2005 ford ranger 4.0 ticking at idle… fixed

[RedRanger05]

I have a 2005 ford ranger with the 4.0 I have just over 200k. It’s started making a ticking sound recently. it’s usually at idle and most of the time it’s a quiet tick. recently I was sitting at idle in park and it was much louder than usual. I know these engines have noisy valve trains and I am well aware of the timing issues. Can anyone point me in the right direction for what’s causing the sound.

 

[franklin2]

Is a 2005 SOHC? If it is, you know what the problem most likely is.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Get a mechanic stethoscope and start probeing. Its probably timing chain tensioners.

Or possibly exhaust manifolds leaking...but probably option 1

 

[RedRanger05]

The sound was most prominent right in front of the exhaust manifold on the driver side

 

[Uncle Gump]

IMHO... the 4.0L SOHC doesn't really have what I would call a noisy valve train.

From where you say the noise is coming from... it could very well be timing chain noise. Pull the driver side valve cover and have a look.

 

[RedRanger05]

IMHO... the 4.0L SOHC doesn't really have what I would call a noisy valve train.

From where you say the noise is coming from... it could very well be timing chain noise. Pull the driver side valve cover and have a look.

I had it off a few months ago to replace the valve cover gasket and everything looked good and the chain was tight. I put a mechanics stethoscope up to it and it sounded more like it was coming from the spark plug.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well... at 200K it's hard to tell.

Have you changed the tensioners?

The oil pan comes off pretty easy. The amount of nylon trash in the pan will tell you the story.

 

[RedRanger05]

Well... at 200K it's hard to tell.

Have you changed the tensioners?

The oil pan comes off pretty easy. The amount of nylon trash in the pan will tell you the story.

I have not changed the tensioners. I am thinking about doing that as well as plugs before I jump to timing issues. I had the pan off when I did the valve cover gaskets and it was clean.

 

[RedRanger05]

I have a 2005 ford ranger with the 4.0 I have just over 200k. It’s started making a ticking sound recently. it’s usually at idle and most of the time it’s a quiet tick. recently I was sitting at idle in park and it was much louder than usual. I know these engines have noisy valve trains and I am well aware of the timing issues. Can anyone point me in the right direction for what’s causing the sound.

The sound turned out to be a spark plug. The gap was way off so I re gaped it and threw it back in till I get new plugs. Thanks for all the help and advice on the problem.

 

[DILLARD000]

Good troubleshooting!
Still best to renew those 2 OilPressurized TimingTensioners every 80k~100kMiles, so you're 100kMiles overdue!
Likely a testament for a good habit of regular oil+filter changes.

 

[RedRanger05]

Good troubleshooting!
Still best to renew those 2 OilPressurized TimingTensioners every 80k~100kMiles, so you're 100kMiles overdue!
Likely a testament for a good habit of regular oil+filter changes.

100% agree in the spring it’s getting a full tune up and that’s on my list. The oil change has been done in it every 3k miles when I had the valve cover off it looked mint.