hey all - am new to the forum and to the ranger - just bought a 2003 xlt appearance 4,0 4dr with 38000 miles - this little truck kills it - was driving a 91 toyota pickup (22re) until it died (mostly rusted away) but am now feeling ford - had always liked the ranger and feel lucky to have found one with such low miles - this truck looks like it rolled out of a time machine- came with new ball joints / brakes - wondering at what mileage to have the timing chain tensioners checked - thanks

 

Let's see some pictures.

 

Welcome to the forum

I would change the two tensioners at 70k-80k miles, there is no test for them, until you start to hear a rattle at startup then it may be too late

 

I still have my 04, which two tensioners?

I ask cause my truck has been off the road for 18months - no longer has plates, but goes in for a major overhaul in the next month or so.

 

The 4.0l SOHC has two long timing chains, passenger side rear and drivers side front

Those two tensioners are the ones that could fail

They look like this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/15315...-1/s-l1000.jpg

top one is passenger side rear, seen here, the black head in center: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...ner-jpg.58292/

lower one is drivers side front, sticking out in this picture, at the top: https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1956d3e6d1.png

Lower tensioners didn't have any issues, just these two long chain units

 

would like to post pics of her but im a dinosaur and my lady is gone for the weekend maybe soon - currently noticed a small rattle at the front passenger side of the engine - no engine light - dissapears almost when warmed up- going on for a few days - sounds nothing like the super clack i hear on youtube - hoping its the serpentine belt tensioner? instead of timing chain issues - its 16 years old but only has 38000 or so miles - thanks for your advice and responses - want to get this fixed asap