Tips for removing the timing chain cover??

[Str8Kr4zy]

Im having a ticking/slapping sound around 1500-2000 rpm, sometimes a little bit above 2000. I've been reading and many people seem to think its the timing chain and slack in it.

I removed the serpentine belt to eliminate the accessories, still making the ticking/knocking noise.

If there is slack the timing chain, how do I go about removing the slack? What parts will I more than likely replace or need to, or should while the cover is off? Is there anything I need to pay particular attention to?

Anyone have pictures of a 99-04 2v with the cover off?

Thanks

 

[slvr00gt]

Putting timing chain back is not too difficult but double triple quadruple check. There plenty of stories on this board of chain installed wrong. Also it is a pain to carefully clean all the gasket surfaces. Also check the manually to make sure you apply RTV gasket to all the right places ( in addition to the rubber gasket ).
In addition, my oil pan gasket didn't look like I could reuse it. Good think harbor freight ran a $99 deal on engine hoist, because to replace oil pan gasket you need to lift the engine a bit ( my transmission was off at that time)

If your timing chain is indeed loose, it is probably due to the tensioners on the picture below

 

[Str8Kr4zy]

If the tensioner has gone bad, do I have to remove the chain in order to replace that part or not really?

The tensioner is the that block pushing up on the orange and white guide correct?

 

[SilverBullet00]

How many miles does the car have on it? If you have over 100k I would look at replacing your guides, chains, and tensioners for good measure. And while you have the chains off...... its a good time to put cams in!!

 

[Str8Kr4zy]

New cam would be nice...as far as mileage it only has 38,xxx miles on it.

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

what year is the car? in 2001 Ford went to a plastic timing chain tensioners that are C R A P...pre 2001 used a Steel tensioner thats much better and I recommend the steel ones for ALL years, vs the plastic/nylon ones which have a high faliure rate..........

 

[Tripoli]

I had a similar problem with my driver's side timing chain. It had slack in it because the hydraulic tensioner wasn't seated on the block properly after my cam install.

My plastic chain guides looked fine at 90,000 miles, so I kept them. I'm curious what they look like now at 109,000 miles, and I'll be finding out on Friday.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

what year is the car? in 2001 Ford went to a plastic timing chain tensioners that are C R A P...pre 2001 used a Steel tensioner thats much better and I recommend the steel ones for ALL years, vs the plastic/nylon ones which have a high faliure rate..........

What? This is QUALITY!

 

[screamin gt]

How many miles does the car have on it? If you have over 100k I would look at replacing your guides, chains, and tensioners for good measure. And while you have the chains off...... its a good time to put cams in!!

and your oil pan gasket should still be fine, just make sure you use good rtv sealant where you need it.

it seems sort of wierd to me that your tensioners would be bad with only 38,000 miles mine were perfectly fine when I rebuilt it with 108,000. your motor hasn't been tinkered with at all??

What? This is QUALITY!

actually it looks like that bolt was probly over tightened.... its only plastic. (not saying you did it but someone did) even if it was you that put that on, it could've been damaged from someone else over tightening it there previously or something.

 

[Str8Kr4zy]

Im sure it would make it easier, but does the engine need to be pulled in order to accomplish this?

 

[Tripoli]

Nope. I'm not sure it'd be much easier, especially considering the extra effort to pull the motor.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

actually it looks like that bolt was probly over tightened.... its only plastic. (not saying you did it but someone did) even if it was you that put that on, it could've been damaged from someone else over tightening it there previously or something.

that's the stock engine pulled apart, no one had touched it but ford up until that point. Obviously it was pulled apart cuz it was having problems like that - PI heads were salvaged tho.
Plus, the part you see broken off came from the passenger side bottom tensioner, not the top where that bolt is. That part is fine, so the over tightening scenario is definitely not the case here

 

[ceracer33]

lol @ cobra red, mine looked just like that at 120k when i took it apart to install cams, had to replace the passenger side tensioner, and both guides.

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

lol @ cobra red, mine looked just like that at 120k when i took it apart to install cams, had to replace the passenger side tensioner, and both guides.

must have been an overtightened bolt

 

[screamin gt]

I thought it looked like it was from the bottom of the passenger side chain guide, my bad

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

I thought it looked like it was from the bottom of the passenger side chain guide, my bad

no problem, at first it looked like the bolt area had snapped off to me too