Engine Rattle

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Wes Davis

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Something is rattling in the top of my engine when I first start it. I don't know if its lifters, pulleys, timing chain etc etc. Its coming from the area behind the alternator or could even possibly be the alternator going bad on me. After a cold start the engine warms up a little and kicks down and the rattle immediately goes away and the engine runs smooth as silk. How can I diagnose this? How would a mechanic diagnose this? 115,000 miles by the way nothing has ever failed or been replaced on the engine other than my leaking thermostat housing a year ago.





Thanks
 
Did you remove the serpentine belt and check ALL the pulleys for looseness or binding? Use a 3/8" drive ratchet on the tensioner with a cheater pipe for removal.

Tensioner is directly below the alternator and could be your issue. If no problem is found, try running the engine for LESS than one minute and listen for noises.
 
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Link below is a YouTube video on timing chain tensioner replacement. Have a look.
 
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BIG difference between the tensioner bolt, and the plastic tensioner guides that break and are known to cause the rattle.
 
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Yes believe me I checked out your link as well for the tensioner cassettes. If those are bad I think its time for a new vehicle. I almost cried reading that thread from the Explorer forum.





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Vic, that link won't work for me, is there another? TKS Ed
 
FLTRAC did you replace them yourself? If so can you give a brief description of your process, any problems you had and any handy tips you learned.



Thanks





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Try this link. I believe this is what Vic was trying to get at.



Here is part 1.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4N5E_RfYpE



Here is part 2.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LUdwhq-M3M



I have the same rattle and plan to change out these tensioners VERY SOON.
 
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<a href="http://mysporttrac.com/shared/faq.asp?VIEW=139&PageHeader=Frequently%20Asked%20Questions">The FAQ describes how to include multiple links.</a>



<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4N5E_RfYpE">This is a link to part 1</a>



<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LUdwhq-M3M">This is a link to part 2</a>
 
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me, no I had them replaced by a mechanic friend along with some other stuff, sorry. He said they are simple to do the rear can be changed through the wheel well, the front he had to take off the intake.
 
Me, I hope those you tube videos came in handy for you.



Yardsale, Thanks for the tip. I checked out the link on the FAQ for multiple links. I will try that next time.
 
So after talking with people in the know and given everything I have tried and eliminated so far. I am now being told its likely pushrods and hydraulic lifters worn with clearance issues or clogged oil passages not getting oil to these same parts which would of course also cause wear and clearance issues. I am being told this is a very common issue with this motor and it does not really affect driveability other than the noise and I could probably put another 100,000 miles on the motor with no further issues. However if I want to fix it the repair is not extremely difficult I just remove the valve cover, inspect everything, replace any loose hydraulic lifters and pushrods, remove any sludge and clean oil passage ways etc.. No special tools needed and nothing too technical other than tightening the three bolts that hold the lifter system in place to the specified torque. So any guidance and experience anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. Also if you are one of those guys that enjoys looking up parts and cross referencing part numbers I would appreciate you confirming the hydraulic lifter/lash adjusters part numbers and the pushrod part numbers from someplace like http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php or whomever your favorite parts supplier might be.



Thanks
 
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Not sure whether you are looking for advice or are committed to the lifters as the problem, but you have not provided what have you tried and eliminated so far.



Not to discount that it may be a lifter issue, or those "people in the know", but push rods?
 
Yard I am being told that the hydraulic lash adjusters become weak and cant make up for the needed lash adjustment. Or they become clogged with sludge. And the pushrods are made of too soft a mettle and the ends mushroom causing excessive lash. Supposedly all very common for this engine. But mostly its a combination of everything just normal wear of the components. I am being told it is not my timing chain as that issue was resolved by Ford after 2002 or so and if it was my timing chain the noise would be more constant and more pronounced under load as opposed to only occurring at initial cold start and then going away and then only reoccurring after the engine has set for a while and oil drained away. I am being told that my hydraulic lifters are bleeding down and that is also causing the cold start rattle. Believe me I am no mechanic. I am just hoping for a $100.00 fix of cleaning sludge, replacing lifters and pushrods as a opposed to a $2000.00 fix pull engine, rebuild heads and replace timing chain.



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My point is that those people who are "in the know" should not assume what engine you have, but should ask. If they know what engine it is, then they should know that overhead cam engines don't have pushrods.



This doesn't mean that the problem isn't in the valve train, but you may want to consult different people (something I always do as a cross-reference).
 

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