2000 Ford Mustang Gt 4.6

Misti · Apr 12, 2021

I'm Not sure what to do!! So My Belt Tensioner Pulley went bad. I took it to the Mechanic even tho it's a simple fix. Well they replaced it and did a few other things. About 2 months ago I noticed a tapping noise coming from what sounds like a lifter. I parked the car. So from what I can see. There is a single bolt that keeps it in place on the belt tensioner. When it went bad the bolt busted the timing cover around where it screws in. So since it was just flopping around it caused other pulleys to go bad I believe. The mechanic never mentioned he put his own bolt in place which was to long and my timing chains are on the other side of this cover. I had metal shavings in my oil.. Weird..
Anyway... i ordered a New timing cover, gasket, valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, got new coolant, oil and filter. I also have new water pump, power stearing pump.. I don't know if I should also buy the timing chain kit...
I'm assuming the tapping noise is loose chain or broken guides or something.
Does it sound like I'm diagnosing this problem correctly??

stormsedge · Apr 13, 2021

Misti said:
Does it sound like I'm diagnosing this problem correctly??

Maybe. There is a lot going on in your description. Bottom line, if the timing cover is cracked or broken...start with getting that changed---when it is off, you'll be able to see if your longer bolt theory is correct (I've changed my belt tensioner and didn't give a thought to the bolt possibly going through the timing cover--so didn't seal it...I'm not sure it does). If the car is at 90k-ish miles or more, it is probably a candidate for timing chain guides and chains---when the cover is off, you'll be able to see the condition of the guides.

If you do not see an obvious source for the metal in your oil under the timing cover or valve/cam covers...look elsewhere.

Misti · Apr 19, 2021

stormsedge said:
Maybe. There is a lot going on in your description. Bottom line, if the timing cover is cracked or broken...start with getting that changed---when it is off, you'll be able to see if your longer bolt theory is correct (I've changed my belt tensioner and didn't give a thought to the bolt possibly going through the timing cover--so didn't seal it...I'm not sure it does). If the car is at 90k-ish miles or more, it is probably a candidate for timing chain guides and chains---when the cover is off, you'll be able to see the condition of the guides.

If you do not see an obvious source for the metal in your oil under the timing cover or valve/cam covers...look elsewhere.

So You are Very Correct! I pulled the Valve Covers off and found quite the mess! Broken Guides and broken pieces wedged under the chain. Plus the chain has a few bad spots! I'm super shocked! Plus Shaving of The chain in my oil!

stormsedge · Apr 21, 2021

Misti said:
found quite the mess!

Nasty lot of shavings...at a minimum flush and drain, while changing the oil filter a couple of times. Wow. Does it look like the longer bolt actually went through the cover causing the issues, or did the chain guides go away on their own?

Deleted member 38176 · Apr 22, 2021

I hate to be bearer of bad news, but shavings in the oil is the least of your concerns. Now you to worry about where the rest of those shavings are. Some of those shaving could still be lurking in passageways and make their way into the bearings.

Misti · Apr 24, 2021

Well... I am still shocked at the mess I found.. I looked a little further and to my understanding... My guides actually broke sooner than I even knew. The chains were laying on the guides and rubbing them and shaving plastic off and that explains why I had the plastic shavings in my oil the last few months. The metal shavings was off the chain. It's pretty beat up. I thought I was only going to change guides but I have to change all of it. The bolt was not the problem at all. With both guides broken and the chain just running on the guides. Also I didn't post the huge piece that was wedged of my guides. I'm lucky I didn't bust the chain and completely wreck the motor. I even ran some sea foam in my oil before i knew this was the problem. Wow u should have seen what came out then.
I'm not sure if i just need to buy the timing set from the parts store or order from a performance place. I guess i also will need some special tool also.. I feel like this job is beyond my ability of mechanical work. I really wish I knew someone close to me. I'd tow it to them to work on. I'm at a stand still until I can figure out what exactly to do. I'm super upset about this one. I'm super bummed out and just wish I was a better mechanic and had more strength and know how to fix my car....

stormsedge · Apr 24, 2021

Misti said:
I'm super bummed out

As @Nightfire pointed out. There is really no way of knowing the extent of the metal shavings and damage in your engine, without getting deeper into it.

At the very least, I'd want to pull the pan and view the bearings...check the oil pump. And, pull the cams to see how the cam bearings look as well (which will be accessible a few steps beyond the timing chain(s) r/r. In a perfect world (that may exist somewhere), one might find the debris all went straight to the oil pan and was kept out of the engine by the strainer on the oil pickup and the oil filter---leaving the bearings pristine. I'm not that optimistic, however...this is a big job no matter how you slice it.

Misti said:
need to buy the timing set from the parts store or order from a performance place

for a daily driver with occasional hot rod blasts...a set from a parts store will be fine...I wouldn't buy anything, however, until you've hammered out all you may need.

Misti · Apr 24, 2021

Now u mentioned a very valuable point... I also was thinking about that screen on the oil and that I may want to look at it. I did take these pictures.. I don't know what all it can tell... I plan to get a few more and much better photos soon.

