Identify this click/rattle

[arrabil]

Howdy. My 96 3.0L Ranger makes a really loud clicking/rattling noise from the front of the engine.

The best way to reproduce it is to start the Ranger when the engine is cold and put it in drive or reverse. When cold and in gear the noise is constant and loud. When idling in park you hear it once in a while, sometimes just once but sometimes a few clicks/rattles in a row, but never continuously. When the engine warms up it goes to being once in a while regardless of whether or not its in gear.

I would describe the noise as playing cards in a bicycle wheel. Its not the standard tick because you can hear that when the other noise isn't present (and the tick comes from the middle of the engine).

The IAC seems to be functioning and the noise isn't coming from the middle of the engine. I didn't think it should be the tensioner because it should happen no matter what, right? It seems like it could be the fan clutch because the noise is related to temperature but again, I don't know.

Any ideas? I need to sell this thing and I'd rather it didn't make noise like that. Thanks.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

take the belt off and try to reproduce the noise. that narrows down a lot of options.

 

[arrabil]

Alright, I'll do that when I get home tomorrow.

I tried to remove the fan today only to find out neither of my 2.9L fan clutch wrenches fit the 3.0L. WS, you know what specifically is required to remove the fan too? There doesn't seem to be any way to hold the pulley I could see.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i got mine off with a cresent wrench. most of the time the belt will hold the pulley tight enough. if not you can apply more tension to the belt by having someone pry down on the tensioner. if you still cant get it, they make special wrenches for holding the water pump pulley. it also helps if you have access to an air hammer to jolt the fan clutch loose.

 

[kennykenny]

I've had good luck using a hammer and a big chisel to knock it loose.

 

[aeraceranthony]

Check all spark plug boots. When I got a new set from taylor, one of the boots was bad and it sparked on the outside of the plug. It only did it when the truck was warm. After driving around a bit, pop the hood and see if you hear it. It makes a loud ticking noise thats random. I will install the old wire and get a video when it stops raining.