noise is only when the truck is starting, correct. I have heard some other people talk timing chain guides but I thought theirs was a consistent rattle.
Thanks for the info,
Brian
Thanks for the info,
Brian
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Ashland, KY
I asked him today about that and he told me that his started doing in just when you start the truck up at first. But as the years went by it started doing it all the time, like when you take out from a red light or a stop sign. You can hear it know at low idle and alittle while the truck goes through the gears. But as far as running on the highway or driving through town you can't hear it. Your truck might be doing something different then his, but he said it sounds like the samething his is doing. Hope this helped you out some.
Scott
Scott
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Replace the tensioner "cartridge" there is an updated design. You have to remove the intake to get to it. It screws into the front of the engine from the top.. kind of looks like a coolant temperature sensor, except with nothing to plug into it.
You can get the updated kit from ford.. includes intake gaskets and all.. plus some kind of restrictor you put in the hold before installing the new tensioner.
You can get the updated kit from ford.. includes intake gaskets and all.. plus some kind of restrictor you put in the hold before installing the new tensioner.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Friendswood, Texas
Originally Posted by Rwing21
Thanks for the info.
Will more damage be done if I wait to get this fixed or should I go ahead and address the issue now?
Also, just curious what Ford charges to fix this?
Will more damage be done if I wait to get this fixed or should I go ahead and address the issue now?
Also, just curious what Ford charges to fix this?
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From: "Garden State"
Originally Posted by Rwing21
Thanks for the info.
Will more damage be done if I wait to get this fixed or should I go ahead and address the issue now?
Also, just curious what Ford charges to fix this?
Will more damage be done if I wait to get this fixed or should I go ahead and address the issue now?
Also, just curious what Ford charges to fix this?
. They didn't hear any noise 
. Whimsey
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From: "Garden State"
Originally Posted by texan2004
I seem to recall there was a technical service bulliten on this and that Ford was not charging to fix this but I could be wrong. Sort of an unadvertised recall.
Whimsey
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From: Louisville, KY
Thanks for the info!
From what I am reading on here and other sites, it appears that this was a big problem for the 2000-02 4.0's. Has there been very many of the 2003-05's with these symptoms?
Is there any sure way of knowing if rattle is coming from the front or the rear of the engine?
Has anyone performed this repair themselves and if so, where did you get the ford tool to set the valve timing?
Thanks again for the help!!!
From what I am reading on here and other sites, it appears that this was a big problem for the 2000-02 4.0's. Has there been very many of the 2003-05's with these symptoms?
Is there any sure way of knowing if rattle is coming from the front or the rear of the engine?
Has anyone performed this repair themselves and if so, where did you get the ford tool to set the valve timing?
Thanks again for the help!!!
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Freshman User
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From: Louisville, KY
I just spoke with a Ford dealership here in Louisville and they said that this would be the first 04 Explorer in there with this issue. He said that 02 was the last time that he had any explorers come in with the timing chaing rattle.
Can anyone on here confirm that they have not had a 03 or newer with this issue?
Can anyone on here confirm that they have not had a 03 or newer with this issue?
New User
Joined: Jun 2004
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I have an 04 Ex with the 4.0l and i recall it making that noise as soon as you crank the engine over. I really only hear it in cold climates though. I attribute the noise to cold weather because youll hear crazy sounds in colder weather as opposed to warm/hot weather.
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You know, now that I think about it, I think they were already putting the updated design on explorers long before '04.. maybe you should make a call to the dealer just to be sure.
How many miles do you have on it?
How many miles do you have on it?
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My truck started out doing the samething.now its in the shop getting fixed its a problem with the Timing chain & tennsioners,It got to the point to where the chain slapped around sound like a diesile than jumped time and would not start.Ford does have a recall on the problem but with mile and yrs,if you fall into there guide lines they will fix it,call ford give them your Vin # and they will tell you.mine was over the miles and it costs over a $1000 to fix.I feel if Ford knows its a problem with there design on there end they should cover the truck reguardless,I was never told about it being recalled or I would of had mine addressed my truck is a 2001 with 80,000 0n it,but its an out of pocket now,the tennsioners are plastic,thats why they wear out.Have yours checked.
Last edited by Joe Parrino; Oct 25, 2006 at 08:33 AM.