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slight rattle on cold start for 2002 Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer 2002 XLT, 95k km on it.

After a cold start, when accelerating between 20-50km/hr I get an intermittent rattle coming from underneath the front of the truck...its fairly quiet but noticeable if you don't have the radio on. After driving for about 10-15 minutes the rattle goes away, and when driving faster than 50km/hr there is no rattle at all. There is no engine strain or noticeable impact to the driving experience when the rattle is present. Although I can consistently recreate the rattle, it is not constant...it stops and starts depending upon if I'm coasting, accelerating, decelerating, etc.

Based on all of this behaviour, I'm guessing its just a loose bracket or heat shield, however I've only had this truck for a month so I'm wondering if this is possibly a symptom of anything more serious? I've got extended warranty on drive train, exhaust, and electrical but not suspension so I'm inclined to ignore this problem unless people say otherwise...the dealership is 45 minutes away and its a big impact to us to lose the vehicle for a few days.

My biggest fear (based on previous experience) is with the dealer taking everyone apart to isolate the rattle and introducing more problems.

Reply to
burnsdavidj
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driving

Reply to
Pascal

truck...its

driving

Reply to
Pascal

Humm....I also have a 2002 Explorer and it makes noise when I accelerate between 2k to 3k RPM. The noise sounds almost like the engine is pinging or something rattling, I checked the usual parts ( EGR, MFA, vaccuum line ) that may caused pinging but I still haven't found the source of the noise. Is it the symptom your seeing ? I found a web site that said that Ford has a TSB out about the Timing Chain rattling on 2002, maybe that's the noise you are hearing.

Pascal

Reply to
Pascal
2-3k RPM sounds about right, and describing it as something between a ping and a rattle is a good description. Once I hit 60km/hr the problem goes away, and once the engine has been run for about 15 minutes it doesn't rattle at all, even in the low RPMs. I could see that being a timing chain issue...metal and oil heats up, chain runs more smoothly.

My only concern would be whether this is a symptom of timing chain failure, or whether if its just a minor annoyance? If just an annoyance, I'll have them look at it in late June during my next maintenance check I guess. I'll go look up the TSB, thanks for brining it ot my attention.

Reply to
burnsdavidj

Interesting. I have had the same thing on my 02 Explorer XLT V-8 for quite a while. I go back and forth between thinking it is ignition ping and insufficient oil pressure (valve clatter, I would have called it at one time). It is fairly quiet - I have trouble hearing it if the windows and doors are closed. It often happens when I first start the engine - but not every time. I asked my mechanic (non-Ford) to check it out - he told me to give it a tank of "decent gas", meaning higher octane. (I normally run name-brand 87.) I ran a tank of 91, and it had no effect.

I am at about 85K on my 100K extended warranty. If something is going to fail, I wish it would hurry up and do it.

Bill Jeffrey

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Reply to
Bill Jeffrey

Bill, I wouldn't wait if your Explorer is still covered under warranty. It is a manufacturing defect. If you bring it to their attention before the warranty is out and stay on it, Ford would cover this defect even if the warranty ran out, as I mentioned before Ford has a service bulletin out. That's an admission of defect, but of course they ( Ford or the dealer) will not admit to it. You have to make them admit it and show them the service bulletin if they don't admit.

I doubth the timing chain would let go but if it ever does the engine will be toast. If the chain slip then hopefully the only consequences will be the motor will run rough or not at all. It is a 6.5 hours job as indicated in the service bulletin.

Pascal

Reply to
Pascal

This is service bulletin number I found : 0276

That's definitely my problem.

PAscal

Reply to
Pascal

Fortunately I'm entitled to a 30 day bumper-to-bumper warranty... i noticed a small oil leak undernear the Explorer in my driveway so I made an appointment. Verdict on the oil leak was a broken seal which they replaced, and the rattle was a loose heat shield (as I first suspected).

If the problem comes back I'll keep everyone apprised. Despite these two minor problems I'm very happy with my purchase. My friend who bought a new 4Runner last year for roughly 4x the price is fairly sour right now since my 4-year used drives like new and I'm paying far less in insurance. :)

Reply to
burnsdavidj

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