Problems with a 2002 mercury mountaineer timing chain.?

My mountaineer had been rattleing some, I thought it was the tensioner and pulley so i changed it and it didnt change the noise at all. So my best guess was that it was the timing chain. Before i had a chance to get someone to look at it, it broke down on me going down the highway. at first it sounded like the battery was dead but then it was like the engine was locked up. my best guess is that the timing chain jumped time and is balled up. any sugestions?
Problems with a 2002 mercury mountaineer timing chain.?
You didn't specify which engine yours is equipped with. I'm guessing it is the 4.0L SOHC V6 engine, or WAS, for that matter. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but it sounds like your engine is DONE. Both the 4.6L V8 and the 4.0L SOHC V6 engines are interference engines, ESPECIALLY the 4.0L SOHC V6 engine. The rattling noise you were hearing was probably the primary jackshaft chain tensioner, which Ford had released a TSB to address, more specifically TSB article number #04-15-04. The characteristics of this noise would make itself most noticeable under light, to moderate acceleration between 2000 to 3000 RPM, but it's a moot point now. You now need to decide whether it's worth keeping or not. If keeping it is your decision, you'll need to shop around for a rebuilt or used engine, and decide from there. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Problems with a 2002 mercury mountaineer timing chain.?
If it is the 4.6L SOHC V8, remove the drive belt, and try to turn the engine over BY HAND, using a johnson bar and a 18mm socket on the crankshaft pulley. If it turns over, you may have a chance to save your engine.

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It is rare for the timing chain guides to fail on these engines, unless it has VERY high mileage.

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I would still spend the money to get it looked at, to be positive. But Ford Girl is most likely correct. And a service bulletin is a repair guide for Ford techs, it has nothing to do with warranty coverage like a recall would. It would be worth the call to Ford's complaint line anyway, you never know...

Either way, if the the engine is toast, it's time to search for a low mileage wrecked one to get the engine from, assuming your going to repair the vehicle. This direction will be much cheaper than repairing your engine.
Contact your local dealer, there is a bulletin for that problem. original bulletin #02-08-01 has been replaced by bulletin 04-15-4



The repair is only covered during normal warranty period, but I would contact your local dealer an see if their is any assistance available from FOMOCO
listen to ford girl shes right