2002 4WD 4.0L MFI SOHC 6cyl - Gave all she is going to give. Had it towed to the Engine & Machine shop today. It's been a dependable and fun truck to own. I put 140,000mi. on it since I bought in 2007. I just cannot seem to let it go. It's true value? 4-5 grand before the engine gave out. I am having the entire engine remanufactured. Probably going to be 4-5 grand since they are doing it all. Three weeks of thinking about it and after pricing the new ones this is a no brainer. I already replaced tie rods, ball joints, front and rear bumpers, lights, turn signals, fog lights, rotors, front disc's, U joints, transmission flush, engine oil changed religiously and other small items. Most of this was done in the last year or so. Everything else is performing perfectly, so far. Can't wait to get it back. Also had both differential oils changed at last engine oil change.

 

Welcome to the forum

Surprised you lost the engine at 200k

Yes, worth it to rebuild engine, or swap in a long block

 

I'd do it also, where else are you going to get such a clean and dependable truck for $5000

 

I was surprised it went out too. The shop told me that the rear timing chain had let go and the front chain was victim to the famous rattle at start up. I knew about this (front) for the last 20,000 miles or so but did nothing about it. Probably broken guides.
Thanks for the welcome.

 

You are correct RonD, just found out they are replacing it with a long block. Water pump, plugs and serpentine belt (if needed) will be extra. The correct mileage it went out at is 197,200, not 193,200.

 

Items being replaced outside the long block (one cylinder head needed replaced), so far:
Water Pump
Wires
Thermostat Housing
Plugs
Harmonic Balancer (rubber/plastic seal may last another year or may go out in a week I am told) "Replace it".

The service manager of the engine/machine shop who I deal with would really like to own this truck. I get that a lot. No way I am letting it go. Sure it is a little truck but I am quite content with it. It can go places the big ones cannot.

I am posting a couple more photos taken back in September of 2018. It was before I replaced the rear bumper. A fellow employee ran into it one day while trying to pull out from parking behind me. I would never have known who did it if it was not for another who saw it happen. I waited the entire next day for this guy to tell me he ran into it but he never did. I never mentioned this even though we worked together for a few more weeks. Just last week I found out that he had been fired for reasons I did not ask about. That chapter is closed now.



I should get this truck back this early this week. So looking forward to it.
Also waiting on a Jaguar XF V8 Supercharged Sedan to be ready this week. It is going to be an awesome week!

 

Sure is a nice looking Ranger, if it was RED it would be close to PERFECT, lol

Red and belongs to ME is a PREFECT Ranger :)

 

Thank You Ron. I agree with you that it is a good looking truck, even as old as it is. The Jaguar will also be white (Polaris White). No need guessing what our favorite color for vehicles are :)

 

Got it back yesterday afternoon. Extremely pleased with their work (Midwestern Engine & Machine - 1117 E. 4th Street, Tulsa, OK). These are seasoned vets at this type of work no doubt. The engine is running quiet/smooth as ever. I can now park my two wheeler and start packing my lunch again! At 500 miles an oil change is required. There is a three year/100,000 mile warranty with parts & labor covered in the first year. Remaining two years is parts only. My bet is I will never need any of it. Out the door was $4500 and some change. Well worth it. One thing I did noticed immediately was the air conditioning temperature seems to be much colder coming out the vents. A good radiator and condenser cleaning made a big difference (nice added bonus). When I get home from work I'll take a photo and share it here.
Have a terrific day Rangers!

 

Thanks for the update

$4,500 seems fair, $75/month over 5 years, for a good running engine, but I am sure it will be running fine long after the 5 years like most Ford engines

 

Ron, I do understand your thinking. I agree that it should be running just fine long after 5 years. Much less expensive then a truck payment.

For those of you who are setup to do this by yourself $1500 of that was labor. I don't have the facilities to remove/install a crate engine, if I did I would have enjoyed the challenge.
Long Block - 2395.00
Head core - 75.00
Bypass Hose - 9.00
Water pump - 90.00
Thermostat housing - 62.37
6 spark plugs - 49.14
Wire set - 50.00
PVC valve - 12.60
Labor - 1500.00

It was determined that the original harmonic balancer was in good shape. No need to replace it.

 

Nice, shop did a real good job



The new design long chain tensioners are much better, but................I would plan on changing both at each 80k miles as preventative maintenance, use ONLY Motorcraft tensioners, they ARE worth the extra money
The rear one is much easier to change and also the one that seems to fail more often, so for sure at least that one should be changed

 

Thank you for that information on the chain tensioners Ron. I will definitely have those replaced when I approach that amount of miles and they will be Motorcraft. Maybe ten years from now I'll get there (as long as they have not outlawed combustion engines by then).

