Ford Explorer Sport Trac

[idonthaveaname]

I bought (new) a Sport Trac. Wanted one since I first saw them about 12 years ago. This year, a 2010, was the last year Ford made them. Every 5K or so I take it to the dealer for service...rotate tires, oil, etc. They have a good deal and it's worth the money. Two issues this time. One, I had a leak in the back roof/ceiling. They resealed and said this was a known issue. No worries. Also had a constant, everyday, all the time, valve rattle when cold during acceleration--warm, all good. So I tell the SM this. He calls the next day and says, "Can't duplicate."

I really hate it when this happens. It's like saying, "Well sir. Apparently you have a vivid imagination and the issue you state just doesn't occur."

Really?

So I tell the SM, "No. There is a problem and you guys need to fix it. It called checking the timing and advance. It is how fuel burns across the cylinders...dummy."

He checks the computer and says, "Ford says it could be the belt pulley loose." :facepalm:

Lord...I know what a rattle is and I know what valve ping is and you would think the SM would tell me they check the advance. I dunno...am I missing something?

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

I've had a couple explorers and a couple expeditions. They're all pretty loud and rattly. Maybe all the Ford SM's are a little deaf from years of listening to them.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

I have a brand spanking new Fusion and I gotta say, sometimes at idle it does sound like it doesn't have any oil in it. Boss' Edge sounds similar.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

It's even worse in an enclosed space, sometimes it scares me, but I still wouldn't trade my Fords for anything.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Well... the dealer called and said they couldn't find anything wrong. "Maybe you just needed an oil change," he said. Seriously? An oil change will fix valve ping? "We drove it and couldn't duplicate the noise?" Funny how it happens every time I drive it. I wonder if they even bothered to check the timing. We will see, I suppose--picking up today.

 

[Don S]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Take the service manager for a ride with you driving and SHOW him the noise.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Take the service manager for a ride with you driving and SHOW him the noise.

Yup...I would usually do that, but in this case pre-detonation only happens when the engine is cold. With that, I would have to spend the night in the parking lot of the dealer. The next best option would be to be there in the AM when they test it, but that is awful damn early. :facepalm: Anyhow...I picked the car up and waited patiently until the next morning to check the valve ping. It was non-existent. I am thinking, just before I took it in, I filled up the tank with Chevron...a gas I don't normally use. That may have fixed the problem...dunno. I'll burn this out and see how it goes. Talking to my Brother-in-Law, who knows everything under the sun...seriously...he does, and he is an old gearhead, he says it could be (could have been) sulfur deposits on the valves. He suggested a can of Seafoam to the tank, or at least burn high test for a tank or two and the sulfur will burn off. He said this is very common in newer engines today, and like I said, he knows everything under the sun...like a genius or something.

Leak gone, ping gone. Me happy! I got my truck. Thanks for all the input!

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

You have NO belt. You have chains-two of them.

Yes, they are noisy, especially cold.


They will sound the same at 300K as they do now.

Keep up your regimen of Ford dealer services. I have found them to be the best value for what is done. They use the right stuff.

I would look at your driving. I would change oil/filter at least twice/year or 5K. I don't know how that fits into you schedule. Something to consider.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Yepper. Like I said...I take the truck in about every 5K (oil/filter/rotate) and I like the Ford dealership services; they are reasonable in pricing. It was the dealer that said "belt" which is what got me to wondering, being and old gear head, if they really knew what they were talking about. Nonetheless, the valves pre-detonated prior to service and now they don't, so whatever they did or didn't do, all is good.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

I had a few GM engines that made this noise. Could be some piston slap. Supposedly, not a problem.

I would do a little more research to see what TSBs are reported for your vehicle. The dealer won't necessarily tell you what they are.

I understand that you don't hear it anymore. What did they say they did?

Talking to my Brother-in-Law, who knows everything under the sun...seriously...he does, and he is an old gearhead, he says it could be (could have been) sulfur deposits on the valves. He suggested a can of Seafoam to the tank, or at least burn high test for a tank or two and the sulfur will burn off.

Not a chance. The only difference betwee a high octane and a low octane fuel is the pressure at which it self ignites. Its not going to clean anything. The SeaFoam will likely have no effect as well.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The dealer said they could not duplicate the sound. Personally, I believe it was the fuel. I usually burn Hess but has switch to sometimes Shell or BP and the last fillup was Chevron. The wife gets these discount cards from shopping so I was less $$$ at these stations. Since the noise is gone so I am figuring the "better" fuel resolved the issue. Overall, I know what pre-detonation sounds like and have been around cars, built them, raced them, crashed them :facepalm: for longer than I care to share. Personally, I would have been more comfortable if the dealer had said, "Checked your timing advance and everything is on the money. Try burning a different type fuel" but he didn't. It seems as though, if the problem is not addressed within a bulletin, they do nothing.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

It seems as though, if the problem is not addressed within a bulletin, they do nothing.

And even with them they do nothing. I had to go in once to a Chevrolet dealer with a copy of the TSB in my hand to acknowledge they had to repair something under warranty.

When I had my similar issue with a 99 Suburban, I left the truck at the dealer so they could hear it when it was cold. When I went to pick it up they claimed they couldn't duplicate the problem. What was funny was that my truck was parked about 100 feet away and while I was talking to the service manager they started it in order to drive it up to us and both of us could hear the knock from where we were standing. He says "Oh, that noise...they all do it." I said "OK...lets start a few trucks in your lot and see if they all do it". He then backed off on that claim. I did read a TSB later on about the noise and it was determined to be piston slap which was indicated as a non wear issue. Interesting that the the same engine that is in my boat does not have the same issue.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Yep... I found this TSB: 11-2-7 FEB 11 Engine - Rattle/Ticking Noise On Cold Start Up

Maybe I'll make another trip by the dealer.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

I have a 2000 Mountaineer (Explorer). It's sounded like a Model A cold since I've owned it. 240K miles and still sounds like that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Yep... I found this TSB: 11-2-7 FEB 11 Engine - Rattle/Ticking Noise On Cold Start Up

Maybe I'll make another trip by the dealer.

Supposedly a drive belt tensioner for this one.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Sqweak-sqweak-sqweak-tick sqweak -tick.....I can hear it from here LOL'S

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Supposedly a drive belt tensioner for this one.

Actually, that's what the dealer said he was going to check...it didn't change the problem.

So...the other day all the Chevron gas burned out and I needed a fill up. Stopped by the local Racetrack, filled it and left. Next morning...rattle rattle rattle. So it seems it is "fuel" related, and we all know the type of fuel used can make a different in mileage and performance. Next tank...which doesn't take me long to get to...will be of the Shell/Chevron/BP variety and I will see if the rattle rattle rattle again goes away.