Timing chain guide broke off

CHARLIE.EVERSOLE818

MEMBER
2001 LINCOLN LS
3.9L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I was driving and heard a noise under the hood. When I got to work I parked and when I got off about twelve hours later it would not start. It would turn over but no start. Well I took it apart and saw that one of my guides completely came off and was wedged in the bottom of the timing chain housing. The car sat for about one year and I went out too mess with it and it still turned over for a couple tries and then it locked up. I replaced all of the tension-er's and guides and the cars in time but it is still locked up. It turns a little bit and it will turn by hand a little bit. Can anyone help me out? What is the problem?

7 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good afternoon.

Chances are you have valve damage from the guide breaking and the engine going out of time. It may be valves hitting pistons.

Did you get all the debris out of the front timing area? It could also be more debris that got lodged into the chain causing the timing to go out again.

Roy

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Sunday, May 20th, 2018 AT 1:40 PM

CHARLIE.EVERSOLE818

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4 POSTS

There is no valve damage. What else could it be? I cleared all debris and it will not turn over at all. I can turn it about a half rotation back and forth by hand and it is like it catches on something.

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Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 AT 4:56 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

How do you know there is no valve damage?

If the head of a valve is bent and is open, it will prevent the motor from turning.

You could also remove all the plugs to be sure the engine is not hydro locked. Try turning it without the plugs in the engine.

Roy

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Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 AT 5:08 AM

CHARLIE.EVERSOLE818

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4 POSTS

Already did that. Could it be a bearing or the starter? If so how do I tell?

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Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 AT 9:06 AM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

It could be a bearing. In order to check, you would need to drop the pan and loosen all the mains and rods to see if it has a failed bearing. Tough job to do in the car.

Roy

Removal

CAUTION: During engine repair procedures, cleanliness is extremely important. Any foreign material, including any material created while cleaning gasket surfaces, that enters the oil passages, coolant passages or the oil pan can cause engine failure.

1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Maintenance/Service and Repair.
2. Disconnect the battery ground cable. For additional information, refer to Battery.
3. Drain the engine oil.
4. Remove the 17 bolts and the oil pan.
Discard the gasket.

Installation

1. CAUTION: Do not use metal scrapers, wire brushes, power abrasive discs or other abrasive means to clean the sealing surfaces. These tools cause scratches and gouges, which make leaks paths. Use a plastic scraping tool to remove all traces of sealant.

Clean the gasket sealing surfaces.

2. NOTE: Make sure all gasket sealing surfaces are clean and dry.

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Install a new oil pan gasket, oil pan and 17 bolts.
Tighten the bolts in the sequence shown in two stages.
- Stage 1: Tighten to 5 Nm (44 inch lbs.).
- Stage 2: Tighten to 12 Nm (9 ft. Lbs.).
3. Fill the engine with clean engine oil.
4. Connect the battery ground cable. For additional information, refer to battery.

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