Anyone know what this is...

[93mattyjay]

its ticking. tick tick tick tick tick.... what do you think it is? and how serious is it?
here is a youtube link to what it sounds like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_ZLhM6_1A8

154k miles
1993 2.3 ranger

 

[97RangerXLT]

That is the sound of money getting ready to take flight from your wallet. But as a Ranger owner, this is to be expected to some degree. (Mods, repairs, 15 hp gain in stickers)

Listening to the vid, that sounds more like a knock than a tick. Check your accessories (water pump, alternator p/s pump/ idler) make sure they all spin freely (will have to remove belt) while you have the belt off start it and run it breifly and see if the noise continues. if it does, check the timing belt. When was the last time it was changed? check the tensioner for it as well.

does the noise increase in speed as you give it gas?

Hope this helps.

AJ

 

[93mattyjay]

i kinda pulled the cover back as much as i could without removing everything. the belt seems a little loose but its there. only when i idle it makes that noise. everything is stock, no mods.
ive never touched the timing belt before. never messed with it

 

[93mattyjay]

maybe its telling me it wants a 4.0

 

[RangerSVT]

Could be lifter tick. What's your oil pressure like? What weight oil ( ie, 10w40, etc) do you use, and what brand?

SVT

 

[93mattyjay]

pen 10w-40 it sat for a few years a couple of times. oil pressure is in the middle of the gauge.
if its a lifter how hard is it to fix

 

[RangerSVT]

Just seen you have the 2.3l, you don't have lifters, just rockers. It might be an exhaust manifold leak...

SVT

 

[97RangerXLT]

How many miles out of the 154k have you put on the truck? I believe the timing belt is suposed to be changed every 60k or 100k. (not sure on the interval) a little loose is ok, just as long as it is not loose enough to jump a tooth on the pulleys. If the timing belt breaks, you will be stranded right where you are. I am not sure if the 2.3 is an interference engine, but if it is, you will have a nice 2.3 liter boat anchor.

SVT has a good point on the exhaust as well.

if the noise goes a way when you accelerate/ rev the motor that at least tells me it isn't something like a rod bearing.

So check the exhaust (easy) and check the accessories (easy) and check and change the timing belt (not as easy, but not too difficult)

AJ

 

[PlumCrazy]

Lima 2.3s are noninterference. If it only does it at idle, I would say low oil pressure....

Put a real gauge on it and see what the pressure really is.

The stock gauge is nothing more than a dummy light. It will read midrange as long as the pressure over 5 psi

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

[tmcalavy]

If exhaust, timing belt and oil pressure are okay...and it sat for a few years at least twice, pull the valve cover and look at the innards. If they're funky run a can of sea foam or some tranny juice in the crankcase for a little while, then change the oil...directions for the sea foam are on the can...we used to do 50:50 tranny juice and oil for a clean-out/flush...then put in fresh dino-juice a grade heavier than recommended, especially if it has more than 100k on it.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

Sounded like it changed when you pushed on the timing cover. So the belt is about ready to take flight or something is moving around behind the cover.

Way too fast to be a top end noise at first i thought broken piston skirt until you pushed on the cover

 

[ab_slack]

" oil pressure is in the middle of the gauge" Um, sounds like an idiot guage. The good ole ford gauge wired to a pressure switch, it will either display in the middle or not at all. A real pressure gauge would move all over the place depending on driving, idle and temperature.

To me it doesn't sound like any sort of valve tap I ever heard. The fact that the sound changed when you held the plastic cover suggests that whatever is under that cover, on that pulley, is somehow related or something else moving causing an impulse in that cover.

I don't know the 2.3L. If the engine has a timing belt as suggested, if the mileage or years says it is time to change, or is unknown...having gotten burnt by a timing belt overdue to change failing in a non Ford product...I would be inclined to change it. That only applies if it is an interference engine where messed up timing could result in piston damaging valves.

 

[RangerSVT]

Just listened to the clip, you need a timing belt. Part or parts of the belt are frayed and is hitting the cover...

SVT