Jackhammer sound coming from motor

[cupraikso]

Hi everybody,

My 1996 Ford Ranger suddenly started sounding like a jackhammer when driving on the freeway. The truck starts with no problems, and there is no noticeable change in drivability, but the motor starts to vibrate more when accelerating. The sound is deafening, just like a jackhammer.

I've included a video below.

Do you have any ideas on what it could be?

 

[wildbill23c]

Vacuum leak or exhaust leak? Is the fan hitting something?

 

[Doofy]

Blown out spark plug or exhaust leak?

 

[ratdude747]

Harmonic Balancer? If the notice changes with belt load (AC/power steering) then I'd look there.

 

[Mark_88]

Nope...it is the little plastic hose on the EGR pipe...it comes off and the engine sounds like it going to explode...

My guess anyway...look down the passenger side at the back of the engine...there is a small rubber hose (two actually) and they can come off very easy...if one is off...that is the problem. lf not then maybe one of the above answers will help...

However...the engine may be hard to start and keep running...and you might want to put a hose clamp on it or simply put a new hose with tighter ends...they are usually :JUST: long enough to connect so there is no cutting the end of the hose to get a tighter fit...

 

[Doofy]

Please, be sure to post the answer when found. Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[Mark_88]

Yes...that would be nice...

Something very similar to this happened to my 96 and it was driving me crazy because I just got finished fixing the starter circuit...I thought my neighbor must have been screwing with my truck or something because it was perfect the day before...

Hopefully it is the simple fix...it almost always is...

 

[cupraikso]

Thank you so much.

It turns out Doofy was right. We inspected the spark plugs and one was blown, in fact, it seem like it had 'exploded' -- it had come out of the socket and the spark plug wire was half-molten. Why? I have no idea. After a trip to the O'Reilly's, we changed the spark plug and wires and everything the engine is smooth and silent!

A few months ago the timing belt was changed, so I was fearing for the worst.

Thanks again!

 

[Doofy]

Great news! Glad the fix was simple.

 

[Mark_88]

Great news...good to know and thanks for the update!

 

[Doofy]

Yes. The sound was very familiar to me. Years ago, I bought a air pump hose, gauge and chuck set-up that used a spark plug adapter to provide the air source. Amazing invention really...never did figure how why the air was clean and not fouled with gas fumes.