98 Explorer sohc 4.0 timing fix

As far as my understanding goes (and I've done my research as well) there are actually 3 chains. One in the front. One in the center and one in the back of the engine. The front one has a timing chain tensioner and guide. If the tensioner goes bad it's a rather easy fix. You just unscrew it from the top of the engine head (it's a black plastic tube that seats under the intake) and screw a different one in. Anything else will require pulling the engine out. You might be able to change the chain guide on the front without pulling the engine out but I won't call it a weekend mechanic job.

Awwwww, that clears a lot up for me. I thought you had to pull everything to replace the tensioner like you would to replace a guide or chain. Now i am hoping it is just the tensioner that needs replacing. Is there any way to tell if the guide needs replacing without pulling everything off the front of the motor? I found this thread on explorerforum

Yeah. I saw that thread on explorerforum before. Very helpful.

I would try to do this fix and see if the noise goes away. In your case since it has been making the noise for a while I would also do an oil change and take a close look at the oil for any metal parts.

I pulled it apart yesterday (took about two hours) and called the Ford dealer to order the 00m12 kit. $42.00 for upper and lower gaskets, tenisoner and some odds and ends. It will be in and I will have it back together today. Oil change sounds like a really good idea. If this works I will be a happy camper.

Let us know the result.

It took about an hour to put it back together. There was already a plastic restriction plug in the hole so I guess it has been done before. I got it back together and it runs the same as it did. I think maybe the chain cartridge is broken. When I look trough the filler cap I can see something red that looks like a piece of plastic cockeyed in there about 4 inched deep. I tried to get pictures of it but no go. The ford dealer says the power lose is caused by the slop in the chain and maybe it jumped time. It starts and dies easy, no dragging of the starter or dieseling at shutdown. It runs rough cold and when warm but does not die. Once in a great while the brakes are hard to push like it has a bad vacuum leak. It has suddenly started running fine for a couple of miles a few times since all this has started The only thing I can think of to do is change the cartridge and see if that does the trick. I hope I can pick up a timing tool on Ebay for cheap. Tune in next week for "The rest of the story" LOL

I have had this done by ford and thereare two hydraulic adjusters one each side in the UK the parts were =A340 each so its likely to be $40. Its not difficult but at the same time you can have the dianostics done to see what else is wrong or OK.

Ed

I have had this done by ford and thereare two hydraulic adjusters one each side in the UK the parts were =A340 each so its likely to be $40. Its not difficult but at the same time you can have the dianostics done to see what else is wrong or OK.

Ed

I have had this done by ford and thereare two hydraulic adjusters one each side in the UK the parts were £40 each so its likely to be $40. Its not difficult but at the same time you can have the dianostics done to see what else is wrong or OK.

Ed

I did a few a while back and I have to say its not an easy " do it yourselfer" job

Valve cover and timing cover/water pump p/s pump and bracket have to come off Taking radiator out gives you more room to work You need special tools to remove dampner and to hold the cranck and cam in place because the gears don't have slots. It is a B*tch to get the metal cassette back in and everything lined up

Don't forget to drop the lower oilpan and get the broken pieces out of the oil pump pick-up tube if pieces are missing from old cassette

Is yours a 4x4 ??? IIRC you had to remove the balance shaft chain also

I think warranty paid about 7 or 8 hours , after doing a couple and some short cuts you could beat that time but its still alot of work.

Good luck

Well bugger all. I can get the parts for under 200 bucks and could do the repairs but I cant get the tools needed to time it. The ford dealer here in town does not even have the tools. I am about to set this big baby on fire and roast some weenies or something. At 300 for the tools and 200 for parts I guess it will be cheaper and easer to stick a motor in it. I found one on ebay with 72,000 miles for