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slight rattle on cold start for 2002 Ford Explorer



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 9th 05, 01:55 PM
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Default slight rattle on cold start for 2002 Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer 2002 XLT, 95k km on it.

After a cold start, when accelerating between 20-50km/hr I get an
intermittent rattle coming from underneath the front of the truck...its
fairly quiet but noticeable if you don't have the radio on. After
driving for about 10-15 minutes the rattle goes away, and when driving
faster than 50km/hr there is no rattle at all. There is no engine
strain or noticeable impact to the driving experience when the rattle
is present. Although I can consistently recreate the rattle, it is not
constant...it stops and starts depending upon if I'm coasting,
accelerating, decelerating, etc.

Based on all of this behaviour, I'm guessing its just a loose bracket
or heat shield, however I've only had this truck for a month so I'm
wondering if this is possibly a symptom of anything more serious? I've
got extended warranty on drive train, exhaust, and electrical but not
suspension so I'm inclined to ignore this problem unless people say
otherwise...the dealership is 45 minutes away and its a big impact to
us to lose the vehicle for a few days.

My biggest fear (based on previous experience) is with the dealer
taking everyone apart to isolate the rattle and introducing more
problems.

Ads
  #4  
Old May 10th 05, 01:24 PM
Pascal
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Humm....I also have a 2002 Explorer and it makes noise when I
accelerate between 2k to 3k RPM. The noise sounds almost like the
engine is pinging or something rattling, I checked the usual parts (
EGR, MFA, vaccuum line ) that may caused pinging but I still haven't
found the source of the noise. Is it the symptom your seeing ?
I found a web site that said that Ford has a TSB out about the Timing
Chain rattling on 2002, maybe that's the noise you are hearing.

Pascal

  #5  
Old May 10th 05, 02:48 PM
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2-3k RPM sounds about right, and describing it as something between a
ping and a rattle is a good description. Once I hit 60km/hr the problem
goes away, and once the engine has been run for about 15 minutes it
doesn't rattle at all, even in the low RPMs. I could see that being a
timing chain issue...metal and oil heats up, chain runs more smoothly.

My only concern would be whether this is a symptom of timing chain
failure, or whether if its just a minor annoyance? If just an
annoyance, I'll have them look at it in late June during my next
maintenance check I guess. I'll go look up the TSB, thanks for brining
it ot my attention.

  #6  
Old May 10th 05, 10:55 PM
Bill Jeffrey
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Interesting. I have had the same thing on my 02 Explorer XLT V-8 for
quite a while. I go back and forth between thinking it is ignition ping
and insufficient oil pressure (valve clatter, I would have called it at
one time). It is fairly quiet - I have trouble hearing it if the
windows and doors are closed. It often happens when I first start the
engine - but not every time. I asked my mechanic (non-Ford) to check it
out - he told me to give it a tank of "decent gas", meaning higher
octane. (I normally run name-brand 87.) I ran a tank of 91, and it had
no effect.

I am at about 85K on my 100K extended warranty. If something is going
to fail, I wish it would hurry up and do it.

Bill Jeffrey
---------------------------

wrote:
> 2-3k RPM sounds about right, and describing it as something between a
> ping and a rattle is a good description. Once I hit 60km/hr the problem
> goes away, and once the engine has been run for about 15 minutes it
> doesn't rattle at all, even in the low RPMs. I could see that being a
> timing chain issue...metal and oil heats up, chain runs more smoothly.
>
> My only concern would be whether this is a symptom of timing chain
> failure, or whether if its just a minor annoyance? If just an
> annoyance, I'll have them look at it in late June during my next
> maintenance check I guess. I'll go look up the TSB, thanks for brining
> it ot my attention.
>


  #7  
Old May 11th 05, 07:45 PM
Pascal
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Bill, I wouldn't wait if your Explorer is still covered under
warranty. It is a manufacturing defect. If you bring it to their
attention before the warranty is out and stay on it, Ford would cover
this defect even if the warranty ran out, as I mentioned before Ford
has a service bulletin out. That's an admission of defect, but of
course they ( Ford or the dealer) will not admit to it. You have to
make them admit it and show them the service bulletin if they don't
admit.

I doubth the timing chain would let go but if it ever does the engine
will be toast. If the chain slip then hopefully the only consequences
will be the motor will run rough or not at all. It is a 6.5 hours job
as indicated in the service bulletin.

Pascal

  #8  
Old May 11th 05, 07:50 PM
Pascal
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This is service bulletin number I found : 0276

That's definitely my problem.

PAscal

  #9  
Old May 18th 05, 03:01 PM
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Fortunately I'm entitled to a 30 day bumper-to-bumper warranty... i
noticed a small oil leak undernear the Explorer in my driveway so I
made an appointment. Verdict on the oil leak was a broken seal which
they replaced, and the rattle was a loose heat shield (as I first
suspected).

If the problem comes back I'll keep everyone apprised. Despite these
two minor problems I'm very happy with my purchase. My friend who
bought a new 4Runner last year for roughly 4x the price is fairly sour
right now since my 4-year used drives like new and I'm paying far less
in insurance.

 




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