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Engine rattle finally gone!!!!


LearjetMinako

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This has been a long awaited battle end for me. And the solution was really a simple thing. To start with, my 96' 2.3l has always had this engine rattle noise at high speeds under heavy loads (or climbing grades). Always thought it to be the cat. heat sheild. Checked it out to find the welds were cracks through. I strapped 6 hose clamps around it. Didn't solve the problem. I tried running Shell's V-power fuel for 2 full gas tanks. No improvement and also lead me to believe it is not engine ping (or knock to some). I ran SeaFoam through a vaccum line to clear any carbon. Only got a small cloud of white smoke. So I did it a second time, still just a small white cloud. Took for a test drive, still rattling. So lastly I decided to install new spark plugs. I choose to go back Motorcraft's and picked up there Plat's with fine wire tip. Installed all 8 of them and took it for a test drive. The rattle was gone. I push the engine to its very limit of when that rattle would occur. Not a sound. I very happy now. Never hear a engine ping like a rattle before. So for now on, I'm only putting in the Motorcraft Plat Fine Wire spark plugs in my engine.
 


daniel3507

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8 spark plugs? I gotta say im jealous though. i still cant find why my engine pings. it does it in the same situations as yours did
 

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its time to check your sparkplugs daniel.

mine did that when it had the CEL issues and was running rich. now that its all fixed it hasnt pinged.
 

daniel3507

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tried it. plugs got changed when i put in the screamin demon coil pack and it still pings. new o2 sensors too. wires are a little over a year old and fuel filter is 3 or 4 months old
 

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mine has a new IAC and cleaned the egr.
maybe 1 of em was causing it.
 

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I cleaned the MAF a year or two ago but im sure it could use it again. Ive also cleaned the IAC but I think i might just replace it. to see if it helps
 

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Bad IAC won't cause engine ping.
 

LearjetMinako

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Have you tried SeaFoam? Even thou mine did not smoke like some others do. The engine does have a little different sound at high rpms. And this is before I changed the spark plugs. The sound is like the end of a vaccum cleaner hose.

I did a little research on spark plugs. Supposely the reason why mine was pinging at high speeds is because the plugs were too hot (heat range). A cooler plug was needed. Daniel, I'm thinking that your Screaming Demon coil pack may be to blame. Try switching back to the OEM coil pack.
 

daniel3507

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Ive tried SeaFoam twice. This latest time was less than a week ago. I sure hope it isnt the coil pack. it was doing it before i got it so i hoped that the coil pack would actually solve it. What plugs did you have? I run Motorcraft Platinum plugs with my OEM coil pack and the screamin demon. The new plugs are gapped larger with new pack
 

LearjetMinako

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The spark plugs that I had before were Bosch Platinum (single tip). The spark plugs that I just put in are Motorcraft Platinum finewire tip (part# SP432). Got them at Advance Auto Parts. After doing some more digging, from the TRS library, I found out that the MC SP432 plugs are used on the 2.5L engine (98-01). From the TRS library, the 4.0L used MC AWSF42P up till 98 year and MC AGSF22PP for 98~00. Motorcraft and Advance Auto lists the SP486 as a replacement plug for your 4.0l.

Good TRS info:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4_0_Page.html

edit:
Gap should not be enlarged. It should be kept with in a range. Mine are gapped to .044". The 4.0L should be .054".
 
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snake

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I ALWAYS use factory parts. Cost a little more, but worth it.
 

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me too. besides its all i have available here lol. factory or nothing
 

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