Deleted member 38176 · Apr 25, 2021

The cam lobes dont "too" bad. Remove the caps and take a look at the journals

HemiRick · Apr 25, 2021

The oil filter will catch stuff before it gets into the bearings.....From my understanding you only want to use Ford original timing parts.....

stormsedge · Apr 25, 2021

Nightfire said:
The cam lobes dont "too" bad. Remove the caps and take a look at the journals

Yes...looks promising so far.

Misti · Apr 25, 2021

stormsedge said:
Yes...looks promising so far.

So what exactly does that mean... Remove the caps...

Deleted member 38176 · Apr 25, 2021

Misti said:
So what exactly does that mean... Remove the caps...

Cam caps are what keep the cams bolted in place. In the 2nd pic, its the part with the bolts.

However, I dont think that is an issue

I hate when women take their vehicles to mechanics. They automatically think that you dont about cars.

Can you post a vid of the sound?

Misti · Apr 26, 2021

Nightfire said:
Cam caps are what keep the cams bolted in place. In the 2nd pic, its the part with the bolts.

However, I dont think that is an issue

I hate when women take their vehicles to mechanics. They automatically think that you dont about cars.

Can you post a vid of the sound?

Actually I Wish I had taken a video of the sound just recently before I tore into the car. Now it's in a few pieces and it seriously breaks my heart!
But Not too long before this I ran self diagnostic on the car. And u can actually hear a little of the motor. It was definitely broken (guides) when I did this. If I was thinking I would have recorded the recent. It was like a lifter tapping. Sounded very similar but deeper in the motor.

Potomus Pete · Apr 26, 2021

You can handle it. Your half way there. Just go on U Tube and watch videos

Misti · May 3, 2021

So I Officially have my car in a million pieces it feels like. I have every pulley off except 1. Its the harmonic balancer. I bought the tool needed and I snapped it in half so a friend loaned me another. I'm trying very hard not to snap it also. I seen on YouTube that I can use a ratchet strap and weave it and get it to come off like that. I bought the timing kit with gears, timing gaskets, oil pan gasket, valve gasket, along with new power steering pump and all new pulleys and serpentine belt, oil and filter and Timing chain cover and one wrench that let me set the pounds so I don't over tighten anything! I can't wait to start putting things back together! This darn harmonic balancer is my trouble. Also I have on thing on my timing cover that looks like it has something that clips into it on the right side. Idk what tho because there was nothing attached to it. So idk what plugs in there or what it even controls. I also found 2 wires coming from the battery that looks like it attached to the car body somewhere. But broke off. I assume it's a ground for something!

Misti · May 18, 2021

Here are some of what I found.

weendoggy · May 19, 2021

Did you get the crank pulley off? I can't see how you could break a puller. Shouldn't be that hard, but....

If you have plenty of room to work in the front of the engine (i.e. radiator etc. out of the way) you shouldn't have an issue. More room is better that getting to a point where you're frustrated trying to take a short-cut. Be methodical, take photos, take your time and document if needed.

Take a pic and post or send it to me and I'll help you decipher what the "items" are. Stay focused. Once done, whoopeee!

Misti · May 20, 2021

weendoggy said:
Did you get the crank pulley off? I can't see how you could break a puller. Shouldn't be that hard, but....

If you have plenty of room to work in the front of the engine (i.e. radiator etc. out of the way) you shouldn't have an issue. More room is better that getting to a point where you're frustrated trying to take a short-cut. Be methodical, take photos, take your time and document if needed.

Take a pic and post or send it to me and I'll help you decipher what the "items" are. Stay focused. Once done, whoopeee!

So I managed to get the harmonic balancer off. I had to borrow a friend's puller. That I promised not to break. That was the hardest thing on whole car to take off. There was this washer type piece in the center that I had not taken out! Then getting the puller positioned on there correctly was my other problem! Once I got it on right then I was able to slowly get it off. What a heck of a deal!
So now I have this problem..... I put the New timing in and New Timing cover and A New Power Stearing pump. I had no stearing and no Breaks. Only to find out I left the rubber cap over the part that fluid comes out. Once removed I 100 percent was able to bleed the power stearing and regained breaks! But...
I didn't have the idler pully tightened down. I thought it was.... but when I started my car for the first time within 3 mins it snapped that idler pully off.. Now my New timing Cover is broken.. The raised spot that the idler screwed into is snapped off. What the heck can I do now to fix the problem?? Any Suggestions??

weendoggy · May 21, 2021

OMG! What? First rule: don't be in a hurry, second rule: don't be in a hurry, third rule: (should be the first) find someone you trust to guide you. PM'ing you.

2000 Ford Mustang Gt 4.6

Misti

Member

stormsedge

Misti

Member

Attachments

stormsedge

Deleted member 38176

Misti

Member

stormsedge

Misti

Member

Attachments

Deleted member 38176

HemiRick

I'd be looking at jacking under the house

stormsedge

Misti

Member

Deleted member 38176

Misti

Member

Potomus Pete

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots

Misti

Member

Misti

Member

Attachments

weendoggy

Misti

Member

weendoggy

Similar threads

2000 Ford Mustang Gt 4.6

Member

Member

Attachments

Deleted member 38176

Member

Member

Attachments

Deleted member 38176

I'd be looking at jacking under the house

Member

Deleted member 38176

Member

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots

Member

Member

Attachments

Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency