Rattle on '92--Timing Belt Tensioner?

Most of the timing chain tensioner issues were with the newer V6, not the old one in the "classic" models. What I would suggest is that you remove the serpentine belt and run the engine (briefly) with the belt off and see if the noise is still there. If the noise is gone you know its in one of the parts that the belt spins. If that doesn't help the next thing the comes to my mind is a cracked flex plate between the engine and torque converter. You might be able to tell if there is an inspection place on the bottom of the bell housing that can be removed. I can't recall if there is or not.

-- Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts:

"What, sir, is the use of militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. . . Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins." -- Debate, U.S. House of Representatives, August 17, 1789

Thanks! I'll try those two things.

I"AZGuy" wrote in

Well, I ran it without the belt and the rattle is still there . Looks like major surgery might be needed.

Now to find the plate you mentioned...

After reading a lot of old posts and considering everything I could think of I've come to the conclusion that my timing chain is loose and needs to be replaced. I failed to mention in my post that I also have rather severe ping which I now attribute to the timing being a bit off due to the chain being loose. The ping is difficult to hear over the rattle. I read about the flex plate being broken and it does not sound like what I have (yet, anyway--something else to look forward to ;-).

I shall now order a timing set and start taking the thing apart. From all of my Google searches it looks like I am the first person in history to (probably) have to replace the timing chain on a '91-'94 Explorer. Ain't I lucky.

If somehow it's not the chain then I guess it's not unreasonable to replace it at 265,000 miles anyway.