Hi Guys,

'01 Ranger 4x4 with the 4.0L and auto trans, 144xxx kms (89xxx miles)

Hopefully this is the last gremlin I have to solve but it's an odd one. I've seen lots of threads on people who have a clatter/ticking from under the hood with COLD restarts and I seem to have the opposite issue. When I restart the engine after it's warmed up I will get a metallic ticking noise that lasts for 60 seconds or so then disappears. I've craned my head under the hood and it definitely isn't coming from a pulley (well, as far as I can tell), seems to be coming from the passenger side valve cover area?

Cold restarts are no problem, no ticking or clatter whatsoever. Only when started warm or hot. I've added about half a liter of Lucasoil oil stabilizer to top up the levels and it seems to help a bit but I'm concerned about what the root cause is. No dash lights on and oil pressure gauge shows normal. Thoughts?

 

sohc timing chain tensioner??

 

Could be... never thought of that. Where is is located? Does the fact that I feel a bit of dread around the possible answer mean that it's at the back of the block and almost impossible to get to?

Dave

 

well there are several chains actually in the front and back, im actually thinking about replacing mine. There was a fix that ford issued between 03 and 04. The motor has to be out when you perform the fix. As for the precedure itself I don't know exactly what is done.