 

Wife briefly had a '02 Explorer ( I paid for it, she drove it ) . Cpl months later, the rear chain went , but after replacing , it had terminal bearing damage .

The replacement for her was a 70k mi '99 Explorer AWD, with 5.0 . The sound you here in the background is me swearing for from overhead cams .

 

Same one that took mine out, at least that is what the shop told me. I have listened for you pretty hard but I don't hear a thing Biggfoot. You better yell louder :)

 

Just an update. The engine is performing terrific. I find myself trying to hear that rattle at startup that I heard for the last 20,000 miles but nope, none at all. What a relief. I have 320 miles on the engine since it was replaced. 180 more and it is oil change time. I forgot to mention that I did have to replace the cruise control buttons (motorcraft) on the steering wheel since they had both dry rotted and fell apart. That was about a year ago. I was a bit nervous removing the air bag but it did go smoothly and it is good to see them illuminated at night again.
Sorry to post this in this ranger forum but I mentioned earlier that I was waiting for a vehicle I purchased. Six weeks after purchasing it I finally picked it up a couple of days ago. Chain tensioners are a known issue in this engine also so you can bet I am going to have those changed asap. It is a 2013 Jaguar XF V8 5.0 Supercharged and its a beauty.

 

488 miles - Engine oil and filter changed today. "Brake in" oil looked good but changed out with Pennzoil Platinum SAE 5W30 SN/GF5 (full synthetic). Ranger has been running great :)

 

41,000 miles on new long block - Last weekend I had my oil/filter changed and they also pulled the oil pan due to a small leak. Inside they found several small pieces of plastic which no doubt were from the timing chain cassette (I thought I heard a blip of a rattle at startup for the last week or so). When it was all buttoned up my mechanic listened while it was started and told me it was the rear timing chain. Got an estimate to repair which was $2500 just for labor. Told him I was going to get a couple more estimates before getting the work done.
Yesterday morning while waiting for a red light to turn green in the middle of nowhere (country highway 45 miles from home) on my way to work it must have jumped timing because the truck died and would not turn over. Had to have it hauled back home and dropped it off at the mechanics shop. Out of warranty from Midwest Engine I ended up purchasing another engine from Jasper engines out of Indiana (3 years parts and labor). Delivery is expected on 28 Nov 22. What a bummer.
I've got a new one ordered - 23 Lariat Tremor which is supposed to be in production also on the 28th of November but am now considering passing on it. In 2024 the new design and better technology is promised in the USA.

Here we go again.

 

Geeeez man I hate to hear that. I wonder why you didn't get much life out of that timing chain? Really is a pretty truck though...

 

It seems you had some bad luck with that Ranger. I changed both timing chain tensioners at 100K miles and rebuilt the complete cam timing chain system at 250K miles, nothing was broken but the crank to jackshaft timing chain tensioner. I used only OEM parts. I am now at 280K miles, and it is running as strong as ever. I plan to keep it to at least 300K miles and then I will be looking to buy a new Tremor also. If ford doesn't build a Super Cab Tremor by then, I will buy a FX4 and upgrade the suspension to a Tremor.

I hope you have better luck with your new Tremor. They are very nice.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am really at a loss for words here.

 

New long block showed up yesterday. Seized engine was pulled and it appears that the rear timing chain did not jump/break but instead the plastic guide had broken and piece of it had fallen down and got wedged between the lower sprocket and chain. This happened while I was at idle so I'm guessing that there may not be any further damage to the motor. With the engine out I know the guide can be replaced pretty easily but I am not going to take any chances. Told them to install the new long block. I could purchase the engine for $500 and the crate it came in for $300 but I am not going to. The truck should be ready to pick up Wednesday.
I am driving 700 miles a week for work so any issues with the replacement should happen within the 3-year parts/labor period (I hope).
After driving this rental (2022 Toyota Camry) for a while I have to say that I don't much care for front wheel drive although 30 mpg is nice for a change but I used to get that with my Jag's supercharged 5.0.
Have a good day everyone.

 

What a story! Good luck.

 

Thanks George. Thank God I have a decent employment to pay for all this. I purchased this ranger for $15,000 in 2007 with 55,000 miles on the odometer. Pretty sure after this invoice I will have doubled that. I love my ranger!
Last January coming home from work I experienced this: Cruise control was at 70mph. Other driver not hurt nor was I. We both had Progressive Insurance and after about 4 weeks they cut me a check.

 

Then you walked out of that Jaguar! Rub my Lottery Tickets