Timing Chain Rattle, what are the chances?

[mercury89]

I have been looking at a 2001 Ranger Ext. Cab 4X4, 4.0, auto, 90k miles. I have been reading on here and various other Ranger/Sport-trac/Explorer forums about the dreaded timing chain rattle that seems to plague the early 2000's RBV's with the 4.0.

I have read about it on here and understand that it does not affect all vehicles.

Now here is the million dollar question, if the chain is not rattling when I test drive it what are the chances of the chain starting to rattle after I buy it? Is it likely for it to start soon or if it made it to 90k without rattling is it probably a non-issue?

Thanks everyone I appreciate your input.

 

[Toms01PSD]

When FX4Wannabe01 get's on i'm sure he will give you the answer you are looking for. He recently pulled the engine from his truck (01 4.0) because he had a timing chain rattle. I don't recall how many miles he had on his truck but i'm sure he'll chime in in a little while.

 

[Fx4wannabe01]

I answered in 2 out of the 3 threads he put up. lol.

Got the truck with 30,000 on it. Rattle started at 40,000. Took it into ford and they said it sounds like its coming from the timing chain area. I couldn't afford to fix it so i let it be.....5 years later it got progressively worse(going from only making the noise in colder months to doing it all the time regardless of month and engine rpms), I got really really tired of it and the opportunity presented itself for me to swap the 01 engine with 110,000 on it with a 06 with 1,000. I got the engine for LESS than it would have cost me just to fix the existing engine. Left me with a brand new unabused engine that never swallowed water 4 times like my old one did. lol.. After opening up my old engine, I'm glad I did the swap.

That's just my experience, yet my buddys have the same exact truck with no timing chain rattle issues at all....and they have 50,000 more miles than I had when I pulled the old one out. It's a random thing...some have it, some dont'.

Some it come on little by little over time(like me), some it come abrupt(all of a sudden huge slapping...happened to my local buddy and he had it covered under aftermarket warranty). I've been told something that helps start the issues is lack of changing oil...i've always kept regular with synthetic with my truck since I got it.

 

[mercury89]

I answered in 2 out of the 3 threads he put up. lol.

Got the truck with 30,000 on it. Rattle started at 40,000. Took it into ford and they said it sounds like its coming from the timing chain area. I couldn't afford to fix it so i let it be.....5 years later it got progressively worse(going from only making the noise in colder months to doing it all the time regardless of month and engine rpms), I got really really tired of it and the opportunity presented itself for me to swap the 01 engine with 110,000 on it with a 06 with 1,000. I got the engine for LESS than it would have cost me just to fix the existing engine. Left me with a brand new unabused engine that never swallowed water 4 times like my old one did. lol.. After opening up my old engine, I'm glad I did the swap.

That's just my experience, yet my buddys have the same exact truck with no timing chain rattle issues at all....and they have 50,000 more miles than I had when I pulled the old one out. It's a random thing...some have it, some dont'.

Some it come on little by little over time(like me), some it come abrupt(all of a sudden huge slapping...happened to my local buddy and he had it covered under aftermarket warranty). I've been told something that helps start the issues is lack of changing oil...i've always kept regular with synthetic with my truck since I got it.

Thanks for all the replies man, haha I noticed you replied to all of my questions on 3 different forums. I appreciate the advice.

I wont have a chance to drive the truck until this weekend and I guess all I can do is hope it doesnt have the issue and that it will last.

Fwiw they are asking $8800 for it.