Has anyone that's had the timing chain rattle fixed had issues getting the dealership to acknowlege the problem? My wife and I have taken it in 3 times (with today being the third). The first time I dropped it off and when I picked it up they said the tech couldnt hear anything. They told me to bring it back sometime when someone could ride with me. The next time I took it in for service, they said since it was rainy outside they "probably couldnt hear it due to road noise and rain". So my wife takes it in this morning and I gave her the TSB to give to them. Her and one of the techs take it out for a test and he says he can hear the noise and that "all older rangers and explorers make that noise". Then the head engine guy tells her that the TSB I sent was only for noise during start up. Even though it states on there that it happens in 2nd gear. I called the service rep and told her that something had to be done about it today and she said the engine guy would look at it and they would get back to me. I understand that this is a fairly costly/time consuming fix but the truck is still under warranty and I'm getting tired of the noise. Does it sound like they know what the problem is but just want to avoid fixing it for as long as possible?

 

I personally haven't heard the chain noise that the earlier SOHC rangers had, but I would think that a head service tech would know exactly what to listen for, and if you can hear it, they should too. I am calling shenanigans on the dealer. Have you tried to take it into another dealer?

 

Well, we had two Ford dealerships in town but about a month ago one was bought by the other. I guess I could try the other dealerships service dept to see if they are better. When I bought the truck they told me they were in the process of cleaning house in the service dept. I think they were hiring all new people. Just sux because one of the advantages of buying from that dealership was that it was really close to my work and I could drop it off on my way in. Anyway, I am just waiting on a call from the service rep. What worries me is she said that the engine guy was looking at it to see if it was a safety concern. I told her that I didnt think it was a safety problem but I wasnt going to drive a truck that was that noisy when it should be covered under the warranty. I am thinking now that they wont cover it since its not a safety issue.

 

the always 'never' hear anything.

 

Just got the call from the service rep....she said the head engine guy didnt hear anything out of the ordinary. I asked her why the tech this morning heard something and she said that the engine guy said that was a normal noise for that engine. I told her I would be by before they closed to take him for a ride in the truck. I also told her we would be taking a 2007 ranger out to see if it made the same noise.

Oh and she said the engine guy recommended that I put some octane boost in. That would probably cure the problem.

 

Sounds like a f*cking idiot to me!

 

they are just tryin to get out of the job.

 

Well, heres the update. Went in to talk to the service manager. He said they put some kind of sound device on the engine near the timing chain and it made no noise what so ever. He said that if it had been the timing chain it would have been really loud. (I cant imagine it being louder) He said it was spark knocking that I was hearing. They told me they would clean the entire system (intake, injectors etc) for $190 but he could not guarantee that it would solve the problem. They said my warranty would not cover it. So today I am going to call Ford and see if they can help.

Oh and the funniest part was that the service rep suggested I start running premium gas. I told her that since I am only getting 16 mpg I would have to get a second job to run premium. :-)

 

Mike, maybe we should ask you, what kind of noise is it making?? What do you hear when you are riding in the vehicle??

 

Well, at start up there is no noise, warm or cold. In first gear there is no noise usually( sometimes if I start it up and dont let it warm up it will do it in first) Once I am driving along in second gear and up and start to accelerate there is a sound like metal vibrating. It almost does sound like spark knocking. But i think it sounds more like a metal on metal vibration. Maybe like something is loose and its rattling around. It does it mostly when you let off the gas a little and then start to speed up again.

Now I am doubting myself about the timing chain problem. I think I will get a bottle of the high end fuel system cleaner thats supposed to help remove carbon buildup. I guess it cant hurt to try. I did run 104 octane boost when I first bought the truck to see if that helped but it was the same.

 

Can you feel this vibration? From what you describe, it doesn't sound like the timing chain to me...... does it do it only when its in gear or will it do it in neutral? Any specific RPM? This sounds more like a driveline issue to me.

 

You cant feel it at all. It doesnt vibrate the vehicle, its just basically a sound from the engine compartment. I dont think it does it in neutral....but I havent tried reving it up. Wouldnt spark knock occur even when its not in gear? I usually notice it when i let the RPM's drop while moving and then start to accelerate again. Like when your in traffic moving along at 45 mph and you let off the gas to slow down and then try to speed up again.

 

From what I remember about spark knock, it did it all the time in my Grand Am, so I would say....yeah, it would do it in neutral.....

When you say let off the gas, and then speed up again, does it do it when you are in the gas, or out of it? In other words are you giving it gas or not when this happends?

 

It happens when I give it gas.

 

Well then it sounds like its driveline to me. Something to do with your trans, xfer case, drive shafts and so on.....

 

There is a TSB for '04 detonation and subsequent rattling you hear. Mine did the same thing similiar conditions. When I brought mine to the dealer they told me they could clean the carbon out of the engine as well. I researched and found the TSB. Yelled at the dealer for not telling me about it, and had a different perform it. I don't remember the TSB # but it involved a computer update. You can give any dealer your VIN and ask them to find any knocking TSB's. Fixed it for me.

I know have a different "dieseling problem" at low speeds and low RPM's my truck maked a very quiet rattle/grind noise in first and second, maybe third but I can't tell cause the wind drowns it at that point.

 

Truer word were never spoken!

 

tech's dont make much off warranty work.